Lincoln’s Legacy: Historic Americana from the Life of Abraham Lincoln

Large 8vo. Modern calf, preserving original endpapers; light marginal toning to endpapers.

FROM THE LINCOLN-HERNDON LAW OFFICE IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. INSCRIBED FOUR TIMES IN THE HAND OF WILLIAM H. HERNDON

Official reports of cases argued before the Illinois State Supreme Court from 1841-42. Shortly before the publication of this volume, the Court issued a ruling that no book could be removed from their library in Springfield without consent. After hearing about this, Lincoln's law partner, William H. Herndon, began signing the firm's name in every book they owned, so there could be no mistaking it as theirs.

Located at 6th and Adams Streets in Springfield, the historic Greek Revival building was constructed in 1841 as part of the Tinsley Block. Lincoln moved his law practice there in 1843, initially partnering with Stephen T. Logan. The following year, he formed a partnership with William H. Herndon, a young and eager law clerk. Their office remained the center of their legal practice until October 1847, when Lincoln began traveling the judicial circuit of central Illinois. During his absence, Herndon relocated the firm to a smaller office in the same building. When Lincoln returned to Springfield in 1849, they resumed their practice there until 1852, when they moved to a new location on the northwest side of the state capitol square on Fifth Street. Lincoln remained in practice with Herndon until 1861, when he left Springfield to assume the presidency.

Following Lincoln’s death in 1865, ownership of the building passed solely to William H. Herndon. Shortly before his death in 1891, Herndon sold the practice and its contents to his law partner, Alfred Orendorff (his law office embossed stamp on title-page and p. 50). After Orendorff’s death in 1909, his estate sold it to Ed. D. Henry (ownership stamp on p. 25). In 1930, it was sold to an unknown buyer, as documented in a partially printed affidavit affixed at front, signed by Robert H. Patton, Attorney at Law of Springfield, Illinois, and countersigned by a public notary.

Provenance:

Lincoln-Herndon Law Office, thence to William H. Herndon (1818-1891), law partner of Abraham Lincoln. 

Alfred Orendorff (1845-1909), Illinois lawyer and politician. 

Edward D. Henry.

Louise Taper, Beverly Hills, California.

Exhibition:

The Last Best Hope of Earth: Abraham Lincoln and the Promise of America, at the Huntington Library, October 1993-August 1994