LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Autograph endorsement signed as President (“A. Lincoln”), 30 December 1864.

1 page, 56 x 76 mm, cut from a larger sheet, 9 partial lines in a different hand verso, some minor marginal staining. In full: "Let these men take / the oath of Dec. 8 / 1863 & be discharged. / A. Lincoln / Dec. 30, 1864." One of hundreds of pardons Lincoln granted in accordance with his "Proclamation of Pardon" of 8 December 1863.

[Matted and framed with:]

LINCOLN. "Proclamation of Pardon." Washington, D.C.: War Department, Adjutant General's Office, February 18, 1864. 6pp.,16mo. A reduced contemporary reprint for circulation of General Orders, No. 64.

EXCEEDINGLY RARE CONTEMPORARY PRINTING of Lincoln's Proclamation of Pardon in which he sets forth terms by which rebels could "resume their allegiance to the United States." Included in the Proclamation is the wording of the oath itself. VERY RARE: According to online records, only one copy of this printing has sold at auction in over 100 years: The Benson J. Lossing copy, sold Anderson Galleries, 1912.

[Also matted and framed with:] LINCOLN. Carte-de-visite. Providence, RI: Salisbury, Bro. & Co., n.d. Based on A. Berger's 1864 portrait, mounted on a white mat blind-embossed with eagle, cannons, flags and palmfronds. Provenance: All of the above acquired at the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, 1994; Gene Griessman, noted Lincoln scholar, author, and reenactor.