Lincoln, Abraham | A ship’s passport signed by Abraham Lincoln: unaccomplished, unissued, and withdrawn after his assassination

Lincoln, Abraham

Engraved broadside document signed (“Abraham Lincoln”) as sixteenth President, on paper (to sight: 430 x 226 mm), unaccomplished, [Washington, ca. March–April 1865], countersigned by the Secretary of State (William H. Seward”), embossed white paper seal of the United States, marine vignettes at head, with scalloped head uncut and intact; some stray spots of foxing. Matted, framed, and glazed.

This undated, unaccomplished ship's passport, which, when completed, would have granted a vessel leave “To Pass with her Company Passengers Goods and Merchandize without any hindrance seizure or molestation the said [vessel] appearing by good testimony to belong to one or more of the Citizens of the United States and to him or them only," is signed by President Lincoln and Secretary Seward. However, it was evidently withdrawn following Lincoln’s assassination by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater on 14 April 1865, either never sent to a particular port, or taken out of circulation by the port collector to whom it was sent.

A fine example.