Details
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM, President. Printed document signed ("Abraham Lincoln") as President, COUNTERSIGNED BY SECRETARY OF STATE WILLIAM H. SEWARD, issued at New Bedford, 21 June 1864. 1 page, folio, original paper seal of the United States in center right-hand portion, accomplished in manuscript, glazed and matted with an engraving of Lincoln and a colored-pencil drawing of a sperm whale fishery in a giltwood frame. Fine.
RARE FOUR-LANGUAGE SHIP'S PAPERS FOR A NEW BEDFORD WHALER
Papers for the whaleship Stephania of New Bedford, commanded by James G. Sinclair and "...laden with Provisions, Stores, and utensils for making baggage..." from New Bedford to the Pacific Ocean. A document with text in French Spanish, English and Dutch which attempted to insure safe passage for American ships by declaring "...that no subjects of the present belligerent powers have any part or portion therein, directly nor indirectly, so may God Almighty help him..."
Very few ship's papers of this type were signed by Lincoln; at the time this document was sold in 1982 it was believed to be unique, but since that date several other examples have surfaced.
Provenance: The Barbara Johnson Whaling Collection (sale, Sotheby's, 24 September 1982, lot ).
RARE FOUR-LANGUAGE SHIP'S PAPERS FOR A NEW BEDFORD WHALER
Papers for the whaleship Stephania of New Bedford, commanded by James G. Sinclair and "...laden with Provisions, Stores, and utensils for making baggage..." from New Bedford to the Pacific Ocean. A document with text in French Spanish, English and Dutch which attempted to insure safe passage for American ships by declaring "...that no subjects of the present belligerent powers have any part or portion therein, directly nor indirectly, so may God Almighty help him..."
Very few ship's papers of this type were signed by Lincoln; at the time this document was sold in 1982 it was believed to be unique, but since that date several other examples have surfaced.
Provenance: The Barbara Johnson Whaling Collection (sale, Sotheby's, 24 September 1982, lot ).