Document Signed by Lincoln, His Cabinet Found in Book

Rare document was found inside a 19th-century history book and is now being sold in Philadelphia.

A rare document found inside an old book is for sale and is expected to fetch $35,000.

The sheet of paper signed by President Abraham Lincoln and his entire Cabinet was sold in 1864 as a donation from the president to benefit Civil War soldiers. Only about five such documents are known to exist.

The Raab Collection is a Philadelphia-based historic documents dealer selling the document. Its vice president, Nathan Raab, said Tuesday it was recently discovered bound inside a 19th-century history book.

The eight autographs are of Lincoln and his Cabinet secretaries. Lincoln assembled for his Cabinet a “team of rivals” including his competitors for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860.

The find comes from the granddaughter of the book's longtime owner, a judge in Ohio.
 
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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