2 days ago
Documents that Lincoln signed to end slavery to be auctioned off
By Dean Murray
Two era-defining documents that ended slavery and reshaped American history are to be auctioned.
The Thirteenth Amendment (estimated at $8–12 million) and the Emancipation Proclamation (estimated at $3–5 million) are both signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
The landmark documents, rarely seen together, will headline Sotheby's Fine Books and Manuscripts auction in New York on June 26.
They offer collectors a rare glimpse into the enduring legacy of Lincoln's vision for the legal abolition of slavery in the United States.
While the Emancipation Proclamation introduced partial emancipation, the Thirteenth Amendment was the first instance in which abolition was enshrined in law.
Sotheby's says both documents are considered the most valuable copies of their kind ever to reach auction. Their appearance together at the event not only marks a pivotal moment in the nation's history but also underscores Lincoln's commitment to ending slavery-an act he considered his greatest achievement as president.
The Thirteenth Amendment copy on offer is among only 15 recorded manuscript copies signed by Lincoln, and one of just nine signed by Lincoln alongside the senators and congressmen who passed it for ratification by the states. Of these, only four remain in private hands, with this example bearing the most signatures of supporting legislators-an extraordinary 96%.
The Emancipation Proclamation, also signed by Lincoln, is one of just 27 surviving limited edition copies from an original run of 48 produced to benefit the United States Sanitary Commission, a cause close to Lincoln's heart. These documents were sold at the Great Central Fair in Philadelphia in 1864, raising funds for vital medical care and support for Union soldiers during the Civil War.
The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on 1 January 1863, while the Thirteenth Amendment was originally signed by President Abraham Lincoln on 1 February 1865, after Congress passed the joint resolution proposing the amendment on 31 January 1865.
The documents will be on public view at Sotheby's York Avenue galleries from 20–25 June, ahead of the highly anticipated auction.
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