Note: Please see Day 3 (October 11) of the sale that features rare material relating to the Gettysburg Address.

Manuscript legal document with AUTOGRAPH REJOINDER SIGNED BY LINCOLN. [Mason County, Illinois], [1845?]. 1 page, folio, 7 1/2 x 12 3/4 in. 

An unusual early legal document signed by Lincoln during his Illinois legal career. The document is an answer to a complaint about fraudulently conveyed lands. The foot of the document bears a rejoinder in the hand of Lincoln, reading in full: "By consent, general replication in short  - Harris + Lincoln". 

When Lincoln entered into a partnership with William Herndon, he became one of the most active regulars on the circuit. He earned a reputation for unimpeachable integrity that led to high demand by both clients and local lawyers seeking his assistance. 

Here, Lincoln is evidently assisting on a case in Morgan County, the county directly west of Sangamon. Harris may be a lawyer local to Morgan County, or perhaps fellow lawyer and Illinois politician, Thomas L. Harris (1816-1858).

While many documents signed by Lincoln in partnership with Herndon, Logan, or Stuart, have been sold publicly and privately, this is the first example we have encountered that bears Lincoln’s name joined with Harris. The case represents Lincoln’s wide reach across the Illinois circuit, his reputation for probity, and the collaborative nature of his practice before national fame.

A wonderful example from Lincoln's era of "riding the circuit." 

[Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs] [Abraham Lincoln, Politics, Mary Todd Lincoln, 1860 Election, Election of 1860, 1864 Election, Election of 1864,  Lincoln Assassination, John Wilkes Booth]