Dallas-Based Auction House Sells Signed Lincoln Document For $2.2M
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NEW YORK (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — An autographed manuscript written by President Abraham Lincoln just weeks before his assassination has sold for more than $2.2 million at a New York City auction.
Lincoln's second inaugural address in early March 1865 contained the now famous-phrase, "With malice toward none; with charity for all." He wrote out his speech's final passage in 13 lines of text and signed it for the 10-year-old son of John Palmer Usher, a cabinet member.
Lincoln was assassinated six weeks later.
The document remained in the Usher family, which put it up for auction. Heritage Auctions Rare Manuscripts Director Sandra Palomino explained the uniqueness of the manuscript. "It's an understatement to call it rare," she said. "Lincoln was not one to just scribble a quote for someone."
The auction house says the collector who bought the document requested to remain anonymous.
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