Christie's Offers Lincoln Victory Speech

On Lincolns 200th birthday, Chrisites New York will offer for sale Lincoln's hand written 1864 victory speech. The document is estimate to sell between $3 - $4 million. Given the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birthday as well as President Obama using the same bible for his swearing ceremony that Lincoln used, despite the economic concerns, it could very well be a good time to sell.

Not to be cynical here, but I find this very interesting when comparing to the current deaccessioning issues with museums (Rose, National Gallery, Corcoran, Fiske U, Univ of Iowa, etc). The seller is the Southworth Library Association in Dryden, NY. It plans to use the proceeds from the sale to fund an expansion and pay operating costs. Sort of like deaccessioning, but without the conflicts or constraints of selling a collection which museums abide by. But, there is no uproar about this particular sale. Now if the library was a museum? Just something to think about. I understand charters are different between the different types of institutions, but there are some very interesting similarities, but one the library sale of a precious document appears to fine, while a museums sale of a portion of a collection for simialr purposes is not.

According to a Christies's press release and catalog, The four-page speech was delivered at the White House on 10 November 1864, immediately after his re-election to a second term as President. This unique document, never before offered for sale, is one of a very few Lincoln speech manuscripts not in permanent institutions like the Library of Congress. It is expected to realize in excess of $3 million.

The speech manuscript, in superb condition, is written in Lincoln’s bold, clear hand on four large sheets of paper. It is the one Lincoln held in his hands to read that night to a crowd of celebrating supporters on the White House lawn. The precious manuscript remained with Lincoln’s papers until 1916, when Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham and Mary Lincoln, graciously presented it to New York Congressman, John A. Dwight, as thanks for his efforts to secure Congressional funding for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Dwight’s widow, in turn, presented it to the Southworth Library Association in Dryden, New York. Proceeds from the sale of the speech will fund construction of a new addition to the library, and help pay expenses of its operation, maintenance, and programming.

For more information on the document read the Christie's press release by clicking HERE, view the catalog entry by clicking HERE.