ABRAHAM LINCOLN * PSA * His PERSONAL AUTOGRAPH ALBUM Signed * EMANCIPATION Day

ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S PERSONAL AUTOGRAPH ALBUM, gifted to a young soldier [Theodore Wurts] while visiting the White House. An incredible American artifact, the 16th President began collecting the signatures of key dignitaries, cabinet and Congressional officials seemingly to mark the momentous occasion of the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln had only recently purchased the book at the local stationery and bookstore, just a short walk from the White House. The book is signed with an ownership signature by Wurts as well further solidifying the provenance. 

According to the newspaper article discussing the autograph album:
"Abraham Lincoln began an autograph album while he was in the White House and that he gave it to a boy friend, much interested in autographs, is not generally known...Mr. Lincoln, learning also that [he] was so interested in autographs showed the young man a small blank book of autographs which he had begun by placing his own name on the first page, followed by H. Hamlin...S.P. Chase, Gideon Welles...A.H. Foote...Thaddeus Stevens, and Schuyler Colfax..." - The Republic, Sunday, July 27, 1902.  

The article was widely republished throughout the United States at the time where it was reported that Lincoln signed the first page of his album, and then had the next eight autographs (on five pages) signed for him – with the exception of C.A. Dana, dated 1865.

The Lincoln autograph has been thoroughly reviewed and CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC BY PSA/DNA EXPERT EXAMINATION. UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED GENUINE. Purchase includes the original Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.

The boy the book belonged to was, Theodore F. Wurts, who was one of the "Wide Awakes" who contributed to Lincoln's 1860 Presidential campaign, a group described as comprised of "young men of character and energy, earnest in their Republican convictions..."

On September 12, 1862, Wurts enlisted in the 13th Regiment of Pennsylvania, Company C, later known as "The Wurts Guard." After surviving the Battle of Antietam, Wurts was mustered out of the 13th Regiment on September 26, 1862, after which he enlisted in the 177th Pennsylvania Infantry on November 13, 1862. Wurts eventually left the army, serving in a variety of civilian jobs before beginning a career in civil engineering in 1864. Wurts' ownership signature along with the signature of his son appears in the beginning of the autograph album.

Though Lincoln's signature is certainly the cornerstone of the collection, other notable autographs include Lincoln's Secretary of War, EDWIN M. STANTON; Vice President HANNIBAL HAMLIN; Secretary of the Treasury SALMON P. CHASE; Secretary of the Navy GIDEON WELLES; Navy Rear Admiral A.H. FOOTE; THADDEUS STEVENS member of the US House of Representatives from Pennsylvania and a potent political shepherd of the Emancipation Proclamation; U.S. Speaker of the House SCHUYLER COLFAX (later VP under Ulysses S. Grant); Assistant Secretary of War C.A. DANA, the liaison between the War Department and General Grant; Congressman, NY Governor R.E. FENTON; Senators J.R. DOOLITTLE and D. WILMOT, famous for authoring the "Wilmot Proviso" in 1846 which would have banned slavery in any territory acquired in the Mexican-American War, or in the future; Massachusetts Senator CHARLES SUMNER and Illinois Senator LYMAN TRUMBULL who co-wrote the 13th Amendment prohibiting slavery; poet RALPH WALDO EMERSON, and more. A total of 91 autographs on 96 leaves.

Beyond the newspaper account, Lincoln's autograph album is noted to have been, "Loaned by John S. Wurts for exhibition at the Pennsylvania Bar Association, November 1901-June 1902.  "The basis of this collection is a volume containing autographs collected by President Lincoln, and presented to a relative of Mr. Wurts, by the President." (See Report of the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, 1902, p. 179)

Later, while re-enlisted with the 177th Pennsylvania Regiment, Wurts would also gather signatures from his fellow soldiers, most while the regiment was stationed at Deep Creek in the second quarter of 1863. Many signed their names with a one-line quip, as Henry Wilson did when he remarked that he was "still without the first dollar of pay for his valuable services," or Samuel Raynor, who wrote, "May a Kind Providence protect and bless those who are true to our Country's interests, in these hours of peril." 

A remarkable collection of the autographs of notable public officials and endearing personal inscriptions by his fellow soldiers and his family.



Condition is as shown. The Lincoln autograph album has been fully rebound, conserved and repaired while retaining the original full brown morocco covers decorated in blind emboss and pictorially stamped in gilt on front board, rebacked, tips renewed; all edges gilt; endpapers renewed; scattered minor soiling to sheets, consistent with age, use and handling; two sheets at rear excised; original bookseller's ticket laid down on rear paste-down ("Hudson Taylor / No. 334 Penn[sylvania] Avenue / Washington City"). Several signatures with penciled identification in a later hand, possibly by his son, John S. Wurts. Several leaves dated, numbered, and annotated in margins, in another hand (presumably by one of the Wurts').


Own a remarkable piece of American history! An investment-quality acquisition for the museum, Library, Presidential collector, Lincoln devotee, autograph enthusiast, or History buff. 


Sold as is, as shown.