ALS signed “A. Lincoln,” one page, 5.25 x 7.75, June 15, 1860. Letter to William Henry. In full: “Yours of the 10th is received; and I deeply feel the compliment of your kind remembrance. I regret not seeing your cousin, of whom you speak; but I hope he and I may yet meet – If you come West, as you propose, do not fail to pass this way – I shall be exceedingly glad to see you.” Archivally double cloth matted and framed to an overall size of 23.25 x 19.25. In fine condition, with a few trivial spots, wrinkling from mounting at upper corners, and a faint block of toning along left edge, all of which has mostly been matted out to produce a clean, bold display.
William Henry, a Vermont legislator and the recipient of this letter, was a former Whig colleague of Lincoln in Congress during the 1840s. Although Lincoln was active as a Congressman, his colleagues generally appraised him as a droll Westerner of average talents—except, perhaps, for Henry, resulting in Lincoln’s conveyance of thanks for “the compliment of your kind remembrance.” Just a few weeks earlier, on May 18, the Republican Party nominated Lincoln for the presidency, and in eventually winning the 1860 election did so with 78.9% of the vote from his friend’s home state. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.