Partly printed DS as President, 8 x 10, September 13, 1864. A document “hereby authoriz[ing] and direct[ing] the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to an envelope inclosing a letter of Ceremony addressed to the Emperor of the French dated this day and signed by me and for so doing this shall be his warrant.” On the day before, September 12, 1864, Lincoln wrote to His Imperial Majesty Napoleon III, Emperor of the French: “I have received the letter which Your Majesty was pleased to address to me on the 28th. of July last, announcing that Madame the Princess Marie Clotilde Napoleon, Your Majesty’s well beloved Cousin had been happily delivered of a second son, upon whom the names of Napoleon Louis Joseph Jerome, had been bestowed. I participate in the satisfaction afforded by this happy event, and offer to Your Majesty my sincere congratulations upon the occasion. And so I commend Your Majesty and Your Majesty’s Royal Family to the protection of the Almighty….” Light scattered wrinkling, soiling, and toning (mainly at edges), horizontal fold touching a few letters of signature, and a few chips to right edge (well away from text), otherwise fine condition. The signature is quite dark and clear. JSA/John Reznikoff Auction LOA and RRAuction COA.
