War-dated handwritten endorsement as president, cut from a larger lined page, 3.25 x 2. In full: "Let this man take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged. A. Lincoln. Feb. 20, 1865." In very good condition, with light soiling and toning, a few minor ink stains affecting both "L's" of "Lincoln," and faint show-through of mounting remnants on the reverse. Even in the midst of the Civil War, one of Lincoln's primary concerns was a rapid return to normalcy during the process of Reconstruction. On December 8, 1863, he issued the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which provided a means of repatriating "those who resume their allegiance," even though the war was still in progress. One immediate result was that those who took an oath of loyalty were issued a full pardon. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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