American forger (1887-1950?) who forged letters from American luminaries. Joseph Cosey forgery of a partial Abraham Lincoln handwritten and signed legal document, two pages, 5.75 x 7.5, December 1, 1854. Forged second and third pages of a legal brief. In part: “Plaintiff avers that he asked Defendant to return his money to which he replied that he was the lawful and rightful title holder and not the Illinois Central Railroad Company.” In fine condition, with intersecting folds and uniform toning. Accompanied by an unsigned copy of Charles Hamilton’s book Great Forgers and Famous Fakes, which prominently features Cosey’s Lincoln forgeries.
