Partly printed check accomplished and signed (“A. Lincoln''), drawn on Riggs & Co., Washington, D.C., 18 February 1865. 1 page, oblong (2¾ x 7¼ in.), printed in several bold decorative types, a fine wood-engraved vignette of the bank's headquarters on the left, delicate decorative border on four sides, numbered “26'' by President Lincoln in top left-hand corner. In fine condition, with unobtrusive cancellation cut. Beautifully matted and framed with a photo of Lincoln.
Lincoln writes a $761.00 dollar check to himself, a large sum at this time, just weeks after the historic passage of the 13th Amendment to end slavery, and the momentous Hampton Roads conference with the Confederate representatives, and less than two months before his assassination, making this one of his last known signed checks to survive. Lincoln's presidential checks against Riggs & Co.—the premier Washington D.C. bank at this time—are far rarer than his pre-presidential Springfield checks, and are worth substantially more signed as president. Only four Lincoln "to Self" Riggs checks have come to auction in the past 35 years. A previous Riggs Lincoln check sold at Christies, Nov. 2011, lot 164, for $17,500. And the only other Riggs check we’ve ever offered, over six years ago, sold for $19,100. Noted in Basler 8:581 and in Lincoln Day by Day, 314. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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