Highly desirable Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Company check, 7.5 x 2.75, filled out and signed by Lincoln, "A. Lincoln," payable to Johnson & Bradford for $72.10, February 16, 1859. In very fine condition. Encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as "MINT 9."
Lincoln, while campaigning in 1858 for Illinois' Senate seat, kept a scrapbook with newspaper clippings reporting his debates with Stephen Douglas. His performance against the better known incumbent had been well received, and he realized that his speeches would have a larger audience if he could distribute them outside Illinois. Printer William Ross had written Lincoln about publishing the speeches, and Lincoln had approached local Springfield publishers Johnson & Bradford about the project. On March 21, 1859, Johnson & Bradford wrote to Lincoln: 'We have concluded not to print the Debates, you can tell the other man to go ahead.' A desirable Lincoln check written and signed as his political career picked up momentum.
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