UPDATE: From James L. Swanson: "This is an authentic example of the fourth and final printing of the most famous and desirable reward poster in American history. All examples of the fourth printing were released without photos. Thus, the photos attached to this example post-date the Lincoln assassination. I have examined the poster in person and it is otherwise an authentic example of the fourth and last issue to which modern photos were glued much later." (additional new information below)
Extraordinary original 13 x 23.75 broadside poster (fourth issue) published by the War Department in April 1865, in the aftermath of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, outlining rewards for the apprehension of conspirators John Wilkes Booth, John Surratt, and David Herold, offering physical descriptions of each wanted man. The poster advertises: "$100,000 Reward! The Murderer of our late beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, is still at large. $50,000 Reward will be paid by this department for his apprehension, in addition to any reward offer by Municipal Authorities or State Executives. $25,000 Reward will be paid for the apprehension of John H. Surrat [sic], one of Booth's Accomplices. $25,000 Reward will be paid for the apprehension of David C. Harold [sic], another of Booth's accomplices. Liberal Rewards will be paid for any information that shall conduce to the arrest of either of the above-named criminals, or their accomplices."
In a statement, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton pleads for the aid of the citizens of the United States in the capture of the suspects: "Let the stain of innocent blood be removed from the land by the arrest and punishment of the murderers. All good citizens are exhorted to aid public justice on this occasion. Every man should consider his own conscience charged with this solemn duty and rest neither night nor day until it be accomplished."
Below, the poster describes each man, in part: "Booth is Five Feet 7 or 8 inches high, slender build, high forehead, black hair, black eyes, and wore a heavy black mustache, which there is some reason to believe has been shaved off. John H. Surrat is about 5 feet, 9 inches. Hair rather thin and dark; eyes rather light; no beard…David C. Harold is five feet six inches high, hair dark, eyes dark, eyebrows rather heavy." The three photographs affixed at the top were printed and affixed later (likely in the early 20th century), which is not uncommon for these posters; they are lower quality, somewhat blurry images, evidently created by a collector intent on fulfilling the poster's intended design. Linen-backed, hinged to a larger sheet, and in very good condition, with light soiling and short tears, stains, and creasing constrained primarily to the edges.
The fourth printing is distinguished from earlier ones by the provision for three mounted photographs at the top, as well as minor changes to the text; it clarifies Booth's physical description, noting that "there is some reason to believe" his mustache has been shaved off. All were printed within a short span after Lincoln's death on April 15th, following Secretary Stanton's April 20th announcement of the $100,000 reward.
However, this printing was never officially circulated due to the swift apprehension of Booth and Herold at Richard H. Garrett's farm in Virginia. Mere days later, on April 26, 1865, a detachment of the 16th New York Cavalry Regiment cornered the two conspirators in a tobacco barn on the property. Although Herold surrendered, Booth refused. The cavalry set the barn ablaze and Sgt. Boston Corbett shot and mortally wounded Booth in the ensuing chaos. Herold was tried, convicted, and hanged along with several other conspirators. Surratt escaped to Canada, then to Europe, but was captured, brought back, and tried in 1867, going free thanks to a hung jury. After Booth's death and Herold's capitulation, a clamor for the reward money ensued—ultimately, a portion of the allocated funds was divided amongst the officers and enlisted men of the 16th New York Cavalry, with Everton Conger, who tracked Booth to Garrett's farm, receiving the largest share.
From James L. Swanson: "This is an authentic example of the fourth and final printing of the most famous and desirable reward poster in American history. All examples of the fourth printing were released without photos. Thus, the photos attached to this example post-date the Lincoln assassination. I have examined the poster in person and it is otherwise an authentic example of the fourth and last issue to which modern photos were glued much later."
James L. Swanson is the author of the Edgar Award-winning, New York Times bestseller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer and an executive producer of the 2024 Manhunt Apple TV series. His latest book is The Deerfield Massacre.
