Manuscript written and signed by Lincoln fetches $2.2 mn

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS. A text written and signed by former US President Abraham Lincoln for a 10-year-old boy, just weeks before his assassination, fetched a whopping $2.2 million, four times more than its minimum bid at an auction here.

As “Armenpress” reports referring to Business Standard it fetched $2,213,000 at the auction yesterday, selling for more than double its pre-auction estimate of $1,000,000 and more than four times the $500,000 minimum bid, Heritage Auctions said.

The collector who purchased it requested to remain anonymous.

"This is just one of five manuscripts of that particular speech so it's an understatement to call it rare," Director of Rare Manuscripts at Heritage Auctions Sandra Palomino said.

"Lincoln was not one to just scribble a quote for someone. It's likely that this was written on request."

Found on the second blank leaf of the book, the Lincoln autograph comprises 13 lines of text and signature.

Lincoln wrote the final passage of his second inaugural address, words now immortalised on the memorial dedicated to the 16th president.