Raab Announces the Acquisition of President Lincoln’s Newly Discovered Letter

Raab Announces the Acquisition of President Abraham Lincoln’s Newly Discovered Letter Predicting A “Glorious” Victory For The Nation

PHILADELPHIA, PA –March 20, 2017 – The Raab Collection, the nation’s leading dealer in important historical documents, announced today that it has acquired and will be offering for sale a previously unknown, newly discovered letter of Abraham Lincoln, written a year before his death, predicting that his re-election in 1864 would lead to a “glorious” victory for the Union in the Civil War and giving a rare show of emotional satisfaction and pride at his reelection. The previously unknown letter has never been offered for sale before.

Historical Background: Abraham Lincoln’s re-election in 1864 was far from certain. In early August Lincoln’s own political insiders advised him that his reelection was in jeopardy. Things changed after a series of victories on the battlefield. When all the votes were tallied in November, Lincoln won the election in a landslide, defeating his opponent by more than 500,000 popular votes and 191 electoral votes. An estimated 78 percent of Union soldiers cast their ballots in favor of Lincoln. William Dixon, the Collector of Taxes for Washington, DC, wrote Lincoln to congratulate him on the victory.

Letter signed, on Executive Mansion letterhead, Washington, December 9, 1864, thanking the loyal citizens for their help, expressing his belief that his reelection will win the war, and, uniquely in our experience, mentioning his own personal reactions to his reelection. “Permit me to acknowledge the reception of your favor of the 18th ult., congratulating me on behalf of one of the Lincoln and Johnson Clubs of this city upon my reelection; and allow me to thank you for the kind expressions you have been pleased to employ therein. Much credit is due, from the loyal people of the United States, to such patriotic associations as that over which you presided, during the late presidential campaign, for the faithfulness and constancy with which they severally labored to bring about a result which, as we hope, will be as valuable and glorious to the future of this nation as it was truly gratifying and flattering to my own feelings.”

About The Raab Collection: The Raab Collection has handled many of the most important historical documents to reach the market and worked with the families of famous Americans in the sale and preservation of their family treasures, among them Neil Armstrong, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant, William Henry Harrison, and Ronald Reagan. Nathan Raab, a member of the Board of Directors of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, is also a contributor to Forbes.com. To learn more visit www.raabcollection.com or follow @raabcollection on Twitter.

 

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