In the summer of 1861 Abraham Lincoln was settling into his first term as President of the United States. One of his many official duties was to appoint postmasters to all state and local municipalities and often those positions went to those who supported the President during his campaign or were a contributing member of the majority ruling political party. This political tactic allows for those in power to assure their agenda is distributed throughout their governing area. In the wake of the creation of the new Republican Party this was crucial for a forward thinking Lincoln to share and gain support in his rise within the Presidency.

On July 10 1861 Abraham Lincoln submitted his nominees to the United States Senate for regional postmasters around the country. One of these was a Republican Party supporter named John D. Strong from Jacksonville Illinois located 35 miles west of Springfield where Lincoln set up his law practice in the late 1830s. On July 16 1861 President Lincolns appointees were confirmed and John D. Strong became one of the federally appointed postmasters as attested by the complete document presented in this lot. It is fully legible and needs no translation. An immaculate bold signature of Lincoln along with Secretary of State William S. Seward adorns the bottom.

Strong held his position as postmaster until 1866 when he became the private secretary for Illinois Senator Richard Yates. Around the same time as his postmaster appointment in 1861 the American Civil War was brewing. Denouncing slavery and dividing a nation President Lincoln was arguably the most important and greatest U.S. President in American history. His Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 boldly told the nation and the world that the act of slavery was unjust and that all slaves were allowed their freedom. Over 600000 soldiers died fighting for rights they believed in and on April 9 1865 Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant ending the brutal war. Six days later President Lincoln was assassinated at Fords Theater in Washington D.C. by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth.

Set in a rich cherry wood frame measuring 23 by 27 with tweed matting and a decorative photo of Lincoln this official Presidential document bares great care in the nearly 155 years since it was originally written. Lincolns gorgeous autograph is incredibly well-preserved; the sheet of paper shows some wrinkling but is completely intact. A truly magnificent piece of American history.

Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA.