^#1532 ^Lot 1590 Abraham Lincoln

War-dated endorsement signed as president, “A. Lincoln, Feb. 1, 1865,” on lightly-lined off-white 3.25 X 1.5 slip affixed to a slightly larger sheet. Note states, “Let these men take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged.” In fine condition, with two spots of soiling and some light show-through from writing on the reverse. With his 1863 Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, Lincoln chose to pardon those “persons heretofore engaged in said rebellion to resume their allegiance to the United States,” in which he did “proclaim, declare, and make known to all persons who have, directly or by implication, participated in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted, that a full pardon is hereby granted to them…upon the condition that every such person shall take and subscribe an oath, and thenceforward keep and maintain said oath inviolate…”