Signed Documents from People You Know, from The Raab Collection

Here is another fascinating Lincoln document that offers insight into his thinking. Lincoln had great respect for his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, but the latter could be a crusty character. He had no trouble saying “no” to anyone, even the President. Lincoln could have suffered a wounded ego, but that was not Lincoln. Instead, he had a mission to achieve, and valued Stanton's contribution, so he knew when to let Stanton have his way. Some people thought Lincoln subservient to his Secretary of War, but the President knew to pick his battles only when necessary, and let the other guy have his way when they were not. On May 5, 1862, Lincoln interviewed one George Montagu Hicks. General John Wool wrote a letter that he understood either the President or Secretary of State William Seward wanted Hicks appointed to his staff, and he would be glad to do so, but since he already had enough people on that staff, he would need the President's approval to follow through. Item 14 is the letter Lincoln wrote Stanton about the appointment, with the notation, “Let it be done.” Instead, Stanton refused. Hicks would come back to the President and told him Stanton's refusal to carry out the President's instructions left “the inference that the highest power in this country is not vested in its President.” Others might have taken offense at Stanton's disobedience, but not Lincoln. Instead he wrote, “This note, as Col. Hicks did verbally yesterday, attempts to excite me against the Secretary of War, and therein is offensive to me. My “order” as he is pleased to call it, is plainly no order at all.” $11,000.

Item 17 is a ship's passport containing two legendary signatures. In 1793, when this document was signed, ships needed passports to sail to foreign ports. This ship was named the Experiment, and its commander was Oliver Hewlett. It was docked in New York, but intended to sail to Cadiz in Spain, with a load of flour, beeswax and boards. While today one would assume these officials to be a bit too preoccupied with other matters to sign passports for every ship wishing to travel to foreign ports, until the end of 1793, the President and Secretary of State signed all such documents. So, this item contains the signatures of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, along with John Lamb, a noted Revolutionary War veteran now serving as Collector of the Port, and New York Mayor Richard Varich.$32,000.

The Raab Collection may be reached at 800-977-8333. Their website is www.raabcollection.com.