Lot 3039
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"Free, A Lincoln, MC" (Milgram M-1), free frank as congressman on circa 1848 reduced cover front bearing red "Washington D.C., Jul 8, Free" c.d.s. and addressed to Walter Davis in Springfield, Ill.; mounted on backing paper, light creases, Fine and rare.
Estimate $3,000 - 4,000
AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE LINCOLN FREE FRANK AS A CONGRESSMAN; ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED LINCOLN CONGRESSIONAL FREE FRANKS, THIS BEING ONE OF TWO IN PRIVATE HANDS.
Lincoln was Member of Congress from Illinois for only one term from 1847 to 1849. His Congressional free frank is far rarer than his presidential frank, we have known of only three or four in private hands.
Lincoln was writing to Walter Davis, a Springfield mechanic, concerning the land and pension rights of his brother Lt. Thomas Davis, a casualty of the Mexican-American War.
Illustrated in Milgram's Lincoln book on page 231.
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| Realized $4,250 |
