Slavery-Ending Documents Signed by Abraham Lincoln Could Rake in a Collective $17M at Auction
Two era-defining documents that ended slavery and reshaped United States history are going under the hammer. The copies of the 13th Amendment (estimated at $8 million to $12 million) and the Emancipation Proclamation (estimated at $3 million to $5 million) are both signed by President Abraham Lincoln — and the landmark documents, rarely seen together, will headline Sotheby’s Fine Books and Manuscripts auction in New York on June 26. They offer collectors a rare glimpse into the enduring legacy of Lincoln’s vision for the legal abolition of slavery. While the Emancipation Proclamation introduced partial emancipation, the 13th Amendment was the first instance in which abolition was enshrined in U.S. law. The latter’s ratification in 1865 marked the first change to the Constitution in 60 years. According to Sotheby’s, the documents are considered the most valuable copies of their kind ever to reach auction. Their appearance together at the event not only marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s history, but also underscores Lincoln’s commitment to ending slavery — an act he considered his greatest achievement as president. The 13th Amendment copy on offer is among only 15 recorded manuscript copies signed by Lincoln, and one of just nine with his signature alongside those of the senators and congressmen who passed it for ratification by the states. Of these, only four remain in private hands, with this example bearing the most signatures of supporting legislators — an extraordinary 96%.
