326. ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809-1865) Sixteenth President of the United States who led the Union through the Civil War and emancipated the slaves, assassinated. Fine A.E.S. on the verso of a petition, 1p. legal folio, Washington, Nov. 3, 1864. Lincoln responds to a petition signed by twenty-two Washington citizens: "...We earnestly recommend the appointment of James A. Wise for the Office of Justice of the Peace...for the District of Columbia. We believe him to be competent to discharge the duties of the Office if he is appointed..." On the verso of the document, on the day before he would be re-elected President of the United States, Lincoln writes: "Let the appointment be made if there is a vacancy. A. Lincoln Nov. 7, 1864". Very good. No doubt this appointment won Lincoln a few votes. In the months before his re-election, Lincoln was pessimistic about the outcome and in the final weeks went to extremes to muster every vote obtainable. $4,000 - 5,000