LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Letter signed as President-elect ("A. Lincoln") to Charles E. Bennett, Springfield, IL, 6 December 1860. The text is in the hand of John Nicolay, Lincoln's secretary and biographer.

One page, bifolium, 130 x 198mm. (unevenly toned from prior framing, adhered sticker at upper-left, light fingersoiling).

Exactly one month after his election to the presidency on November 6th, Lincoln forwards his autograph to a collector. Only set to take office in March 1861, President-elect Lincoln signed this letter from Springfield, where he remained until his travel to Washington. During these interim months, infuriated secessionists were racing to leave the Union before he officially took office. Exactly two weeks after this letter was sent, South Carolina became the first to secede from the Union on December 20th, 1860. Signed items from Lincoln as Presidential-elect are particularly scarce.