LINCOLN, ABRAHAM, ASSASSINATION]. $30,000 Reward. Description of John Wilkes Booth! Who Assassinated the President on the Evening of April 14, 1865....Description of the Person who Attempted to Assassinate Hon. W.H. Seward, Secretary of State....The Common Council of Washington,D.C., have offered a reward of $20,000 for the arrest and convictions of these Assassins, in addition to which I will pay $10,000. L.C. Baker, Colonel and Agent War Department. [Washington, ca. 16 April 1865]. Broadside handbill, 1 page, 253 x 201 mm. (10 x 7 7/8 in.). various contemporary dockets on verso. THE "COMMON COUNCIL" REWARD BROADSIDE: EARLIEST AND RAREST OF THE LINCOLN ASSASSINATION REWARD BROADSIDES One of apparently only four extant copies of this fragile handbill which was printed in Washington not long after Lincoln's death to publicize the large cash reward to be paid for the capture of John Wilkes Booth and Lewis Payne (other conspirators were identified later). It announces a reward of $20,000 voted by the Common Council of the District of Columbia and an additional $10,000 pledged by Lafayette Curry Baker. In contrast to the better known War Department reward poster (see following lot), the description of Booth given here is quite detailed: "Height 5 feet 8 inches; weight 160 pounds; compact built; hair jet black, inclined to curl, medium length, parted behind; eyes black, and heavy dark eye-brows; wears a large seal ring on little finger; when talking inclines head forward; looks down." Payne's description is even more detailed, comprising a full ten lines text, and adding details of the overcoat he was believed to be wearing. Colonel L. C. Baker of New York was responsible for organizing and carrying out the pursuit of Booth and Herold into Virginia under the command of Edward Doherty; Baker was promoted to Brigadier General on 26 April 1865, the same day Booth was shot and killed by members of Doherty's detachment. Recorded copies of the handbill include one at the Library of Congress, a copy owned by descendants of Doherty (sale, Swann Galleries, 6 October 1988, lot 124) and a copy owned by descendants of L.C. Baker (sale, Sotheby's, 12 December 1991, lot 127, $16,000).
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM, ASSASSINATION]. $30,000 Reward. Description of John Wilkes Booth! Who Assassinated the President on the Evening of April 14, 1865....Description of the Person who Attempted to Assassinate Hon. W.H. Seward, Secretary of State....The Common Council of Washington,D.C., have offered a reward of $20,000 for the arrest and convictions of these Assassins, in addition to which I will pay $10,000. L.C. Baker, Colonel and Agent War Department. [Washington, ca. 16 April 1865]. Broadside handbill, 1 page, 253 x 201 mm. (10 x 7 7/8 in.). various contemporary dockets on verso. THE "COMMON COUNCIL" REWARD BROADSIDE: EARLIEST AND RAREST OF THE LINCOLN ASSASSINATION REWARD BROADSIDES One of apparently only four extant copies of this fragile handbill which was printed in Washington not long after Lincoln's death to publicize the large cash reward to be paid for the capture of John Wilkes Booth and Lewis Payne (other conspirators were identified later). It announces a reward of $20,000 voted by the Common Council of the District of Columbia and an additional $10,000 pledged by Lafayette Curry Baker. In contrast to the better known War Department reward poster (see following lot), the description of Booth given here is quite detailed: "Height 5 feet 8 inches; weight 160 pounds; compact built; hair jet black, inclined to curl, medium length, parted behind; eyes black, and heavy dark eye-brows; wears a large seal ring on little finger; when talking inclines head forward; looks down." Payne's description is even more detailed, comprising a full ten lines text, and adding details of the overcoat he was believed to be wearing. Colonel L. C. Baker of New York was responsible for organizing and carrying out the pursuit of Booth and Herold into Virginia under the command of Edward Doherty; Baker was promoted to Brigadier General on 26 April 1865, the same day Booth was shot and killed by members of Doherty's detachment. Recorded copies of the handbill include one at the Library of Congress, a copy owned by descendants of Doherty (sale, Swann Galleries, 6 October 1988, lot 124) and a copy owned by descendants of L.C. Baker (sale, Sotheby's, 12 December 1991, lot 127, $16,000).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
