Skip to Main Content Skip to Header Menu Skip to Main Menu Skip to Category Menu Skip to Footer

PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON - CIVIL APPOINTMENT SIGNED 04/27/1865 CO-SIGNED BY: WILLIAM HUNTER - HFSID 4760

One day after the slaying of Lincoln's assassin, President Johnson appoints a postmaster. The document was countersigned by Hunter, Acting Secretary of State, while Secretary Seward recuperated from wounds inflicted by Booth's accomplice.

Price: $3,000.00

Condition: Fine condition Add to watchlist:
Chat now or call 800-425-5379

ANDREW JOHNSON and WILLIAM HUNTER
One day after the slaying of Lincoln's assassin, President Johnson appoints a postmaster. The document was countersigned by Hunter, Acting Secretary of State, while Secretary Seward recuperated from wounds inflicted by Booth's accomplice.
Civil Appointment Signed: "Andrew Johnson" as President and "W. Hunter" as Acting Secretary of State, 1p, 16x10. 3¼-inch diameter white paper seal affixed with red wax at left. Washington, 1865 April 27. Signed just 12 days after Abraham Lincoln's death. In part: "Know Ye, That, reposing trust and confidence in the Integrity, Ability, and Punctuality of Archibald M. Hayes, I do appoint him Deputy Postmaster at Hastings, in the State of Minnesota...." The day before Johnson signed this appointment, Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth and co-conspirator David Herold were surrounded by Federal troops in a barn in Virginia. Herold surrendered, but Booth refused to come out. The barn was set afire, and Sergeant Boston Corbett fired into the burning building, mortally wounding Booth. This document was countersigned by WILLIAM HUNTER, who was acting Secretary of State while William H. Seward and his son were recovering from wounds they received after Booth's accomplice, Lewis Payne, forced his way into Seward's home on that fateful evening of April 14, 1865. Seward, in bed recovering from an April 5th carriage accident, was stabbed several times. Only his neck brace, which deflected some of the blows, saved his life. His son, Assistant Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward, fought off Payne, who managed to escape. In 1866, Hunter was appointed second Assistant Secretary of State by a special act of Congress, an office he held until his death in 1886. Lightly creased, folds are lightly shaded. Pinhead-size holes at cross folds. 1/8-inch show through at lower left margin of stray ink stain on verso. ¾-inch light stain at lower left edge. Overall, fine condition.

This website image may contain our company watermark. The actual item does not contain this watermark
See more listings from these signers
Make an offer today and get a quick response
Check your account for the status.

Following offer submission users will be contacted at their account email address within 48 hours. Our response will be to accept your offer, decline your offer or send you a final counteroffer. All offers can be viewed from within the "Offer Review" area of your HistoryForSale account. Please review the Make Offer Terms prior to making an offer.

If you have not received an offer acceptance or counter-offer email within 24-hours please check your spam/junk email folder.

 

Fast World-Wide Shipping

Fast FedEx and USPS shipping

Authenticity Guarantee

COA with every purchase

All Questions Answered

Contact us day or night

Submit an Offer Today

Get a quick response