ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809 - April 15, 1865). 16th President of the United States, serving throughout the American Civil War, until his Assassination at Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth on April 15th 1865.
September 28, 1857-Dated, Partly-Printed Document, Personal Check Signed, "A. Lincoln", 1 page, measures about 7.5" x 2.5", Springfield (IL), Very Fine. A rare Abraham Lincoln Signed "Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Company" Personal Check. Fine cut cancels well above and not affecting Lincoln's signature, central spindle hole, some trivial pinholes, worn along the vertical fold, some edge soiling. This historic Check has top and bottom border lines with a left margin printed vignette of a Sailing Ship along with a closer Steam powered ship. Being a Bank Check printed in deep blue ink on off-white wove period paper, drawn on Lincoln's personal account at the "Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Company" made out in the amount of "Fourteen 70/100 Dollars," in payment to "R.F. Ruth." Reuben F. Ruth operated a harness and leather shop on the South Side of Springfield’s Public Square. The signature of the future President, "A. Lincoln" is well written in rich brown ink measuring about 1.75" long within the light blue signature block at lower right.
Abraham Lincoln opened his account at Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Company on March 1, 1853 and remained a customer until his death. "When coupled with what we know of Lincoln's life, his bank account becomes an important historical document. For the first few years it was meager enough... A transaction or two a year, or at best a half dozen, is all the account shows until 1859, when it suddenly became active... The bank has since changed hands to its current designation as JP Morgan Chase Bank" (Springfield Historic Destinations Examiner).
A fine opportunity to add this important addition to a collection of Presidential checks.
