Description:

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address on Centennial Bronze Plaque. "Unique in private hands."

A bronze plaque commemorating the 100th birthday of 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). Circa February 12, 1909. [Chicago, Illinois.] The plaque contains the entire text of the Gettysburg Address in raised letters and also features Lincoln's facsimile signature at lower right. The plaque reads: "Presented by the Citizens of Chicago on the One-Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of Abraham Lincoln - February 12 1909" along the bottom. Four holes in the corners. A foliate frieze border surrounds the plaque, and the whole is framed within a fumed oak frame showing expected wear. Not examined out of the frame. Expected wear and weathering to the bronze surface including isolated verdigris. A small indentation/point of impact affects the words "little note" near the center. The plaque shifts slightly within the frame. Else near fine and very impressive. The sight size of the plaque is 18.25" x 12.25" while the overall frame size is 24.25" x 18.375" x 1.25." Please note: the piece weighs approximately 17 lbs.

RR Auction sold a similar plaque in their June 2023 sale for $4,441.

This bronze plaque was commissioned by the Lincoln Centennial Memorial Committee of One Hundred, an organization of 100 of Chicago's leading citizens formed to fundraise for and organize Lincoln's centennial birthday celebrations. Chicago's Mayor Fred A. Busse set the stage by officially proclaiming February 7-14, 1909 as Lincoln Centennial Week. The festivities, which ranged from public displays, patriotic decorations, breakfasts, lunches, receptions, parades, and gun salutes, were meant, in Mayor Busse's words, to inspire "the citizens of Chicago to dedicate that week to the study of the life and the words of President Lincoln'" Local newspapers reported that Chicago's Lincoln Birthday Centennial celebrations were among the largest and best in the nation, and estimated that eventually more than $500,000 would be spent.

Celebrations during Lincoln Centennial Week included Woodrow Wilson's address before the city auditorium (while Wilson was still a professor at Princeton University) in addition to a choral and organ concert. The Chicago Woman's Press League, Colored Citizens' Committee, Irish Fellowship League, Chicago Bar Association, and dozens of other civic organizations held their own events to celebrate Lincoln's 1909 birthday.

Our bronze plaque was displayed in Chicago, near Lincoln's hometown of Springfield. A description of the plaque along with its image is included in "Abraham Lincoln: The Tribute of a Century, 1809-1909'" (Chicago: A.C. McClury, 1910) by Nathan W. MacChesney, the Secretary of Chicago's Lincoln Centennial Memorial Committee of One Hundred. Of the plaques, MacChesney wrote: "Beautiful bronze tablets were prepared by the Committee, containing the Gettysburg Address." Some were placed at schools and other institutions, and we are pretty sure that the survival of these plaques is limited as this is the only one we have ever seen or handled. This may indeed be unique in private hands and unattached to a building.

The city of Chicago joined numerous other cities, the federal government, and even foreign nations in celebrating Lincoln's 100th birthday. One of the greatest legacies of Lincoln's Centennial was Congress's authorization of the new Lincoln penny designed by Victor David Brenner in 1909.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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October 18, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000