Description:

A rare and early document from Abraham Lincoln's years in New Salem, Illinois - one of only two manuscript land surveys in his hand that have appeared on the market in the past forty years!

Rare and early Autograph Document Signed "A. Lincoln" as Deputy Surveyor of Sangamon County, Illinois, 6.75" x 12", [near Cantrall, Illinois], September 5, 1834, a survey for a plot of land for William G. Cantrall. Expected folds, one of which intersects Lincoln's signature but does not detract, light toning, margins slightly irregular, else very good.

A twenty-five year old Lincoln performs a survey for a family who also hailed from his home state of Kentucky. Reads, in full: "Surveyed for William G. Cantrill [sic, Cantrall] the following tract of land (to Wit) Beginning at the South East corner of the West half of the North East quarter of Section 20 in Township 17 North of Range 5 West at a White Oak, 20 inches in diameter bearing South 60 degrees West 33 Links Thence West 31 chains & 50 Links to a Hickory 20 in & 50 Links to a Hickory 20 inches N 48 W. 25 Links Thence North 20 chains to a stake Thence East 31 chains & 50 Links to a Spanish Oak 20 inches S 66 W 42 - Links- Thence South 20 chains to the beginning„ J. Calhoun SSC By A. Lincoln" Lincoln identifies the chainmen as Williams's sons: "Joshua M. Cantrill" and "Adam M. Cantrill." At the bottom, Lincoln performed a calculation in ink (dividing 10,080 by 160). Just below the survey, in another hand, a penciled note indicates that "Wm G Contrall & Deborah his Wife [bequeathed the land] to Joshua M. Cantrall."

In 1831, after his father had moved the family from Indiana to Coles County, Illinois, Lincoln struck out on his own, settling in New Salem on the banks of the Sangamon River the same year. In 1832, he purchased interest in the Berry-Herndon store in New Salem. In partnership with William F. Berry, Lincoln also purchased the store of a competitor. Neither venture proved successful and Lincoln soon found himself at the mercy of his creditors. In November 1834, the sheriff sized his horse, saddle, bridle, and his surveying instruments to satisfy a judgment against him. A friend, James Short, purchased the surveying instruments for $125 and returned them to Lincoln. Lincoln soon recovered from his setback. In December 1834, he began his first term in the Illinois Legislature, partly motivated by a need to satisfy what he called his "national debt." Until 1836, Lincoln also supplemented his income with additional surveys.

Lincoln conducted the present survey for William Graham Cantrall (1784-1867). Born in Virginia, Cantrall migrated with his parents to Kentucky in 1789. Soon after his marriage to Deborah Mills (1785-1856), he moved to Sangamon County, Illinois. His son, and one of the chainmen mentioned in the survey, Joshua Mitts Cantrall (1810-1881) had been recently married and apparently settled on the property surveyed by Lincoln, located approximately two miles south of Cantrall, Illinois. The other Chainman, Adam M. Cantrall, was born to William Graham in 1815 and died in 1882. (Carmi G. Cantrell, The Cantrell Family, 1898).

Extremely Rare. Surveys executed and recorded by Abraham Lincoln are extremely rare. Sangamon County Surveyor John Calhoun appointed Lincoln a deputy surveyor in 1833, though the earliest known survey conducted by Lincoln is dated January 14, 1834 (Basler), and he continued conducting surveys until November 1836 (Lincoln Day by Day, 1:32, 61). Because Lincoln's surveys were conducted primarily for town and county governments rather than individual land holders, most extant examples reside in government archives and institutional collections. The present example is not recorded in Basler.

Only one other manuscript survey in Lincoln's hand has appeared in the market in the past forty years, according to American Book Prices Current. That example, a survey dated March 3, 1834, sold for an astonishing $16,500 at Sotheby's in 1987, at a time when average Lincoln documents were fetching only a tenth of this figure (Sotheby's, New York, May 13, 1987, Lot 83). Another survey, credited to Lincoln, but not in in his hand, sold the next year for $8,600 (Sotheby's, New York, October 26, 1988, lot 104). Over a decade later, a deed, dated April 2, 1834, partly completed and signed by Lincoln (using the same type of language found in surveys to define the land in question) brought over $40,000 (Christie's, New York, December 10, 1999 lot 110).

The fact that the survey is completed on a single page makes this document ideal for display. Neither the March 3, 1834 survey nor the April 2, 1834 deed are completed on a single page.

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