Description:

Gideon Welles
n.p., May 22, 1865
Post Lincoln Assassination Gideon Welles Boldly Signs Telegram! PSA/DNA
DS

Civil War era Telegram Signed by Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, dated May 22, 1865, and sent from the Navy Department. The telegram is handwritten on lined stationery and addressed to Aaron F. Perry of Cincinnati, Ohio, regarding arrangements for a visit to Newport. Expected folds and toning, boldly signed. The document measures 7.75" x 9.75" and is encapsulated by PSA/DNA to an overall size of 10" x 13."

In full:

"Navy Department,
May 22, 1865
Aaron F. Perry, Esq.,
Cincinnati, Ohio
If you can reach Newport by June 1st, it will do.
G. Welles
Sec'y of the Navy"

Gideon Welles (1802–1878) served as Secretary of the Navy from 1861 to 1869 and played a pivotal role in the expansion and modernization of the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. A trusted member of President Lincoln's cabinet, Welles was instrumental in implementing the Union blockade strategy that crippled the Confederacy's economy.

This telegram was sent just five weeks after the assassination of President Lincoln, during the early Reconstruction era. Welles continued to serve under President Andrew Johnson, navigating the Navy's transition from wartime operations to peacetime administration. The recipient, Aaron F. Perry, was a prominent Cincinnati lawyer and later a U.S. Congressman, reflecting the document's connection to the political and legal spheres of the time.

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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  • Medium: DS

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July 16, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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