Document Signed.
Illinois representative (1843-47) and senator (1847-61) known as the "Little Giant" and remembered for his series of debates with Lincoln in the 1858 presidential election. Item #51750
DS, 1p, approx. 7½" X 7 3/4", n.p. [likely Springfield, IL], n.y. [ca. 1840s]. Very good. Lightly age toned, with bit of 2" tape show-through at lower left corner. Boldly penned legal document concerning the disposition of property in the case of Charles Poling vs. John Harrison. In part: "Now on this day came Charles Gilman Esqr. the commissioner heretofore appointed to make sale of the premises in complainants said bill described, & filed his Report here [three lines heavily redacted and thus largely illegible] which Report being by the court examined, is approved & ordered to be Recorded & is in the words & figures following...." Signed hastily per usual by Douglas at the conclusion. From the collection of Adlai E. Stevenson II (1900-65), Illinois governor and twice presidential candidate and in his original framing (single brown mat and simple wooden frame (overall dimensions 11 3/4" X 22"). Above this document is a 5" X 7¼" mat opening featuring a superb head-and-shoulders steel-engraved portrait of Douglas. Framing is very good, with tiny nicks and scratches -- but is retained because of its historic nature. Also present is a copy of a Typed Note Signed from his son, Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930-2021), 1p, 8½" X 11", Chicago, IL, 11 June 2002. "The framed document signed by Stephen A. Douglas... was inherited from my father. It was a gift from a supporter. Unhappily my records do not reflect the identity of the donor...." Governor Stevenson was a Lincoln buff and very history minded, but not an autograph collector per se -- but as presidential candidate in 1952 and 1956 he was occasionally sent pieces such as this by admirers. A provocative piece with intriguing provenance.
Price: $1,500.00