President Abraham Lincoln signed pardon release order for Wilburn Bybee dated Oct. 7, 1864, partially printed on blue paper, approx. 8" x 10", adhered within the book "Abraham Lincoln, A History" by John G. Nicolay and John Hay (New York: The Century Company, 1890; measuring 9" x 6 1/2"), along with unrelated letters autographed by the book's authors. These letters, also adhered to the front leaves, include a handwritten note on Supreme Court of the United States letterhead addressed to Harry Hance of West Chester, PA and dated March 11, 1886, reading "My Dear Sir, I regret I am unable to send you an autograph of President Lincoln or to indicate where one could be obtained. Yours Truly, John G. Nicolay"; and a printed note, signed in ink, on Department of State letterhead dated April 6, 1901 and addressed to Fred M. Hopkins of New York, reading "Dear Sir: The address you speak of was published by John Lane in London. I think he also has a publishing office in New York. I am not able to say whether he has any copies of the address on hand. I regret I have none myself. Yours sincerely, John Hay." A note fully adhered to the front fly leaf from the bookseller Harry E. Davis of Chicago explains that this book was the first of ten volumes of the original 1890 edition of the first book publication of "Abraham Lincoln: A History" by Nicolay and Hay; that the three signed inserts contain original signatures; and that the book was bound in full dark blue Morocco with emblematic tooling to the order of Randall E. Briscoe, Houston, Texas, 1952. John Nicolay (1831-1902) and John Hay (1838-1905) were Lincoln's private secretaries and biographers. After Lincoln's assassination, both continued in political careers. Nicolay went on to be Marshall of the U.S. Supreme Court and Hay later became the U.S. Secretary of State under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Wilburn Bybee of Barren County, Kentucky, was incarcerated for "Robbing the U.S. Mail." His pardon case file is on record at the National Archives/Library of Congress and may be viewed online at http://lincolnpapers2.dataformat.com/images/1864/10/243400.pdf . Provenance: the estate of Capt. L. Bush Cole, Nashville, Tennessee (formerly of Texas). (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com)

Center fold of pardon paper and left edges of Nicolay and Hay letters have been adhered with linen tape into the fly leafs of the book at its hinge and we have not attempted to remove them; signatures are in good, clear condition and unaffected by any adhesive or folds. The letters do show some light discoloration and small stains. Book exterior in overall good condition with a few scratches to the back cover and light edge toning. Silk end papers have some minor foxing and glue staining at edges. NOTE: ONLY Volume 1 is present.