SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State Jesse White announced today
that his office has recovered two historic documents missing from
the state of Illinois for more than half a century.
"The documents are warrants for payments, which are today's
equivalent of checks," White said. "One warrant is from 1841 and
is made out to Abraham Lincoln. The other warrant is from 1842
and is made out to Stephen Douglas."
White, who serves as state archivist, said both warrants had
been listed for sale in an auction catalogue. His staff had been
tipped off about the sale and began pursuit of the documents,
which are official government records and legally belong to the
state of Illinois.
Like checks, the backs of the warrants had to be signed to
be redeemed. The Lincoln warrant, with Lincoln's signature on
the back, was expected to sell for between $4,000 to $6,000. The
Douglas warrant was expected to sell for $500 to $700.
"The Lincoln warrant is interesting because not only is it
signed by Lincoln, but it also is signed by the state's auditor,
James Shields," White said. "Shields would later challenge
Lincoln to a duel, which almost occurred. He also would become
the only man ever elected to the United States Senate from three
states."
"The Douglas warrant also is interesting, because he signed
his last name ‘Douglass.' Later in his life, he would drop the
second ‘s' from the end of his name."
White said a company known as Remember When Auctions,
located in Maine, had put the two warrants up for sale.
He added that Remember When did not know the warrants were
state property and, when contacted by the Secretary of State's
legal staff, the company agreed to return the documents.
According to White, a number of warrants and receipts were
lost or taken from the state in the late 1940s.
Since that time, most valuable state records have been
transferred to the Illinois State Archives, which has numerous
safeguards to protect its documents from theft.
In addition, the Archives has catalogued as many of the
missing documents as possible, so as to have proof of state
ownership if and when these documents go on sale or become known.
Last fall, White's office recovered another Lincoln
document, this one a receipt for a warrant that had been cut out
of a register book. Archives staff took action when it was
placed for sale over the Internet. Bidding on that document had
reached more than $3,500 before the Secretary of State's office
stopped the sale.
"Part of my job as State Archivist is to protect and
preserve valuable government records," White said. "When we
learn of a document that legally belongs to the people of
Illinois, we always attempt to get it back. The public's help in
telling us the whereabouts of stolen documents is vital to our
efforts."
The warrant from 1841 made out to Abraham Lincoln for $10 (FRONT)
The famous Lincoln signature. (Back)
The Douglas warrant (FRONT)
Signed ‘Douglass.' Later in his life, he would drop the second ‘s' from the end of his name. (Back)
