President Johnson's Impeachment Trial Ticket for Female Spectator

Measuring 3.5" x 2.75", [Washington, D.C.], dated April 1, 1868. A printed yellow ticket admitting the bearer to the "Gallery" of the U.S. Senate to view to Impeachment Trial of President Andrew Johnson. Signed at the bottom "Geo. T. Brown" as Sergeant-at-Arms. Such tickets were printed by Philp & Solomons Washington, the publishing house that held the U.S. government's printing contracts. This ticket is of particular interest because it was awarded to a female audience member. On verso, the ticket bears the name "Mrs. George R. Brag/Washington, D.C."

Andrew Johnson became the first American president to be impeached on March 2, 1868. Impeachment proceedings were levied against sitting President Johnson after he removed Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton from office in February 1868. Congress had recently passed the Tenure of Office Act in 1867 in order to restrict executive authority in hiring and firing office holders without Senate approval. Johnson was charged with eleven articles of impeachment, the majority of which related to his alleged violation of the Tenure of Office Act. The trial took place between March 5th and May 16, 1868, when President Johnson was finally acquitted of all charges. During the trial, approximately 1,000 attendance tickets were printed for each daily session, with each printed on different color pasteboard. Tickets ranged in color: white, red, mauve, yellow, green, purple, blue, and orange.

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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