Rare Early Lincoln Mourning Proclamation Issued Just Hours After Lincoln died

Printed Broadside Proclamation, 6” x 7.75”. Show-through at blank top edge and uniform light show-through from mounting on verso. Magnificent double ornate gilt frame with black matting. Overall size, 17.5” x 19”.

In this proclamation issued by James Y. Smith just hours after Lincoln’s death, the Rhode Island Governor mistakenly reports the death of Secretary of State William H. Seward’s son, Assistant Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward, who recovered from his severe wounds and lived another 50 years.

In full,

“A PROCLAMATION

by

James Y. Smith, Governor 

of the

State of Rhode Island.

LET THE NATION MOURN!! 

Our venerated and beloved President ABRAHAM LINCOLN, is now no more! The hand of the assassin has been laid upon him! He was shot last evening, and expired this morning at 7.22 o’clock! An attempt to assassinate the Secretary of State of the United States was made at the same hour, and his son, the Assistant Secretary, was severely wounded in the defence of his father, and has since died! And these awful crimes committed at the Capital of the nation! What awful deeds are these to be recorded on the page of history!

In view of these appalling events, I.

JAMES Y. SMITH,

Governor of the State of Rhode Island,

do issue this my Proclamation, requesting the clergy of this State to assemble their congregations at the usual hour, at their several places of worship, on

Sunday, the Sixteenth instant,

there to offer up their prayers to Almighty God for our beloved and bereaved country ;– to invoke his aid and blessing in these our severest trials! To save us from confusion and anarchy ; – To ask his forgiveness of our sins : – To implore his counsel for our Rulers, and to impart wisdom to him who is now to assume the high responsibilities that have so suddenly fallen upon him.

Let the people mourn with one accord! Let the deepest sympathy be extended to the bereaved families upon which these terrible afflictions have fallen!

In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of the State of Rhode Island, at the city of Providence, this fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-five, and of the Independence the Eighty-Ninth.

JAMES Y. SMITH.

By His Excellency, John R. Bartlett, Secretary of State.”

An identical proclamation is in The Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana in the Library of Congress.

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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