The New York Observer September 25th, 1862, 2 pages, one large page folded. This is a very early printing, in a newspaper, of the proclamation Abraham Lincoln made toward enforcement of freeing of southern slaves. President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in the midst of the Civil War, announcing on September 22, 1862, that if the rebels did not end the fighting and rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states would be free. The proclamation by Lincoln is on page #310 covering most of the middle column.

This example is very fresh and bright with the hint of toning at the outer edges was previously bound and having little de-bounding damage to the gutter. It does, however, have the top left corner torn away leaving a 1.25"x 1.5" mostly square h. 25.25, w. 18.75"