DALLAS, TX.- Heritage Auctions announced The Alfred Orendorff Archive: Treasures from the Law Offices of Abraham Lincoln on July 30.
Every student and collector of Abraham Lincoln knows the name William H. Herndon, Lincoln’s longtime law partner and biographer. However, another major figure, all but lost to history—but eminently worth remembering—is Herndon’s law partner: Alfred Orendorff (1845-1909), an Illinois-born attorney, Civil War veteran and heir to the legal firm that Abraham Lincoln himself had founded decades earlier.
Orendorff preserved a breathtaking collection of Lincoln material, never publicly offered since their creation during Lincoln’s legal career, descending directly from a family connected to the succession line of the Lincoln & Herndon law office. The offering presents a remarkable opportunity to acquire primary-source artifacts from the formative years of Lincoln’s legal career—the profession that forged the intellect, judgment and character of the man who would become the 16th President of the United States. More than historical relics: These original documents, account books, receipts, promissory notes, drafts of legal arguments, handwritten notes, incoming correspondence from clients and friends and some of the surviving furniture from the original Lincoln-Herndon office are a window into Lincoln’s multifaceted professional life.
Among the highlights is Abraham Lincoln’s handwritten, autographed strategy blueprint for his 1858 Senate race against Stephen A. Douglas. This is an extraordinary eight-page analysis of the election that made him a national figure. In this document Lincoln utilizes the election data printed in the newspaper clipping to analyze Illinois legislative districts, calculate Republican and Democratic prospects and identify the contested districts most likely to determine the 1858 United States Senate race. It is estimated to sell for $100,000–$200,000.
Another major highlight is Abraham Lincoln and John Todd Stuart’s office fee book that is signed by Abraham Lincoln 19 times. Nearly all of the entries are in Lincoln’s hand save for approximately 38 entries in John Todd Stuart’s hand. Lincoln writes his own name 19 times in the text as “Lincoln.” It is a remarkable relic from the formative years of Lincoln’s legal career. Scholars generally agree that Lincoln became the law partner of John Todd Stuart, Mary Todd’s first cousin, in April 1837, shortly after being licensed to practice law by the Illinois Supreme Court. This book is generally organized as a chronological record of dates and case names, accompanied by notations concerning each matter, including the fees charged by Stuart & Lincoln. It is estimated to sell for $100,000–$200,000.
It’s not just documents that will be up for auction but the furniture as well, including the secretary desk that watched Lincoln become president. The desk has an unadorned crown molding over two recessed panel doors opening to a bespoke interior for books and ledgers, over a base with fixed slant-front writing surface and long drawer with period etched-glass knobs terminating in baluster-form turned legs. This desk was preserved in the homes of General Alfred Orendorff and his descendants for more than a century; it has remained largely unknown to Lincoln scholars and has rarely been exhibited publicly. It is estimated to sell for $100,000–$200,000.
Another stunning piece of furniture up for auction is the legendary “House Divided” table from the Lincoln & Herndon Law Firm. The table has a rectangular poplar top over a walnut base with two long drawers on baluster-turnings atop square legs, terminating in turned feet. This unassuming table with mismatched wood types, ink stains, scratches and nicks, reinforcement nails and reglued dovetails is exactly the type of furniture one would expect to see in the Lincoln & Herndon Law Firm — symbolic of hard use and work, sturdiness and dependability and void of vanity. It is estimated to sell for $50,000–$100,000.
Other highlights include:
Lincoln’s signed Declaration, Affidavit and Litigation Notes. This lot is three autographed documents comprising a two-and-a-half-page bifolium legal declaration with an integral fold at top edge; one page of litigation notes entitled “Proof” and a one-page affidavit letter. They are signed by Lincoln seven times throughout including four signatures appearing within the body text. It is estimated to sell for $50,000–$100,000.
A Lincoln signed legal opinion for the Illinois Central Railroad on who owned the American Frontier: Lincoln writes and signs a legal opinion addressing the question as to whether settlers could claim pre-emption rights on lands associated with the Illinois Central Railroad Grant. It is estimated to sell for $20,000–$30,000.
A rare Lincoln & Herndon Law Office shopping list. Prepared in Herndon’s hand, this document records expenses incurred in the operation of the Lincoln & Herndon law office during the first years of the partnership. Estimated to sell for $10,000–$20,000.
Lincoln’s autograph indenture for Joshua Fry Speed. A noteworthy land indenture written entirely in Lincoln’s hand and directly connected to Joshua Fry Speed, the Kentucky merchant and lifelong friend whom many historians regard as Lincoln’s closest companion during his adult life. It is estimated to sell for $10,000–$20,000.
The federal land grant for Lincoln’s first piece of America. This grant documents Lincoln’s first known land purchase, made on March 16, 1836, while he was serving in the Illinois House of Representatives and before he had begun the law practice that would eventually provide his financial stability. The 47-acre tract was located near the proposed town site of Huron, Illinois, approximately 12 miles north of New Salem, where Lincoln lived between 1831 and 1837. It is estimated to sell for $10,000–$20,000.
