Abraham Lincoln’s status as one of America’s greatest presidents makes his signature hugely sought after.

Values have been rising for a long time.

Here are some of the reasons for the phenomenal demand.  

Legacy

Abraham Lincoln is among the most venerated of all US presidents.

You only have to look at his achievements to see why.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

He commanded the Union during the Civil War. Brought a shattered nation together.  Freed millions from slavery.

Then there’s his legendary skill as a public speaker.

The Gettysburg Address is one of the greatest speeches ever given, still memorised by American schoolchildren generations later.

Lincoln was humble. He was born on a frontier farm in Illinois. He got where he was through sheer grit and determination. His honesty is legendary. These are the qualities Americans most prize. 

Finally, his assassination made him a martyr.

He’s one of only four US presidents to have been murdered in office. This has certainly had an impact on the way he was remembered.

Lincoln’s vast memorial in Washington, DC was built three years after he was killed and shows the depth of public feeling at the time.

High supply, higher demand

Lincoln’s signature is not all that rare.

He was a prolific letter writer.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

As a lawyer, congressman and president, he signed thousands of documents.

And while much of his correspondence is kept in museums, plenty is available on the private market.

But, despite the wide availability, you’ll struggle to find a signature for less than $3,000.

That’s because demand is through the roof.

It’s not just presidential collectors who are in the market for a Lincoln autograph. He’s such an inspirational figure that those outside the hobby are keen to own one.

A tiered market

The strength of demand has created a tiered market for Lincoln memorabilia.

At the bottom you have cut signatures and less consequential letters and documents. These typically sell at around $5,000.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

At the top, you have one-of-a-kind items like a handwritten speech Lincoln gave two days after his second election. It sold for $3.4m in 2009.

The middle is made up of a broad range of pieces, but the general rule is the more connected an item is to a key moment in Lincoln’s presidency, the more valuable it is.

These breadth of prices make owning a Lincoln signature a possibility for buyers from a range of backgrounds.

And the steady growth makes him a strong investment proposition at all levels.

Paul Fraser.

PS. Do you have an Abraham Lincoln signature you’re looking to sell? I may be able to help. Get in touch today at info@paulfrasercollectibles.com.