Hand-written Lincoln Speech to Be Gaveled Next Week

For sale on his 200th birthday, Christie's estimates document could go for as high as $4 million

From the Sun-Times News Group:

As 1,500 "serenaders" gathered on the White House lawn, President Lincoln came to a window and made a speech by candlelight. "Not very graceful" was how he assessed his performance.

"I am growing old enough not to care much,'' he said. "People attach too much importance to what I say, anyhow."

But the speech, given on Nov. 10, 1864, after Lincoln was elected to a second term, is considered significant.

In the speech, he notes that a successful election was held by a nation in the middle of a civil war -- showing "how sound, and how strong we still are."

A copy of Lincoln's second victory speech, written in his own hand, will be on display today at the Chicago office of the Christie's auction house -- the first time it has been on public view since 1976.

It's expected to fetch $3 million to $4 million when it goes on auction Feb. 12 in New York. After a private showing Tuesday night, the speech goes on public display today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Christie's at 875 N. Michigan, Suite 3810.