Early Printing of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Freeing All Slaves in Confederate-Held Territory
Rochester, NY: Moore's Rural New Yorker, 1863. Very Good. Item #18460
A January 10, 1863 complete printing of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in Confederate-held territory.
This printing features Lincoln's signature in block type at the end of the Proclamation, and is on an inside page of the newspaper, in the section dedicated to news of the war and political news coming from Washington, DC.
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared that all enslaved people in Confederate territory were to be freed. This pivotal moment in the Civil War redefined the conflict as one focused on ending slavery, not just preserving the Union. While it didn't immediately free all enslaved people (as it didn't apply to border states or areas under Union control), it was a crucial step toward the eventual abolition of slavery and marked a turning point in the war.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
The Emancipation Proclamation declared that enslaved people in Confederate territory were to be considered free. It did not apply to the border states that remained loyal to the Union, nor to Confederate areas already under Union control.
Lincoln framed the proclamation as a military necessity, aimed at weakening the Confederacy by depriving them of their labor force and bolstering the Union cause.
Despite its limitations, the proclamation was a powerful symbol of freedom and a turning point in the war. It transformed the conflict from one primarily about preserving the Union into a war to end slavery.
The proclamation paved the way for the recruitment of Black soldiers into the Union army and navy, further strengthening the Union forces and solidifying the war's focus on emancipation.
It's important to note that the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery everywhere. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1865, ultimately abolished slavery nationwide.
This newspaper is complete in eight pages and in Very Good condition, with a light dampstain across the lower fore edge portion of the paper. Disbound. #2F-014.
Price: $225.00