A document signed by Andrew Johnson as President of the United States, dated September 23, 1868. The document authorizes and directs the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to the envelope of a letter addressed to the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, noted as a letter of congratulation. The document measures approximately 7.75 by 9.25 inches and features Johnson’s full signature at the lower right in bold ink.
It is attractively framed with a period portrait engraving of Johnson, housed in a frame measuring approximately 15.5 by 20.25 inches overall. Issued during the final months of Johnson’s presidency, this piece reflects the formalities of international diplomacy and offers an uncommon example of presidential correspondence involving a reigning monarch.
Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875) was the 17th president of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He assumed the presidency following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, as he was vice president at that time. Johnson was a Southern Democrat who ran with Abraham Lincoln on the National Union Party ticket, coming to office as the Civil War concluded. He favored quick restoration of the seceded states to the Union without protection for the newly freed people who were formerly enslaved, as well as pardoning ex-Confederates. This led to conflict with the Republican-dominated Congress, culminating in his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1868. He was acquitted in the Senate by one vote.
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