Title:
Ulysses S. Grant Authentic Autograph - Bold Full Signature of the Civil War General and 18th President - PSA/DNA Certified and Encapsulated - Certification No. 85685896
Description:
A handsome and exceptionally bold autograph of Ulysses S. Grant, commanding general of the Union armies during the Civil War and later the 18th President of the United States. Grant has signed the approximately rectangular album or autograph-book cut in dark ink:
"U. S. Grant"
The signature is large, fluid, and immediately recognizable, with Grant's characteristic sweeping penmanship occupying much of the available writing surface. The autograph remains dark and exceptionally legible against the lightly toned paper.
The signed cut has been professionally mounted within a larger period-toned backing and permanently encapsulated in a PSA holder. The reverse is blank apart from the mounting material visible within the encapsulation.
The exact date and original source of the autograph are N/A. As a detached signature, it cannot be assigned specifically to Grant's Civil War command or presidential years without additional provenance. Nevertheless, it represents a direct autograph of one of the central figures of the Civil War, the Lincoln administration, and Reconstruction.
Historical Context:
Ulysses S. Grant stands among the most consequential American military and political figures of the nineteenth century. Born in Ohio on April 27, 1822, Grant graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1843 and served with distinction during the Mexican-American War. After leaving the Army in 1854, he returned to military service following the outbreak of the Civil War and rapidly emerged as one of the Union's most successful commanders.
Grant's career is inseparably connected with President Abraham Lincoln. Following Grant's victories in the Western Theater, including the crucial Vicksburg campaign, Lincoln promoted him to lieutenant general and placed him in command of all United States armies in March 1864. From that position, Grant directed the coordinated military campaigns that ultimately destroyed the Confederacy's ability to continue the war. The National Park Service confirms that Grant was appointed by Lincoln to command all Union armies and that he supported Lincoln's central wartime objectives of preserving the Union and advancing emancipation.
The culmination came at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Grant. Grant offered comparatively generous terms, permitting Confederate soldiers to return home and allowing men who owned horses to take them with them for spring planting.
The timing was tragically close to Lincoln's death. Only five days after Lee's surrender, on April 14, 1865, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre and died the following morning. Grant therefore occupies an especially important position in Lincoln collecting: he was the general whom Lincoln ultimately entrusted with supreme military command and the commander whose campaigns brought the Confederacy to the point of surrender just days before the assassination.
Grant subsequently became a national political figure. Elected President in 1868, he served as the 18th President of the United States from 1869 through 1877. His administration confronted the enormous challenges of Reconstruction, and Grant supported federal protection of African American civil and voting rights. His presidency also saw the creation of the Department of Justice and the use of federal authority against Ku Klux Klan violence.
Grant died on July 23, 1885, shortly after completing his celebrated memoirs. His life thus encompassed an extraordinary progression from West Point cadet and Mexican War officer to Union general, trusted commander under Abraham Lincoln, victor at Appomattox, and two-term President of the United States.
Authentication & Encapsulation:
This Ulysses S. Grant autograph has been authenticated and permanently encapsulated by PSA/DNA. The PSA certification label identifies the piece as:
"CUT
ULYSSES S. GRANT
PSA/DNA CERTIFIED
AUTHENTIC AUTO"
PSA Certification No. 85685896.
The encapsulation protects the original nineteenth-century autograph while allowing the signature to remain clearly visible. The substantial contrast between Grant's dark ink and the lighter paper provides excellent display quality, while PSA/DNA authentication gives collectors independent third-party confirmation of the autograph's authenticity.
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Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer's request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional "Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate" signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.
Closing Appeal:
An impressive, boldly executed autograph of Ulysses S. Grant, combining exceptional visual presence with direct associations to Abraham Lincoln, Union victory, Appomattox, Reconstruction, and the American presidency. Grant signatures are particularly desirable because they cross several major collecting fields: presidential autographs, Civil War history, Abraham Lincoln material, military history, and nineteenth-century Americana. With its unusually prominent signature, strong ink, attractive presentation, and PSA/DNA certification, this example offers an excellent opportunity to acquire the autograph of the general Lincoln elevated to command all Union armies and the future President whose name became permanently associated with Union victory.
Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer