Title:
1877 Congressional Gallery Admission Ticket – Counting the Electoral Vote for the 1876 Presidential Election – Signed in Facsimile by T.W. Ferry & Samuel J. Randall

Description:
Offered here is a rare and historically significant admission ticket to the U.S. House of Representatives gallery, dated February 13, 1877, issued for public access during the formal counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice President following the contested 1876 U.S. Presidential Election. Printed on heavy blue card stock, this ticket is numbered 1361 in red ink and features a patriotic motif with an American flag and decorative border. It bears printed facsimile signatures of Thomas W. Ferry, President pro tempore of the Senate, and Samuel J. Randall, Speaker of the House. The ticket remains in very fine condition with only minor wear and faint traces of mounting residue on the verso.

Historical Context:
The 1876 presidential election between Republican Rutherford B. Hayes and Democrat Samuel J. Tilden remains one of the most disputed in American history. Tilden won the popular vote and initially appeared to lead in the Electoral College, but returns from Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon were fiercely contested due to allegations of fraud, intimidation, and duplicate returns. With 20 electoral votes in dispute, Congress created a special Electoral Commission composed of 15 members—eight Republicans and seven Democrats—to resolve the outcome.

On February 13, 1877, the House and Senate convened to begin the formal counting of the electoral votes under heightened political tension. The commission ultimately awarded all 20 disputed votes to Hayes, giving him a razor-thin victory by 185 to 184, despite Tilden’s 250,000-vote margin in the popular vote. The result was finalized days later on March 2, 1877, just in time for Hayes’s inauguration. The resolution became known as the Compromise of 1877, in which Democrats acquiesced in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South—effectively ending Reconstruction.

Gallery admission tickets such as this were issued to the public to witness the proceedings, making them rare survivors of one of the most constitutionally fraught transitions of power in American political history.

Authentication & Condition

• Condition: Near fine, with light handling wear and minor tape remnants on the reverse from prior mounting

• 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:
This is a powerful political relic from one of the most controversial and consequential elections in American history. Issued for public admission during the Electoral College vote count of 1877, this ticket is a tangible witness to the democratic crisis that shaped the post-Civil War era. Rarely seen and in excellent condition, it would make a compelling addition to any collection focused on U.S. presidential history, Reconstruction, or electoral politics.

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.