Booth, John Wilkes | Document signed, being a receipt for five months rent due Booth's sister

Booth, John Wilkes

Document signed ("J. Wilkes Booth for M.A. Booth"), being a receipt for $125 from John B. Nedy for five months rent due Booth's sister, Mary Ann 

1 page (153 x 191 mm) on lined paper, Baltimore, 16 November 1863, with the printed caption laid down at bottom: "J. Wilkes Booth, The Assassin of Lincoln | There is no rarer American autograph"; old folds, small chips and tears to top edge, unobtrusive mounting remnants to verso. [Accompanied by]: Carte-de-visite photograph of John Wilkes Booth, albumen photograph (93 x 54 mm), mounted on a slightly large card with "The New Orleans Photographic Co. | 57 Camp Street" credit printed on the reverse; some light spotting, a bit of wear to corners. 

After Lincoln's assassination, most Booth memorabilia was destroyed, contributing to the scarcity of autograph material available today. A nice group, including a carte-de-visite showing Booth dressed in coat and hat, holding a walking stick, and leaning on a balustrade before a column.

PROVENANCE:

Charles Goddard Slack, his sale, Sotheby's New York, 16 December 1992, lot 19 — Charles Stickel Autographs, March 1999