The Emancipation Proclamation

Original 1st Edition of

President Abraham Lincoln's  Emancipation Proclamation!

this is an original leaf of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, printed within days of the issuance of this historical decree. It is from the pages of Harper's Weekly, the most popular newspaper of the day.  We present below a digital image of this 1st edition printing of the emancipation proclamation. We also present transcribed excerpts from the document.

THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
Washington, Monday, September 22
By the President of the United States of America
A PROCLAMATION

I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy thereof, do hereby proclaim and declare, that hereafter, as heretofore, the war will be prosecuted for the object of practically restoring the constitutional relation between the United States and  . . .

the immediate or gradual abolishment of slavery within their respective limits . . .  That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any state, or any designated part of a state, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever, free. The Executive Government of the United States, including military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such  persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

 - - - - -

This leaf was printed within days of Lincoln's declaration of freedom for the slaves.  it is really interesting to hold the document in your hand, and consider the world on the day it was printed.  Lincoln was President of the United States, the Civil War war raging on, and Men, Women and Children were given hope for a brighter future because of the courage of Abraham Lincoln to issue his Emancipation Proclamation.