Nate D. Saunders Auctions sold a rare lot related to the black page in US history - the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. This is a bounty notice for the capture of John Wilkes Booth and two associates, printed by the War Department in Washington, April 20, 1865. Only five surviving copies of the announcement are known, in particular, this one was purchased for 166.3 thousand dollars.
On a piece of paper measuring 56x30 cm, the amount of the reward is indicated in large letters - 100 thousand dollars for the killer. Printed below is Booth's description: it is noted here that the perpetrator has black hair and a thick black mustache. However, a second version of the announcement came out a little later, with the clarification that Bout could prudently shave his mustache. Accomplices are also mentioned: John H. Surratt and David E. Herold with a mistake in the name (David C. Harold instead of David E. Herold). Previously, this copy has never been put up for sale.
John Booth was an American actor. In the political field, he opposed those who wished to abolish slavery in the country, participated in an anti-government conspiracy. A gunman shot Lincoln during a performance of "My American Cousin" at the Ford Theater (Washington). Booth managed to escape due to the confusion and went into hiding for several days. He was killed on April 26, six days after the announcement went out of print.
