Emancipation Proclamation

The Union victory at Antietam gave President Lincoln the opportunity to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. This emancipation took effect on January 1, 1863, declaring slaves in rebel states "forever free." Although the Proclamation by itself did not actually free any slaves, it was an important step toward abolition of slavery.

This document comes on two sheets of aged-looking parchment paper and comes in its own envelope.