General Orders No. 1: Thirteenth Amendment. War Department Adjutant General's Office. Washington, January 8, 1866.

8vo, one sheet, printed on both sides. Even toning and aging, small closed tear to the upper margin; otherwise very good. This is a rather scarce government document that informs the military that the "Thirteenth Amendment" has passed, and slavery is officially abolished. Article XIII states "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime, whereby the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." This document is signed in type by William H. Seward (1801-1872) as the Secretary of State. Congress would follow with a Civil Rights Act of 1866 to give African Americans the same rights as all citizens, but this small printed document presenting the essence of the "Thirteenth Amendment" is an important piece of history. ANB. (Inventory #: 100980)