Restoration of a Civil War Document Signed by President Abraham Lincoln

One of the most historically significant items entrusted to our studio was a United States Navy Captain's Commission from the American Civil War, personally signed by President Abraham Lincoln. As both a military appointment and an important family heirloom, the document represented a remarkable piece of American history. Unfortunately, decades of improper storage and display had left it in urgent need of professional conservation.

The commission had been mounted in an inexpensive five-and-dime store frame without a proper munting board or mat, with glass that later broke and was never replaced. Over many years, exposure to fluctuating temperature and humidity caused the vellum on which the document was written to warp severely. Moisture trapped inside the frame also encouraged the growth of mold and mildew, placing both the document and the iron gall ink signatures at risk of further deterioration.

The restoration began with the careful removal of the document from its damaged frame. Loose dirt, dust, and tiny glass fragments were meticulously cleaned away before the vellum underwent treatment to eliminate the mold infestation. Every step was performed with great care to preserve the original writing, official seals, and the signatures.

Because vellum is a natural material made from animal skin, it reacts dramatically to changes in humidity and can become distorted, brittle, and difficult to flatten over time. Restoring it required a lengthy and highly controlled conservation process. The document was repeatedly humidified under carefully monitored conditions, gently stretched, flattened, and allowed to dry. This cycle was repeated numerous times over several weeks to gradually reduce the severe warping and bring the edges back into proper alignment without placing unnecessary stress on the historic material.

Once the vellum had been stabilized and sufficiently flattened, the commission was professionally matted using museum-quality archival conservation boards and prepared for safe long-term preservation. The restored document was then returned to its grateful owner, preserving not only an irreplaceable Civil War artifact but also an extraordinary piece of family history for future generations.

A thank you letter from the client:

I just felt compelled to write to you and let you know what a great experience working with you and your company was.

I have a Navy Commission letter signed by President Lincoln. It is on velum which from what I understand is a difficult thing to work with. Needless to say it had seen its better days. I purchased it in a broken frame and glass with a ton of wrinkles in it.
I contacted several different companies, sent photos and my explanation of what I wished done. No one would touch it.
I came to you and you were more than willing to work with me. I can't say enough of how pleased I am with your performance in this.

It's not easy to trust someone you've never met with thousands of dollars worth of documents however you put me at ease and the final product was excellent.

Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Ron