Selected Forms of Autographs
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Presidential Pardons Presidential pardons are generally scarce, though they do appear in the autograph market. The most commonly encountered examples are from presidents in the latter half of the 19th century, although documents from later presidents surface occasionally. The term “pardon” is typically applied to both full pardons and the less forgiving commutations of sentences. These documents are usually written on folio sheets, approximately 10.5 x 15.5 inches in vertical format—the same size as many commissions and appointments, which are often in horizontal format. Interestingly, clerks often wrote pardons in large script, forcing the text to spill onto a second page. In smaller handwriting or typed format, they would easily fit on one sheet.
In the late 1990s and around 2000–2001, a National Archives employee stole a significant number of presidential pardons. The National Archives website maintains a list of those still missing. Occasionally, such items find their way into the autograph market, where vigilant collectors or Archives investigators identify and recover them. The Archives site is titled Missing Presidential Pardons | National Archives.
Collectors should be aware that a different category of document is often mistakenly referred to as a pardon. Official presidential pardons bear the seal of the United States. Earlier presidents frequently signed smaller documents that authorized the Secretary of State or another key official to affix the seal to the actual pardon. These are technically known as "warrants" or "warrants to affix the seal." Though collectible, warrants are not considered true pardon instruments.
President Biden’s thousands of end-of-term pardons garnered significant attention because they were signed using an autopen. None have yet appeared on the market, but questionable signatures from other presidents do exist. For example, Andrew Johnson issued numerous pardons to former Confederates. While some were personally signed, many featured his stamped signature. These stamped documents are collectible Civil War relics, but from an autograph collector’s perspective, they are typically valued at about one-third of a personally signed pardon. As with any Johnson presidential document, collectors should carefully compare the signature against known stamp examples.
Perhaps the most famous presidential pardon was Gerald R. Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon. After leaving office, Ford briefly signed souvenir copies of the pardon but later adopted a policy of no longer signing such documents—including souvenir oaths of office. What often surfaces in the market today are souvenir transcripts of the final paragraph of the full pardon—beginning with “Now, therefore Gerald R. Ford…”—bearing authentic signatures. In nearly all cases, these were originally signed on blank ivory or tan sheets from his memoir A Time to Heal, with the pardon excerpt later typed over the signature.
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Presidential land grants offer strong value for collectors—but there are some pitfalls. As the United States expanded through major land acquisitions, the federal government pursued two goals: populating the frontier and raising revenue. They achieved both by selling land at attractive prices. In some cases, western lands were given away outright to veterans. (Western in this instance means west of the original colonies.) It sounds unbelievable today, but presidents were required to sign each grant—sometimes for parcels as small as 20 acres.
By 1833, the backlog of unsigned grants had ballooned, with some estimates reaching 30,000 to 40,000 deeds awaiting presidential signature. This bottleneck delayed western settlement. To expedite the process, Congress authorized presidents to appoint secretaries to sign grants on their behalf. As a result, nearly all grants issued after Andrew Jackson’s first term were signed by assistants. (There are rare exceptions—some grants involving Native American lands were personally signed by Tyler and some later presidents.)
Fortunately, secretarial signatures are easy to spot. Below the president’s name, the document typically includes a line reading “By ” or “, Secretary,” indicating that the signature was executed on the president’s behalf. While some secretaries had handwriting that resembled the president’s—and may have even tried to imitate it—there was no intent to deceive. These were official, authorized signatures. The secretarial signatures are often interesting because they were the presidents’ sons, although that does not create much value.
Collectors should not assume that every pre-1833 grant is personally signed. Some were duplicated years later for legal recordkeeping, with the original president’s name retained even decades after he left office. These reissues are also identifiable with careful reading—either by the presence of a secretary’s signature or by a date that doesn’t align with the president’s term or lifespan.
Land grants are relatively common and among the most affordable presidential documents, thanks to the sheer volume issued. Condition varies widely and that affects value.
Grants signed by John Quincy Adams are among the most frequently encountered, while those by Jefferson or John Adams are far scarcer. Most grants are plain, utilitarian documents, but some—particularly those issued by Monroe and to a lesser extent J.Q. Adams to 1812 veterans—feature striking engravings, such as “Liberty” handing a deed to uniformed soldiers.
Despite their historical significance, land grants remain undervalued by collectors who favor the ornate appeal of military appointments or decorative ships’ papers. They may lack visual drama, but they represent a foundational chapter in American history. These routine instruments of land transfer were essential to the settlement of the frontier—and deserve a closer look from collectors.
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