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Alfred Orendorff Archive of Lincoln Treasures Heads to Auction

market-auction · 2026-07-02

Heritage Auctions is set to showcase The Alfred Orendorff Archive on July 30, featuring items from Abraham Lincoln's law offices. Alfred Orendorff (1845-1909), an Illinois lawyer and Civil War veteran, collected a remarkable array of Lincoln-related documents, which have never been accessible to the public before. This collection is sourced from a family connected to the Lincoln & Herndon law practice, presenting a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire original artifacts from Lincoln's formative years as a lawyer.

Key facts

  • Heritage Auctions announced the sale on July 30.
  • Alfred Orendorff was Herndon's law partner.
  • Orendorff was born in Illinois in 1845.
  • Orendorff was a Civil War veteran.
  • The collection has never been publicly offered before.
  • The artifacts descend from the Lincoln & Herndon law office succession line.
  • William H. Herndon was Lincoln's longtime law partner and biographer.
  • The archive includes material from Lincoln's legal career.

Entities

Institutions

Locations

  • Illinois
  • United States

Sources