The Handwriting Style of Abraham Lincoln

[RJNorton]

As far as is known this is probably the earliest example of Lincoln's handwriting. His stepmother, Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln, preserved it and gave it to William Herndon. I am not sure of the date, but I think c.1823-1826 would probably be the proper timeframe.

IMO the lack of formal education does not show in the handwriting, but rather in a few capitalization errors. Examples: "he" should be capitalized and "When" should not.