WILTON, CONN. — This year’s Fourth of July celebrations were a reminder that the nation’s semiquincentennial is now less than one year away. University Archives continued the patriotic excitement with its July 16 Rare Autographs, Books, Lincoln & Space Items auction, which incorporated numerous lots of presidential and American historical memorabilia and signed letters within its 457 total lots on offer. The top lot was a sepia-toned carte de visite of Abraham Lincoln, taken on August 9, 1863, in Washington, DC, by photographer Alexander Gardner one month after the Battle of Gettysburg. Signed by the president, the photograph is one of only three known; the other two reside in the Smithsonian Museum. It snapped up a $112,500 finish, including buyer’s premium, landing within its $100/150,000 estimate. Additional highlights from this sale will be featured in an upcoming issue.