A few people in the other submission have suggested that this is a hoax. The photos may have been rehashed from period publications, there is no mention of this

A few people in the other submission have suggested that this is a hoax. The photos may have been rehashed from period publications, there is no mention of this patent application in the well documented life of Lincoln, and it is rather convenient that the means of proper documentation was left at home. But what a yarn! It takes gumption to start off a tall tale with a circus man. And it plays into the "execution is everyhing" mentality. The OT should consider starting a gazette of his own!