A rare link between former President Abraham Lincoln and the National Rifle Association has appeared at auction, and collectors are already bidding up the price.

Alexander Historical Auctions, the Maryland-based auction house that focuses on U.S. and international historic artifacts, is offering Lincoln’s hand-signed appointment of a Civil War captain who later became the co-founder of the NRA and its second president.

“Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of William C. Church I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him Commissary of Subsistence, with the rank of Captain,” reads part of the 1863 document, also signed by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

Having both of those signatures on a historically significant document led Alexander Historical Auctions to indicate that it should sell for $7,500-$8,500. Bidding has already started for the April 17-18 online auction and early offers on the document have reached $5,000.

The NRA was approached first by Alexander, but declined to buy it.

Journalist-soldier Church at the time was noted for writing about the war during his service for several newspapers including the the New York Chronicle, The Sun, the New York Evening Post, and New York Times.

He also started the first military newspaper, the Army and Navy Journal.

But today he is known for his co-founding, with lawyer George Wood Wingate, of the NRA in 1871.

The duo started the NRA not to exclusively support the Second Amendment but because new Army recruits had poor marksmanship.

“This historic document vividly illustrates the incredible changes in the NRA and society itself over the past 150 years. I wonder how Church and Lincoln would respond to those changes today,” said Bill Panagopulos, president of Alexander Historical Auctions.

According to the auction house, Church first suggested the NRA in an of his Army and Navy Journal, noting the success of Britain's National Rifle Association and the Wimbledon riflery tournament range.

“An association should be organized to promote and encourage rifle-shooting on a scientific basis. Private enterprise must take up the matter and push it into life...The subject has already been presented to several enterprising officers and ex-officers of the National Guard, and they have been found enthusiastic in the matter. It only requires hearty co-operation and an actual start to make the enterprise successful,” he wrote.

The NRA today continues with some of those same training practices, offering classes on marksmanship and personal protection.