WASHINGTON - AMONG the wealth of exhibitions being rolled out for the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on Thursday, the Library of Congress has taken centre stage.

To honour the 16th US president - emancipator of the slaves, saviour of the Union and victor of the Civil War - the library is showcasing a collection of his letters, speeches and other miscellaneous items.

Kicking off the exhibit is an audiovisual history of Lincoln's legacy, concluding with images of the nation's 44th president, Barack Obama.

'What better legacy for Lincoln's actions than the first African-American president 200 years later,' said Kim Curry, the exhibition's spokeswoman.

The collection is entitled 'With Malice Toward None' a nod to Lincoln's now lauded second inaugural address.

Fittingly his spoken remarks feature prominently in the collection, a draft of an equally famous speech about the cost of the Civil War - delivered at Gettysburg - is also there.

'It's the first opportunity in 50 years to see the originals of those transformative speeches,' said James Billington, the Librarian of Congress.

Visitors can also see perhaps his most famous work, a first draft of the emancipation proclamation, which freed the slaves, along with the personal effects Lincoln was carrying the night of April 14, 1865, when he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in Washington.

A more recognisable exhibit may be Lincoln's personal bible - red with gold trim - which was seen by millions when it was used by Mr Obama to take the oath of office on Jan 20.

On a lighter note, the exhibit includes an exchange of letters between Lincoln and a 11 year old girl about the possible benefits of growing a beard.

Before closing in the US capital, the exhibit will travel to Lincoln's adopted home state Illinois and on to Atlanta, Georgia.

According to Billington that will be 'the first time a Lincoln exhibit has been requested by a major institution in the deep south.' -- AFP