1881 Ayres Portrait of Abraham Lincoln from Hesler's Original Plate

Sold For:

$840

Year:

1881

Auction:

2016 Spring

Lot #:

1724

Category:

Historical/Political/Pop Culture/Americana

Presented is an outstanding example of one of the great classics of Lincoln photography: a magnificent albumen print image, made in 1881 from Alexander Hesler's sitting of Abraham Lincoln on June 3, 1860, in Springfield, Illinois. The formal studio photograph features a bust-length image of Lincoln, sans beard, as he gazes to the right. This image is one of two photos of Lincoln taken by Hesler on June 3, 1860. However, they were not released until after Lincoln had already won the Presidential election in November of that year. A number of years later, after the Civil War, another photographer, George B. Ayres, purchased Hesler's gallery and all of his negatives. In 1881 Ayres, using Hesler's original plates, printed the Lincoln photos taken by Hesler twenty years earlier. They were extremely well received by the public and have been highly prized by collectors ever since. Offered here is one of those vintage photographs, which measures 6.75 x 8.75 inches. A handwritten black-ink notation on the reverse reads "Copyright/Geo. B. Ayres/Phila." Below that, in pencil, are the handwritten notations "Mrs. Tiffany Munard/C9018." The photo (6.75 x 8.75 inches), which displays outstanding clarity, is in apparent Excellent to Mint condition (visible flaws are from the negative; they are not on the photo). Matted and framed to total dimensions of 12.75 x 14.75 inches. Additional interesting note: The original plate to this photo (which unfortunately cracked in transit when mailed in 1933) is housed in the collection of the Smithsonian Institute.



Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000+.