3 mid-1900s Lincoln Portraits Showcasing Beginning & End of Presidency

A group of three reprints of iconic portraits of Abraham Lincoln, likely from the mid-1900s. The first two are reprints of two poses originally by Alexander Hesler in Springfield, Illinois, two weeks after Lincoln was nominated for President at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. Both measure 7.25" x 9.5", N.p., n.d., and depict a beardless Lincoln. Possibly printed by King Hostick ca. 1952 due to the cracks in the images. The third portrait is a reprint of Alexander Gardner's February 1865 photograph, measuring 7.5" x 9.25" and mounted to a slightly larger board measuring 8" x 9.5". Both show evidence of the original plates being cracked, causing lines in the image. Mounting residue on the verso of all. Light edge and corner wear. The Gardner reprint has minor mat loss at the top left corner. Very good overall. These images show a striking dichotomy between Lincoln at the beginning of his presidential run and at the end of his life just five years later

The two portraits by Alexander Hesler were taken on June 3, 1860, in Springfield, Illinois, for Lincoln's Presidential campaign. Lincoln, who was frequently critical of his own image, received the photographs from the session very well, stating, “That looks better and expresses me better than any I have ever seen; if it pleases the people I am satisfied.” The original plates were kept by George B. Ayres after the Civil War, and he made glass negatives of them in 1881. Sadly, the glass plates were damaged sometime in 1933, when the original plates were cracked in the mail. These duplicate glass negatives of Hesler's session would later be discovered in 1952 by King V. Hostick of Springfield, Illinois.

Alexander Gardner's portrait was taken in February 1865, just two months before Lincoln's assassination, and is the last formal portrait taken of Lincoln. The president has clearly been aged by four years of war, but wears a slight smile. Gardner only made one print from the negative because it was damaged when the glass cracked - which can be seen running through the top of the photograph.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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