Autographs
Robert E. Lee Signed Oval Photo by Matthew Brady Owned by An Audience Member Present at Fords Theater The Night Of Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination
ROBERT E. LEE (1807-1870). Commanding Confederate States of America Major General throughout the Civil War period. Previously U.S. Army Engineer and Officer. Founder and President of Washington & Lee College in Lexington, Virginia.
c. 1869 Exceedingly Rare and Impressive Large Format, Albumen Photograph Signed, “R E Lee,” Oval, measuring 7.5” x 9.5” (by sight), Framed, measuring fully to 11.75” x 13.75”, Extremely Fine. This exceptional, historic Photograph was taken by the renowned Civil War era Photographer Matthew Brady in May of 1869. In addition, the original frame back board is attached showing the frame maker’s 3.5” x 4.25” business tag intact. That tag is dated 1860 with the name Stansbury as owner, who later used that frame to house this Photograph image. He attended Washington & Lee College in Lexington, Virginia and was in the Ford Theater when President Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865!

Robert E. Lee sat for this photograph for Matthew Brady, in this semi-profile pose, in May of 1869. Lee was on a visit to Washington, D.C. to meet with then President U. S. Grant. Here, Lee is shown in vignette wearing his fine quality suit. He has magnificently Signed, “R E Lee” in large bold, easily seen and readable strokes at lower portion upon the image itself, measuring 1.75” long and fully .75” tall. This Signed Photograph comes accompanied with a photocopy of the original wooden oval frame, on which a November 1971 typed notation was attached from a descendant of the original owner, which reads, in full:

“W. F. Stansbury, Jr. attended Washington & Lee College in Lexington, Virginia. Was in Ford Theater when President Lincoln was shot, 1865. ---- The picture of Robert E. Lee belonged to him. You will note on the back of frame that it has name of W.F. Stansbury 1860, that was our grandfather, and the frame was purchased long before the picture was framed. This frame was given to me many years later by Aunt Lily Durden, the back was in an old frame.”

A superb Signed Photograph with a wonderful history having a direct ownership provenance to W.F. Stansbury, Jr. who was in the audience at Ford’s Theater when President Lincoln was shot, on April 14, 1865. Without question, one of the very Finest Signed Photographs of Robert E. Lee Extant.