Abraham Lincoln Related
April 15, 1865 CDV "DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN"
April 15, 1865-Dated, Carte de Visite titled, "DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN", Albumen Photograph of Currier & Ives Lithograph, Very Fine.
Original 1865 Carte de Visite Photograph of an artistic representation of the moment that President Abraham Lincoln died as a result of the actions of assassin John Wilkes Booth. The Photograph is titled, "Death of President Lincoln" and is a photograph of a rare Currier & Ives Lithograph of the same title. Photograph measures about 3.5 x 2.25" and is mounted on its original photographer's mount, overall size 3.75" x 2.5" with blank reverse. The image is a "fantasy" view of the scene at the Death-Bed of President Abraham Lincoln, partially reconstructed from the Diary entry by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wells. Pictured is Abraham Lincoln lying on the bed with Mrs. Lincoln, son Tad and a second woman (believed to be Miss Harris) to his right and nine men to his left looking to him. Identified from left to right are Salmon Chase, Vice President Andrew Johnson, Charles Sumner, William Stanton, Gideon Wells, Robert Lincoln and the Surgeon General. The Image exhibits sharp focus, strong contrast and rich tonality. There is a small chip at the center of the left hand edge and some light edge wear and light soiling to the card mount. The corner tips are slightly clipped to facilitate prior insertion into a period Photo Album (not present).
The dramatic scene of Abraham Lincoln's death was described in detail in the diary of Gideon Wells, Secretary of the Navy under President Lincoln: "The President had been carried across the street from the theater to the house of a Mr. Peterson. He lay extended on a bed, breathing heavily. Several surgeons were present, who reported that the President might live three hours or more. His slow, full respiration lifted the clothes with each breath that he took.



Lincoln's features were calm and striking. A double guard was stationed at the door and on the sidewalk to repress the crowd, which was of course highly excited and anxious. The room was small and overcrowded. About once an hour Mrs. Lincoln would repair to the bedside of her dying husband and with lamentation and tears remain until overcome by emotion. I remained in the room without sitting or leaving it, when, there being a vacant chair which some one left at the foot of the bed, I occupied it for nearly two hours, listening to the heavy groans and witnessing the wasting life of the good and great man who was expiring before me.



The colored people were especially overwhelmed with grief and there more of them at this time, perhaps, than whites. The respiration of the President became suspended at intervals and at last entirely ceased at twenty-two minutes past seven."