Lincoln and Tad Impressively Large Albumen Printed After Assassination, Facsimile Signature

Abraham Lincoln
Philadelphia, PA, ca. 1865
Lincoln and Tad Impressively Large Albumen Printed After Assassination, Facsimile Signature
Photograph

A mounted oval albumen photograph of Abraham Lincoln and his son Tad, with a printed signature. The photograph measures 6.125" x 8" and is mounted to the overall size of 13.5" x 17", Philadelphia, dated 1865. Published by Charles DeSilver. The photograph shows a seated Lincoln, slipping through a book with his youngest son, Thomas or "Tad", standing beside him. The original photograph was taken by Anthony Berger in Mathew Brady's Washington D.C. studio on February 9, 1864. With a printed caption "Abraham Lincoln as a father" and a facsimile ?Yours truly / A. Lincoln? is featured to the right and below the image. Some minor ?rippling? to the mount, which is usual for such pieces and caused by the large albumen being produced through a collodion wet plate process. This father/son image is more frequently found in the carte-de-visite size, but is more scarce in this larger, more impressive, size. Minor soiling throughout, with some marginal stains that do not affect the image. Very good.

An unusual and enduringly popular image of Lincoln and his youngest son, Thomas or "Tad," who was 10 years old at the time. Lincoln and Tad had gone to Brady?s studio for a series of photographs. During a lull in the session, the pair began leafing through a carte-de-visite album on the table next to them. Sensing a sentimental and intimate moment, Brady was able to capture a seemingly candid moment between father and son. The image would later be used to great effect after Lincoln's assassination, just as Philadelphia publisher and bookseller DeSilver did with this publication. DeSilver would produce another memorial photograph of Lincoln and his boys on the porch of their Springfield home by borrowing John Whipple?s 1860 glass plate.

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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13.5" x 17"