Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THB1860 Beardless Abraham Lincoln Hesler Photograph Inscribed, Copyright Geo. B. Ayers Phila. (1867)
Lot 134
About Seller
Early American History Auctions
1520 Commerce St., #312
Winchester, VA 22601
United States
Categories
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$5,000 - $6,000
Starting Bid
$3,500
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $200 | $20 |
| $300 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
| $300,000 | $25,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Early American History Auctions
Dec 20, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-12-20 12:00:00
2025-12-20 12:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Early American History Auctions - December 20, 2025
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/early-american-history-auctions/early-american-history-auctions---december-20-2025-21473
199 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Historic Maps & more. Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com
199 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Historic Maps & more. Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com
View Full Catalog (198)
- Lot Description
Abraham Lincoln Related
1860 Beardless Abraham Lincoln Photograph Print Inscribed "Copyright Geo. B. Ayers Phila." (from the original negative plate in 1867), taken by Alexander Hesler on June 3, 1860
c. 1860 Photograph Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, Inscribed on the blank reverse "Copyright Geo. B. Ayers Phila." (produced from the original negative plate in 1867), Image taken by Alexander Hesler on June 3, 1860 in Springfield, IL., Framed, Choice Extremely Fine.
On June 3, 1860, Chicago photographer Alexander Hesler traveled to Springfield, Illinois to take an official portrait of presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln. This is one of two images he created, which are considered to be among the finest Lincoln portraits ever made. The original negative plate was later sold and this image reproduced from the original negative by George B. Ayers in 1867. This image is mounted on heavy cardstock as always, the back is inscribed in black pen "Copyright / Geo. B. Ayers / Phila."
This print measures an impressive 8.25" x 6.5" (by sight) and housed in its apparent original period black wooden frame with an ornate interior design with some expected light wear to the outer rim, its clear glass intact, measuring fully to 11" x 9.5" ready for display. On the images reverse side are some pencil notations of a long-ago prior owner. The image itself is extremely clean, clear having excellent contrast, with just a slight bit of natural age tone. Notably, Lincoln's iconic face is clear, this example well defined having sharp contrast. After the original negative was gone these Ayers prints are all that remain of this important image. Listed as #24 in James Mellon's "The Face of Lincoln." We sold a similar example with some provenance documentation in our EAHA September 20th, 2025 auction which brought $8,750. A very popular image from 1860 of the then Beardless Abraham Lincoln.
We ship what we sell.
An important and very popular historic photograph of the beardless Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), future 16th U.S. President, that was originally taken on June 3, 1860 by Chicago photographer Alexander Hesler (1823-1895), who sold some of his original glass negatives to Philadelphia photographer, George B. Ayres in 1867.
Ayres discretely retouched Hesler's original negatives in order to correct wear or damage, and started selling them after 1881 and until his death in 1905. The black and white matte photo is adhered to a thick chipboard mount. "Copyright / Geo. B. Ayres / Phila" is clearly inscribed verso in pen. Expected wear to the frame surface including a few scattered minor scuffs. The image size probably indicating that the original 8" x 10" photographic print was trimmed to fit the frame. Meserve no. 26.
Alexander Hesler had photographed four views of Abraham Lincoln in a single sitting on June 3, 1860 in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln had recently been nominated as presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention held in Chicago two weeks earlier, on May 18, 1860. Of the 36 extant photographs of Lincoln taken before assuming the presidency, ca. 1846/1847- February 1861, Hesler's portraits are some of the best known.
They were praised by Lincoln himself, who is quoted as saying, "Well, that looks right, and expresses me better than any I have seen." Hesler's portraits were prized not only for accurately documenting Lincoln's dominant physical features, but also for capturing the spirit, or essence, of the aspiring politician.
This portrait is from Hesler's "Negative No. 1," which Ayres describes in a contemporary promotional pamphlet as representing "Mr. Lincoln's face almost in profile. The pose is most happily chosen as showing his peculiar facial characteristics showing the full, high forehead and its wealth of hair, the shaggy eyebrows, 'the lone mole,' the hollow check and massive jaw, the lip awry, and above all, the sculpturesque nose, beautifully defined against the background."
Ayres proudly recounted how his purchase of Hesler's original Lincoln negatives in 1867 and managed to safeguard them from almost certain destruction in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Unfortunately, the original negatives did not escape accidental damage as they were broken in the mail in 1933.
- Shipping Info
-
Early American provides in-house worldwide shipping. Please contact us directly if you have questions about your specific shipping requirements.
-
- Buyer's Premium
