Abraham Lincoln

Scarce oversized 8.5 x 13 cabinet-style mounted albumen portrait of the beardless, pre-presidential Abraham Lincoln, being an artistically enhanced version of the 'tousled hair' portrait taken by Alexander Hesler in Chicago, February 28, 1857 (catalogued by Lloyd Ostendorf as O-2). Imprinted on the mount: "Masters, Princeton, Ill." A blurb affixed on the reverse carries a spurious attribution: "Mr. Masters, had a reputation of being one of the best photographers of his day…and developed what is believed to be the best picture ever taken of Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln picture was taken here upon occasion when Lincoln came to deliver a Fourth of July speech at a picnic in Bryant's woods on July 4, 1856." In very good to fine condition, with dampstaining to the lower left corner of the mount, overall scuffing, and some surface loss to the image edges.