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Christopher S. German — Portrait of Lincoln
Christopher S. German

Portrait of Lincoln

A rare early portrait photograph of Lincoln by Christopher S. German, taken at the request of sculptor Thomas D. Jones as reference for a bust. The photograph is documented with German's original mount and a Civil War-era tax revenue stamp dated April 23, 1865, nine days after Lincoln's assassination.

Medium
The photograph offered here is a rare early Lincoln portrait made at the request of sculptor Thomas D. Jones as reference for a sculpted bust of the newly-elected president. It is distinguished by the fact that it is on Christopher German’s original printed mount and bears a Civil War-era tax revenue stamp on the reverse. German’s stamp is dated 23 April 1865, nine days after Lincoln’s assassination. A period portrait of Lincoln with such full documentation is exceptional. At the time of its purchase in 1999, Lincoln expert Lloyd Ostendorf knew of no other example of this image with the photographer’s imprint and a tax revenue stamp.

🔨 Auction Lot

A Constant Pursuit: Photographs from the Collection of Ed Cohen & Victoria Shaw

October 4, 2018

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About this work

Christopher S. German, Portrait of Lincoln

A rare early portrait photograph of Lincoln by Christopher S. German, taken at the request of sculptor Thomas D. Jones as reference for a bust. The photograph is documented with German's original mount and a Civil War-era tax revenue stamp dated April 23, 1865, nine days after Lincoln's assassination.

Medium
The photograph offered here is a rare early Lincoln portrait made at the request of sculptor Thomas D. Jones as reference for a sculpted bust of the newly-elected president. It is distinguished by the fact that it is on Christopher German’s original printed mount and bears a Civil War-era tax revenue stamp on the reverse. German’s stamp is dated 23 April 1865, nine days after Lincoln’s assassination. A period portrait of Lincoln with such full documentation is exceptional. At the time of its purchase in 1999, Lincoln expert Lloyd Ostendorf knew of no other example of this image with the photographer’s imprint and a tax revenue stamp.
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Photography, Civil War, Archival, Lincoln, Documentary, Historical, Portrait, Tax Stamp