c. 1860 Photograph Portrait of Beardless 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, Very 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 historic print measures an impressive 9” x 7” (by sight) in a mount to 12” x 10” and housed in its apparent original wooden frame with one lamination chip at lower right, measuring fully to 13.25” x 15.25” and ready for display. Attached on the frames reverse is a Typed Letter dated October 26, 1937 to a Frederick H. Sterling signed by “John W. Craft” both of Philadelphia, gifting this image of Lincoln to Sterling. It mentions having been in Craft’s possession for over 25 years and attests to its authenticity, along with a brochure with this same image from “The Union League Of Philadelphia” further attesting to its provenance. A few typical trivial scattered surfaces abrasions are noted in the field above Lincoln’s head. Notably, Lincoln’s iconic face is clear, this example well defined having good 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.” A truly original example with a link to members of “The Union League Of Philadelphia.”
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 photo surface including a few scattered minor scuffs 10" x 12" including the mount, probably indicating that the original 8" x 10" photographic print was trimmed. 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.