Abraham Lincoln

An exceptional Civil War-era photographic portrait of Abraham Lincoln, boldly signed “A. Lincoln,” with the original Brady studio imprint.

Offered here is an extraordinary carte-de-visite portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, produced by the celebrated Mathew Brady photographic studio in Washington, D.C., and prominently signed by Lincoln beneath his portrait:

“A. Lincoln”

The approximately 2½ × 4-inch carte-de-visite format was one of the defining photographic media of the Civil War era. Lincoln understood photography’s extraordinary ability to carry his likeness throughout the nation, and his portraits by Brady and Brady’s associates became some of the most consequential political images in American history.

This example combines an evocative period portrait, Brady studio provenance, and an unusually large and visually commanding Lincoln signature.

The Portrait

Lincoln is depicted in a formal bust-length vignette, wearing his familiar dark coat, white shirt, and bow tie. His face is presented with the solemnity and remarkable immediacy that made Brady-associated Lincoln portraits icons of nineteenth-century American photography.

The image is mounted on its original period card with ruled borders. Printed beneath the image are the studio identifiers:

“Brady”
“Washington”

The reverse bears the elaborate period backmark:

BRADY’S
 NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
 PORTRAIT GALLERIES
 No. 352 Pennsylvania Av.
 Washington, D.C.
 Broadway & Tenth St., New York

The presence of the Brady studio markings on both sides gives the object exceptional historical character and places it firmly within the photographic culture surrounding Lincoln’s presidency.

The Lincoln Signature

Across the lower portion of the recto, Lincoln has signed:

“A. Lincoln”

The autograph is large, dark, and immediately visible, displaying the distinctive elongated capital forms and flowing construction associated with Lincoln’s presidential-era signature.

Its placement is particularly desirable. Rather than appearing on the verso or on a separate accompanying document, Lincoln’s autograph appears directly beneath his own photographic portrait, creating a single artifact uniting the President’s likeness and handwriting.

Signed photographic portraits of Lincoln represent one of the most coveted categories of American presidential memorabilia.

Lincoln, Brady, and the Power of Photography

Mathew Brady and the photographers associated with his studios created some of the defining visual records of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

Lincoln sat for Brady-associated photographers on several occasions, and the resulting photographs circulated widely as cartes-de-visite, engravings, newspaper illustrations, and other reproductions. These images played an important role in establishing the public image of the sixteenth president during one of the most consequential periods in American history.

The relationship between Lincoln and photography was unusually significant. His unmistakable face became inseparable from the national struggle over Union and emancipation, and Brady’s studio helped create the visual record through which subsequent generations would know him.

An Important Presidential Artifact

Authentically signed Lincoln photographs occupy a special position within American historical collecting.

Unlike a presidential signature removed from a letter or document, a signed carte-de-visite presents Lincoln’s autograph together with his contemporary likeness. It is at once a photograph, an autograph, a Civil War artifact, and an intimate object from the era in which Lincoln occupied the White House.

Comparable signed Brady cartes-de-visite have achieved substantial results at major American historical auctions, demonstrating the enduring demand for examples combining strong photographic presentation with bold Lincoln signatures.

Condition

The carte-de-visite exhibits age toning, scattered spotting, surface wear, and other characteristics consistent with nineteenth-century photographic material.

The portrait remains clear and compelling, the Brady studio markings remain readily identifiable, and the “A. Lincoln”signature is exceptionally prominent.

The reverse retains the important Brady’s National Photographic Portrait Galleries backmark.

Please examine all accompanying photographs carefully, as they constitute an integral part of the condition description.

Details

Subject/Signer: Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
Office: 16th President of the United States
Photographic studio: Mathew Brady
Studio location: Washington, D.C.
Format: Carte-de-visite (CDV)
Medium: Period photographic print mounted on card
Signature: “A. Lincoln”
Signature location: Recto, beneath portrait
Recto imprint: “Brady / Washington”
Verso: Brady’s National Photographic Portrait Galleries backmark
Period: Civil War / Lincoln presidency
Category: Presidential / Civil War / Photography / Autographs / Americana

Collector Significance

Few objects represent Abraham Lincoln more immediately than a period photographic portrait personally bearing his signature.

This example brings together Lincoln’s likeness, Lincoln’s autograph, the Brady photographic tradition, and the Civil War presidency in a single surviving artifact.

It is an exceptional piece of nineteenth-century Americana and a museum-caliber centerpiece for an advanced collection of presidential, Civil War, photographic, or autograph material.