Exceptional and incredibly rare original 2.5 x 4 carte-de-visite portrait of Willie Lincoln, showing the young boy leaning against a table. Mrs. Lincoln has captioned the image 'Our Willie.' Penned on verso by Kentucky Senator Cassius M. Clay, to whom this image was originally presented: 'Given me by Mrs. A. Lincoln 1862. C. M. Clay.' In fine condition, with mild soiling and some silvering to the darker areas.
This photograph of 9-year-old William Wallace Lincoln was taken in Springfield, Illinois, in 1860, with the handwritten notations of 'Our Willie' a common practice used by Mary Todd Lincoln to identify individuals in some of her old photographs and engravings. Clay, who had been appointed US Minister to Russia by President Lincoln in 1861, visited the White House in the last few months of 1862, at which time Mrs. Lincoln gave him this photograph of Willie—said to be President Lincoln’s favorite son. Interestingly, this image was once in the collection of publisher Malcolm Forbes before being sold in a 2002 Christie’s auction.
Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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