Rare and magnificent oversized 20.5 x 26.5 half-length portrait photograph of a beardless Abraham Lincoln printed by George B. Ayres from an original negative by Alexander Hesler, who photographed Lincoln in his Springfield studio on June 3, 1860. The resulting image is identified as O-26 in Lincoln in Photographs: An Album of Every Known Pose by Charles Hamilton and Lloyd Ostendorf. The lower left corner is blindstamped, “G. B. Ayres, Copyright, 1897,” and the photo is affixed to a same-size cardstock mount, the reverse of which is annotated in ink, “Copyright, 1897, George B. Ayres, Artist, Philadelphia, Print No. 272, 1905.” In fine condition.
Springfield, Illinois photographer Alexander Hesler, or Hessler, took several photographs of Lincoln in June 1860. The photos were used in the campaign for president—with one of his portraits used extensively in the 1860 presidential campaign on medals and ribbons—but were in little demand once Lincoln was elected and grew a beard. The 16th president was said to have enjoyed his photo session with Hesler, noting of one image, 'That looks better and expresses me better than any I have ever seen; if it pleases the people I am satisfied.’
Following the close of the Civil War, George Ayres acquired two of Hesler's original negatives and made a living selling prints of them from the 1880s through the turn of the century. Rarely, if ever, do large examples such as this appear on the market.
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