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Hesler, Alexander (1823-1895) [Abraham Lincoln, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right.]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05111.01.0004 Author/Creator: Hesler, Alexander (1823-1895) Place Written: Springfield, Illinois Type: Photograph Date: 03 June 1860 Pagination: 1 albumen print ; 22.9 x 18.2 cm Order a Copy

A print of a photograph of Abraham Lincoln taken by Alexander Hesler in Springfield, Illinois on June 3rd, 1860. The photograph portrays Lincoln's head and shoulders as he faces to the right, the photograph is oval-shaped. Hesler's "tousled hair" portrait of Lincoln was not popular amongst Republican leadership, so he was asked to take another picture to be used during the presidential campaign. Hesler took 4 photographs that day. The original plates are in the collection of the Chicago Historical Society but are broken. Known as Ostendorf no. 29 and Meserve no. 27. This is a mounted albumen print, the backing material has been cut into the same oval shape as the print. Written note on back: "Copyright / Geo. B. Ayres. / Phila." Title taken from Library of Congress record.

Information on photograph taken from Ostendorf, L., Lincoln's photographs: A complete album (Dayton, Ohio: Rockywood Press, 1998), 49 and Library of Congress website (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/92500042/).

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

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