Hesler, Alexander (1823-1895) [Abraham Lincoln: Immediately prior to Senate nomination, Chicago, Illinois]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #:
GLC05111.01.0001
Author/Creator:
Hesler, Alexander (1823-1895)
Place Written:
Chicago, Illinois
Type:
Photograph
Date:
28 February 1857
Pagination:
1 albumen print ; 25.4 x 17.8 cm.
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A printing of a photograph taken of Abraham Lincoln by Alexander Hesler in Chicago on February 28th, 1857. The photograph portrays Lincoln's head and shoulders as he faces to the right. Lincoln had intentionally touseld his hair as he claimed his friends would not recognize him well-groomed. Lincoln is known to have liked this photograph though admitted his wife and others did not, because of the hair. This is a copy of Ostendendorf no. 2 (also known as Meserve no. 6). Possibly ca. 1857-58 given loss of detail. Print is albumen and mounted. Backing material has "Hesler" imprinted at lower left-hand corner, the lettering is not sharp. Title is taken from Library of Congress record.
Information on photograph taken from Ostendorf, L., Lincoln's photographs: A complete album (Dayton, Ohio: Rockywood Press, 1998), 7-13 and Library of Congress website (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/98504484/).
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