record, and to the detailed written accounts describing Lincoln’s physical being, we
have a precise knowledge of the visual images of Abraham Lincoln and the various
scars and characteristics that are unique to an individual and thus aid in identification.
While most of this information is readily available to anyone with an interest, we rely
quite heavily for purposes of authenticating Lincoln photographs and artifacts on the
‘Lincoln community’, a general term widely used to describe a group of authors,
scholars, historians, dealers, collectors, and others genuinely interested in preserving
and promoting the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. By virtue of their professed knowledge
of all things Lincoln, they are in effect, the final arbiters in the authentication process.
Upon discovering the photo of Abe and Mary in 1996, I contacted several esteemed
members of the Lincoln community recognized as experts in the field of Lincolniana,
seeking their assistance in authenticating the photograph. Read more.....
have a precise knowledge of the visual images of Abraham Lincoln and the various
scars and characteristics that are unique to an individual and thus aid in identification.
While most of this information is readily available to anyone with an interest, we rely
quite heavily for purposes of authenticating Lincoln photographs and artifacts on the
‘Lincoln community’, a general term widely used to describe a group of authors,
scholars, historians, dealers, collectors, and others genuinely interested in preserving
and promoting the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. By virtue of their professed knowledge
of all things Lincoln, they are in effect, the final arbiters in the authentication process.
Upon discovering the photo of Abe and Mary in 1996, I contacted several esteemed
members of the Lincoln community recognized as experts in the field of Lincolniana,
seeking their assistance in authenticating the photograph. Read more.....
Interesting. I guess you can't do DNA on a photograph - unless, of course, Lincoln
licked it. ha ha Don't think I can afford the asking price for this one though. I wonder
how the fellow got it. Marty Guidry
**********
Anyway, now that I'm back and entering the quiz contest, I took a look at eBay again to
see what the current asking price is and ...poof!...I can't find it for sale there anymore.
I wonder if someone bought it? hmmmm... Beth Tafel Shuster
The eBay auction only ran through President's Day, February 12, 2007. The
Daguerreotype wasn't sold, so don't worry you will probably get another chance to bid
when he reruns it in a few months.
**********
No bids to date 11 February 2007 at 1:00 pm CST. I tries to enter a bid at $ 2,000. but
it was not accepted! Oh well. Robert McKenna
**********
Wonder if I can put it on my mastercard? Carol Haueter
**********
If it is not Lincoln, the scientific community has done a poor job, indeed. If he is an
imposter, he even has the mole in the right place. I tend to believe that it is, in fact,
Lincoln. I've spent a lot of years myself in identifying old photos(although never to the
exacting degree of forensics), and every facet, from my limited view, fits.
On the other hand, the provenance of this alleged Lincoln photograph is well
established, having come from the collection of John Hay, through his daughter,
Mrs.Wadsworth. If there is a question that would bother me a little about that
provenance, it would probably be a little concern over why the Hay family had what
should have been considered a rare and wonderful family heirloom within the Lincoln
family even at the time. However, Mary Todd Lincoln, especially in the last few years
of Abe's life, and later, too, as her mind deteriorated, was known to give away things
from the White House that did not belong to her, as well as family belongings. Since
she and Mrs. John Hay were very good friends for many years(Mary later came to
detest Mrs. Hay, but Mary came to feel that way about a lot of her former friends as
she became less mentally competent), and it is easily conceivable, given Mary's
eccentricities and her propensity to give things away, may have given Mrs. Hay this
photo. It is all speculation, of course, and we will probably never know for sure if the
photo is, in fact, old Abe. But I tend to believe that it is him. But 5 million is too much
to ask for it, if it cannot be proven absolutely and conclusively to be Abraham Lincoln.
In fact, even if it was so proven, I tend to think that 5 million would be too much,
although it might bring it at auction. Bill Utterback
**********
A bit of forensic genealogy is the fact that Abe's birth mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln,
died of "milk sickness" in 1818 when he was nine years old. Milk sickness at that time
was a mysterious disease that later was found to be due to milk cows eating a plant
named White Snakeroot. www.nps.gov/archive/abli/plantj.htm Stan Read
**********
The most recent reserve asking price for this photograph is $5,000,000 on e-Bay (item
# 170078562517). The bidding expires on February 12th at 6:02 p.m. The bidder
indicates that he is in Las Vegas and gives assurances that this photo will quickly go up
in value until it it enters the realm of the priceless. So far there are no bids (does that tell
you something?) If any of your readers are willing to take this yahoo's e-bay listing
seriously, there are several other people that have various historic bridges for sale too.
George Wright
**********
I don't know. I have a graphics background, and in comparing the portraits of the
"later" Abe and this one, it appears to be the same person....strongly. Of course, it
could have been Photoshopped to make it look so. That would be easy enough to
accomplish. Photoshop is magic!! Mary South
**********
I personally dont think its Lincoln. There are two many differences from later images,
especially with the eyes and nose. The fact that the image is being sold on ebay rather
than privately or through a more traditional auction house lends me to believe that most
other people dont think its Lincoln. John Chulick
**********
As I thought on first sight, this is a dageurreotype of Abe Lincoln as a young man. In
checking, I was quite interested to read all the research that's gone into authenticating
this. I see it is on Ebay for $5,000,000. I think that excedes my spending money at the
moment, however! Paula M. Harris
**********
Abraham Lincoln, currently on Ebay for the paltry sum of $5 million. This was a really
interesting quiz as I thought it looked like Lincoln but couldn't prove it. Then I saw and
could make out "White" and "Second Quality" at the top and when I entered those terms
with daugerreotype up popped the Kaplan daugerreotype, suspected to be the former
President. While I am no expert, I don't think it's him (the facial features seem to be in
the wrong places and wrong proportions) - but what do I know. :)
Joel Amos Gordon
**********
It makes me sad to see old pictures not identified on the reverse side at the time it was
taken. I have a few from the 1800's that I would love to know who they are. This man
became famous, with many photos for comparison. Ordinary people remain
unidentified for the ages.) Maureen O'Connor
**********
I think I'm probably one of the skeptics. Although it certainly looks a lot like Lincoln,
in fact that was why I searched on him by name, his face/skin is much less wrinkled
than any other "photos/portraits" of him at any age. I don't think I've ever seen a
portrait of Lincoln with a smooth skinned face, he's always shown looking
"weathered", especially around the mouth. Perhaps it is a cousin or descendant or
ancestor. Rick Norman
**********
We have swampland for sale up here [in Canada] too! I didn't think any of those
pictures looked like 'Abe', myself, but I still do need new glasses. It's funny how we all
seem to either trust or hate 'the science'; you must notice! Even the debate back &
forth is very interesting though, I think. Diane Rogers
**********
I've been tempted many times to buy something on ebay, but $5,000,000. is a little out
of range for me. Pinky Palladino
licked it. ha ha Don't think I can afford the asking price for this one though. I wonder
how the fellow got it. Marty Guidry
**********
Anyway, now that I'm back and entering the quiz contest, I took a look at eBay again to
see what the current asking price is and ...poof!...I can't find it for sale there anymore.
I wonder if someone bought it? hmmmm... Beth Tafel Shuster
The eBay auction only ran through President's Day, February 12, 2007. The
Daguerreotype wasn't sold, so don't worry you will probably get another chance to bid
when he reruns it in a few months.
**********
No bids to date 11 February 2007 at 1:00 pm CST. I tries to enter a bid at $ 2,000. but
it was not accepted! Oh well. Robert McKenna
**********
Wonder if I can put it on my mastercard? Carol Haueter
**********
If it is not Lincoln, the scientific community has done a poor job, indeed. If he is an
imposter, he even has the mole in the right place. I tend to believe that it is, in fact,
Lincoln. I've spent a lot of years myself in identifying old photos(although never to the
exacting degree of forensics), and every facet, from my limited view, fits.
On the other hand, the provenance of this alleged Lincoln photograph is well
established, having come from the collection of John Hay, through his daughter,
Mrs.Wadsworth. If there is a question that would bother me a little about that
provenance, it would probably be a little concern over why the Hay family had what
should have been considered a rare and wonderful family heirloom within the Lincoln
family even at the time. However, Mary Todd Lincoln, especially in the last few years
of Abe's life, and later, too, as her mind deteriorated, was known to give away things
from the White House that did not belong to her, as well as family belongings. Since
she and Mrs. John Hay were very good friends for many years(Mary later came to
detest Mrs. Hay, but Mary came to feel that way about a lot of her former friends as
she became less mentally competent), and it is easily conceivable, given Mary's
eccentricities and her propensity to give things away, may have given Mrs. Hay this
photo. It is all speculation, of course, and we will probably never know for sure if the
photo is, in fact, old Abe. But I tend to believe that it is him. But 5 million is too much
to ask for it, if it cannot be proven absolutely and conclusively to be Abraham Lincoln.
In fact, even if it was so proven, I tend to think that 5 million would be too much,
although it might bring it at auction. Bill Utterback
**********
A bit of forensic genealogy is the fact that Abe's birth mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln,
died of "milk sickness" in 1818 when he was nine years old. Milk sickness at that time
was a mysterious disease that later was found to be due to milk cows eating a plant
named White Snakeroot. www.nps.gov/archive/abli/plantj.htm Stan Read
**********
The most recent reserve asking price for this photograph is $5,000,000 on e-Bay (item
# 170078562517). The bidding expires on February 12th at 6:02 p.m. The bidder
indicates that he is in Las Vegas and gives assurances that this photo will quickly go up
in value until it it enters the realm of the priceless. So far there are no bids (does that tell
you something?) If any of your readers are willing to take this yahoo's e-bay listing
seriously, there are several other people that have various historic bridges for sale too.
George Wright
**********
I don't know. I have a graphics background, and in comparing the portraits of the
"later" Abe and this one, it appears to be the same person....strongly. Of course, it
could have been Photoshopped to make it look so. That would be easy enough to
accomplish. Photoshop is magic!! Mary South
**********
I personally dont think its Lincoln. There are two many differences from later images,
especially with the eyes and nose. The fact that the image is being sold on ebay rather
than privately or through a more traditional auction house lends me to believe that most
other people dont think its Lincoln. John Chulick
**********
As I thought on first sight, this is a dageurreotype of Abe Lincoln as a young man. In
checking, I was quite interested to read all the research that's gone into authenticating
this. I see it is on Ebay for $5,000,000. I think that excedes my spending money at the
moment, however! Paula M. Harris
**********
Abraham Lincoln, currently on Ebay for the paltry sum of $5 million. This was a really
interesting quiz as I thought it looked like Lincoln but couldn't prove it. Then I saw and
could make out "White" and "Second Quality" at the top and when I entered those terms
with daugerreotype up popped the Kaplan daugerreotype, suspected to be the former
President. While I am no expert, I don't think it's him (the facial features seem to be in
the wrong places and wrong proportions) - but what do I know. :)
Joel Amos Gordon
**********
It makes me sad to see old pictures not identified on the reverse side at the time it was
taken. I have a few from the 1800's that I would love to know who they are. This man
became famous, with many photos for comparison. Ordinary people remain
unidentified for the ages.) Maureen O'Connor
**********
I think I'm probably one of the skeptics. Although it certainly looks a lot like Lincoln,
in fact that was why I searched on him by name, his face/skin is much less wrinkled
than any other "photos/portraits" of him at any age. I don't think I've ever seen a
portrait of Lincoln with a smooth skinned face, he's always shown looking
"weathered", especially around the mouth. Perhaps it is a cousin or descendant or
ancestor. Rick Norman
**********
We have swampland for sale up here [in Canada] too! I didn't think any of those
pictures looked like 'Abe', myself, but I still do need new glasses. It's funny how we all
seem to either trust or hate 'the science'; you must notice! Even the debate back &
forth is very interesting though, I think. Diane Rogers
**********
I've been tempted many times to buy something on ebay, but $5,000,000. is a little out
of range for me. Pinky Palladino
out Dr. Claude N. Frechette, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the American
Hospital in Paris, whose report "A New Lincoln Image" is here included. A second
report, "Artifact Description of Kaplan Daguerreotype", is by Grant B. Romer,
Conservator of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography &
Film in Rochester, New York.
Hospital in Paris, whose report "A New Lincoln Image" is here included. A second
report, "Artifact Description of Kaplan Daguerreotype", is by Grant B. Romer,
Conservator of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography &
Film in Rochester, New York.
 |  |  |  |
| ********** |
| ********** |
| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book. |
| Quiz #96 Results |
 |  |  |  |
| Quiz #96 February 11, 2007 |
| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our book! Click here. |
| This is supposedly an early Daguerreotype of someone who later in life would become a very famous man. It has been offered for sale several times on eBay. Who is he? What is the current asking price for the Daguerreotype? |
| Answers: Abraham Lincoln $5,000,000 |
| ********** |
| Our Quizmasters Weigh in on the Kaplan Daguerreotype of Lincoln |
| Congratulations to Our Winners! Gary Sterne Bruce L. Conrad Marjorie Wilser Lynda Snider Beth Tafel Shuster Dorothy Oksner Bob Drusse Larry Truitt Gena Ortega Bill Utterback Patty Kahiler Tom Pinince Stan Read George Wright Mary South Paula M. Harris Edee Scott Alice Miles Robert Dusse Joes Amos Gordon Kelly Fetherlin Sandy Thompson Maureen O'Connor Dale Niesen Marty Guidry Rick Norman Dale Niesen Grace Hertz Mary Fraser Walter Wood Ruth Govorchin Diane Rogers Robert McKenna Carol Haueter Rick Mackinney Pinky Palladino Mike Pfister Margaret Waterman Jim Kiser John Chulick Fred Stuart Carol Phillips Judy Pfaff |
One reported discovery, the so-called Hoffman
daguerreotype, bears special mention. Robert and Joan
Hoffman announced this acquisition four years ago,
claiming scientific proof that it was the earliest (1843)
image of young Abe Lincoln. Supporting their claim was
a plausible provenance and the testimony of a physician,
forensic anthropologist, photographic historian, and
specialist in biomedical computer morphing. Both at that
time and in recent months this story has been widely
noted in the press.
Many Lincoln experts rejected the claim, and a vascular
specialist concurred after comparing the vein pattern on
the subject's right hand with known Lincoln
daguerreotype, bears special mention. Robert and Joan
Hoffman announced this acquisition four years ago,
claiming scientific proof that it was the earliest (1843)
image of young Abe Lincoln. Supporting their claim was
a plausible provenance and the testimony of a physician,
forensic anthropologist, photographic historian, and
specialist in biomedical computer morphing. Both at that
time and in recent months this story has been widely
noted in the press.
Many Lincoln experts rejected the claim, and a vascular
specialist concurred after comparing the vein pattern on
the subject's right hand with known Lincoln
| The only known photograph of President Lincoln at the dedication of the Civil War cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1863. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/gadd/gaphot.html |
| 1847-1848 Springfield, IL N. H. Shepherd Meserve #1 |
| ??? New York E. White Kaplan Daguerreotype |
| February 7, 1860 New York Mathew Brady Presidential Look |
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/pic/bl_p_mary_todd_lincoln.htm
Portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln
Portrait of Mary Todd Lincoln
| February 28, 1857 Chicago Alexander Hesler Tousled Hair Portrait |
| October 1, 1858 Pittsfield Calvin Jackson Lincoln-Douglas Debates |
| The Kaplan Daguerreotype http://www.lincolnportrait.com/index.asp |
In 1977 Albert Kaplan purchased the daguerreotype receipted as
"Portrait of a Young Man" from an art gallery in New York.
"When I first saw it I thought that there were similarities between
the handsome, aristocratic, and tastefully groomed young man of
the daguerreotype, and my mental image of President Lincoln."
Over the years Kaplan researched and assembled materials which
cast light on the physical man, Lincoln. Kaplan believed that the
best qualified people to analyze the image, and the assembled
materials, to consider whether the daguerreotype is of Abraham
Lincoln, would be plastic and reconstructive surgeons who work
with the human face. In 1987 Kaplan, then living in Paris, sought
"Portrait of a Young Man" from an art gallery in New York.
"When I first saw it I thought that there were similarities between
the handsome, aristocratic, and tastefully groomed young man of
the daguerreotype, and my mental image of President Lincoln."
Over the years Kaplan researched and assembled materials which
cast light on the physical man, Lincoln. Kaplan believed that the
best qualified people to analyze the image, and the assembled
materials, to consider whether the daguerreotype is of Abraham
Lincoln, would be plastic and reconstructive surgeons who work
with the human face. In 1987 Kaplan, then living in Paris, sought
| ********** |
| ********** |
| Another Questionable Lincoln Daguerreotype |
| The Hoffmann Daguerreotype |
photographs. Christie's decided to auction this controversial artifact as "Portrait of a
Young Gentleman, Believed to be Abraham Lincoln." Bid estimates stretched as high as
$1 million and as low as $5, in effect leaving it to the market to determine authenticity.
On October 6 the market spoke, with a $150,000 bid that was too low to satisfy the
owners. In my opinion they should have taken the money and disappeared.
Young Gentleman, Believed to be Abraham Lincoln." Bid estimates stretched as high as
$1 million and as low as $5, in effect leaving it to the market to determine authenticity.
On October 6 the market spoke, with a $150,000 bid that was too low to satisfy the
owners. In my opinion they should have taken the money and disappeared.
| ********** |
| The Real Thing http://www.abrahamlincolnartgallery.com/archivephoto.htm |
The only other known, and hitherto
earliest, daguerreotype of Lincoln,
Meserve #1, in the possession of
the Library of Congress, was a
gift of Robert Todd Lincoln to
Frederick Hill Meserve. Meserve
reported that "Lincoln believed it
was made in Washington in
1848".
In 1965, the New York
Academy of Sciences published
earliest, daguerreotype of Lincoln,
Meserve #1, in the possession of
the Library of Congress, was a
gift of Robert Todd Lincoln to
Frederick Hill Meserve. Meserve
reported that "Lincoln believed it
was made in Washington in
1848".
In 1965, the New York
Academy of Sciences published
| eBay Auction ending February 12, 2007 |
Abraham Lincoln's Philosophy Of Common Sense - An Analytical Biography of a
Great Mind, by Edward J. Kempf, M.D., a neurologist and psychiatrist whose interest
in Lincoln began when he first saw the Volk life mask, from which he inferred that
Lincoln must have suffered a serious cranial injury in childhood. After investigating
further, Dr. Kempf found Lincoln's own account of having been kicked in the forehead
by a horse at age 10 years and "thought dead for awhile." The nature of the cerebral
damage, and how it might have influenced the development of Lincoln's personality and
mind became a question of absorbing interest to the author. The resulting analytical
biography was the product of the author's 12 subsequent years of research.
Because the trauma-induced deformations of Lincoln's face, distinctly described by Dr.
Kempf, are seen unmistakably in the Kaplan daguerreotype, providing in themselves
compelling evidence in support of the daguerreotype's authenticity, we reprint the
Kempf analysis (from the title page to the end of Chapter I of Volume I).
An earlier Kempf study of Lincoln's cranial injury appeared in the April 1952 American
Medical Association (AMA) Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry, Volume 67,
Number 4, entitled, Abraham Lincoln's Organic and Emotional Neurosis.
Great Mind, by Edward J. Kempf, M.D., a neurologist and psychiatrist whose interest
in Lincoln began when he first saw the Volk life mask, from which he inferred that
Lincoln must have suffered a serious cranial injury in childhood. After investigating
further, Dr. Kempf found Lincoln's own account of having been kicked in the forehead
by a horse at age 10 years and "thought dead for awhile." The nature of the cerebral
damage, and how it might have influenced the development of Lincoln's personality and
mind became a question of absorbing interest to the author. The resulting analytical
biography was the product of the author's 12 subsequent years of research.
Because the trauma-induced deformations of Lincoln's face, distinctly described by Dr.
Kempf, are seen unmistakably in the Kaplan daguerreotype, providing in themselves
compelling evidence in support of the daguerreotype's authenticity, we reprint the
Kempf analysis (from the title page to the end of Chapter I of Volume I).
An earlier Kempf study of Lincoln's cranial injury appeared in the April 1952 American
Medical Association (AMA) Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry, Volume 67,
Number 4, entitled, Abraham Lincoln's Organic and Emotional Neurosis.
| A Questionable Daguerreotype of Lincoln and His Wife |
Exhaustive biographical accounts covering
every aspect of Abraham Lincoln’s life
from birth to death were recorded for the
historical record soon after his
assassination by many of his
contemporaries who recognized the
enormous impact Lincoln had on the
course of American history. Included in
this body of work are 130 photographs of
Abe and 26 photos of Mary.
Due primarily to Frederick H. Meserve,
who singlehandedly sought out and
compiled much of the photographic
every aspect of Abraham Lincoln’s life
from birth to death were recorded for the
historical record soon after his
assassination by many of his
contemporaries who recognized the
enormous impact Lincoln had on the
course of American history. Included in
this body of work are 130 photographs of
Abe and 26 photos of Mary.
Due primarily to Frederick H. Meserve,
who singlehandedly sought out and
compiled much of the photographic
| ********** |
| ********** |
| ********** |
| February 5, 1865 Washington DC Alexander Gardner |
| October 3, 1862 Antietam with Allan Pinkerton (L) and Gen. McClernand (R) Alexander Gardner |
| October 3, 1862 Antietam with Gen. McClellan Alexander Gardner |
| February 9, 1864 Washington DC Anthony Berger |
| April 6, 1861 Washington DC Mathew Brady |
| November 8, 1863 Washington DC Alexander Gardner |
