Description:

Abraham Lincoln
Washington, DC, February 9, 1864
Abraham Lincoln Cabinet Card by Photographer Anthony Berger at Brady Gallery
Photograph

Photographer Anthony Berger, who worked at Mathew Brady's Gallery in Washington, D.C., took this photograph of President Abraham Lincoln on February 9, 1864.

The artist Francis Carpenter, who was working on a painting that became the "First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation," spent that Tuesday with President Lincoln. He was scheduled to ride in a carriage to Brady's photographic gallery on Pennsylvania Avenue at 3 p.m. However, when Mrs. Lincoln came to accompany them, there was no carriage or coachman. After waiting a while, he and Carpenter walked the mile to Brady's studio, during which the President told the artist several interesting and humorous stories. When they arrived, Anthony Berger took seven photographs of the President, including this one. It was also the sitting at which Berger took the now-famous photograph of a seated Abraham Lincoln with Tad Lincoln standing next to him as they looked at a photograph album.

Years later, Robert T. Lincoln wrote to Frederick Meserve about this photograph, "I have always thought the Brady photograph of my father, of which I attach a copy, to be the most satisfactory likeness of him."

The portrait served as the basis for an engraving by John C. Buttre (1821-1893) of New York for the 1864 campaign, of several posthumous portraits, and ultimately of the image of Lincoln on the $5 bill.

[ABRAHAM LINCOLN.] Cabinet Card Photograph by Anthony Berger, February 9, 1864, Washington, D.C. 1 p., 6" x 6.75". Photograph mounted to card with black decorative frame with oval opening; some edge chipping; very good.

Anthony Berger (ca. 1826-1906) was born in Germany. He worked as a photographer during the Civil War at Mathew Brady's National Photographic Art Gallery on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. After the war, he moved to Brooklyn and continued to work as a photographer there.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 6" x 6.75"
  • Medium: Photograph

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