Description:

Abraham Lincoln
n.p., n.d.
Lincoln Conspirator John Surratt CDV, 1 of 3 Known, This Perhaps Finest!
CDV

[Abraham Lincoln]. An exceedingly scarce 2.375" x 3.625" carte-de-visite of Lincoln Conspirator John Surratt (1844-1916). The sepia-toned albumen photograph depicts a young Surratt in full-length pose, clad in a dark suit typical of the Civil War era, hand resting on a cloth covered table. On cream stock card neatly clipped at corners. No place, no date. Expected age toning and soiling. Light surface abrasions and a bit of bowing from mounting. Partially-erased pencil notations from a former collector to an otherwise blank verso. Minor wear at edges with a small nick at upper right. Else, near fine. Includes a copy of the invoice from Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc., where this sold in 2006 for $2,850.

A similar example sold at Fleischer's Auctions in 2023 for over $2,200. It was badly faded; enough to obscure the facial characteristics of Surratt. Ours is much finer.

During the Civil War, Surratt served as a spy and courier for the Confederate Secret Service. Dr. Samuel Mudd, another Lincoln conspirator, introduced Surratt to John Wilkes Booth, and he agreed to participate in Booth's original plot to kidnap the president. Surratt, Booth, and others laid in wait for the President's carriage to pass, but Lincoln's route changed and the scheme failed. Surratt was then suspected of involvement with Booth's successful assassination of the President. Claiming innocence, Surratt said he was in New York on the night of Lincoln's assassination. He then fled to Canada and was hiding out there when his mother, Mary Surratt, was hanged. In 1866, he was arrested overseas and brought back to the United States, where he was tried by a civil court. The jury was deadlocked at the end of the trial and Surratt was released from prison in 1868. He always claimed to be a part of a failed plot to kidnap Lincoln, with no knowledge of Booth's plan to assassinate Lincoln. Surratt spent the balance of his life farming, teaching, and raising a large family in Maryland, all the while distancing himself from the Lincoln assassination.

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: 2.375" x 3.625"
  • Medium: CDV

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March 25, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000