Historical Photography Abraham Lincoln Photos Civil War
Abraham Lincoln Photograph, 1865

Photographer:  Matthew Brady/Anthony Berger

Rare 19th century photo of Abraham Lincoln.  Carte de visite with a wonderful embossed patriotic motif.  Original Photograph negative was  taken by Anthony Berger in Washington, D.C., on February 9, 1864.  Extraordinary ornate Civil War theme embossed CDV card. 

You may recognize this photograph of President Abraham Lincoln taken on February 9, 1864. One of over 30 portraits Brady took of Lincoln, this one was used as the basis for Lincoln’s likeness on the $5 bill.

UNCOMMON CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPH OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN CA. 1865. Providence, RI: Salisbury, Bro. & Co. [n.d. ca. 1865] "Manufacturers of Gold and Plated Jewelry, Also, Carte de Visites of all Noted Persons." Pale embossed paper mount is 4 x 2 1/2 inches, with 1 3/8 x 1 1/8 inch oval photograph, a bust of a bearded Lincoln. Very good, light soil to the mount. The embossed design features an eagle, laurel leaves, flags, shield and cannons. The photo is in very good-excellent condition.

Note:  This Unique embossed CDV is exceedingly Rare and seems to be excusive to this source in Providence RI being issued by both Providence Photographer AE Alden and Providence, RI: Salisbury, Bro. & Co.  We suspect AE Alden gave  the Providence, RI: Salisbury, Bro. & Co the rights to sell his Lincoln photos.  Or A E Alden may have owned both of these businesses. 

BIO:

By 1860, Augustus Ephraim Alden was supporting his family as an artist and began dabbling in photography while living in his wife's hometown of Chicopee. When registering for the Civil War draft in 1863, he listed himself as an artist who worked in Northampton, where his parents lived at the time. It is believed he moved his family to Providence, Rhode Island the following year, where he opened the Arcade Gallery photographic studio. During this period, he also became a licensed photographer in Troy, New York. Ultimately, he obtained the exclusive patent rights for photographing Troy and the surrounding area, with a gallery located at the corner of Grand Division and Fourth Streets. He also operated a studio in the neighboring enclave of Saratoga Springs. Mr. Alden's specialty was portrait cartes des visite, and he also dabbled in the photo-crayon portrait technique developed by Napoleon Sarony. His illustrious lineage allowed Mr. Alden to photograph some of the most important people of the time, including President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and legendary New England poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

* See enlargeable images above and below

Note: CVTreasures stamp Not on original