Samuel Montague Fassett

oval albumen print, on a two-toned mount, the photographer's credit and 'Photographer Chicago' in letterpress on the mount, 1859 (Ostendorf 16)

Grading this rare, early albumen print of this important Lincoln portrait on a scale of 1 to 10 -- 10 being an albumen print that has deep brown dark tones and highlights that retain all of their original detail -- this print rates a 6. The deep brown tones have faded somewhat, and the highlights have yellowed with age. Above the sitter's head, there is a 1/2-inch scratch that breaks the emulsion. Upon close examination, several small deposits of retouching, likely original, are visible overall. A scattering of tiny deposits of liquid soiling of indeterminate nature and fine scuffs and scratches are also visible. The corners of the two-toned mount are clipped, and the lower right corner of the mount is creased. The mount edges are worn and there is an eraserhead-sized loss along the right edge. The front and reverse of the mount is soiled and appropriately age-darkened. There are abrasions and small losses to the upper paper-ply on the reverse of the mount. Also on the reverse is a scattering of tiny dark deposits of indeterminate nature. While these issues bear mentioning they do not detract in a significant way from the importance of this scarce Lincoln portrait.
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Lincoln is fifty years old in this portrait, taken in Chicago in the fall of 1859.  He is at the crux of transition in his political career: he had lost the Illinois Senate race to Stephen Douglas the year before, but his Cooper Union speech, early in 1860, would propel him onto the national stage and a run for the Presidency.   It is reported that Mary Todd Lincoln was especially fond of this portrait.  The negative was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and first-generation prints of the image with Fassett’s imprint are rare.