American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Silver gelatin photograph, 9.75 x 12.5 in., produced from a negative made by Alexander Gardner on February 5, 1865, at Washington.  Provenance: Mrs. E.A. Fotheringham, San Francisco, 12 February 1931. (Ownership note on original frame backing retained here). 

This pose, catalogued by Lloyd Ostendorf as O-116, was one of five made that day during what would be Lincoln's last studio sitting. This particular printing, similar to Variant O-116D, has been altered from the original negative, with a pencil and pocket knife added to Lincoln's hands and his unruly hair cleaned up behind the ear. Apocryphally, Lincoln sharpened a pencil for Tad at the sitting, hence the artist's additions. The original shows Lincoln holding a pencil and his spectacles, both of which were blurred. The image was purchased on Lincoln's birthday in 1936.