Clark Mills' Lincoln Life Mask

[Dave Taylor]

Here's my attempt at a full transcription of Fisk Mills' patent:

Fisk Mills, of Washington, District of Columbia
Letters Patent No. 2082 - Dated June 6, 1865
Design for a Bust of Abrm. Lincoln

The schedule referred to in these letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fisk Mills, of the City of Washington, and District of Columbia, have originated and produced a new bust of the late President Abraham Lincoln, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description reference being [had?] to the accompanying photographs making part of this specification.

This Bust is modeled from a cast taken from the living face in the month of Feb. 1865, by Clark Mill’s process and bears the following inscription: Modeled from a cast taken from the living face Feb. 14th 1865, and differs from all other likenesses in being a perfect facsimile of the face, physiognomically and phrenologically speaking. The callipers being applicable to the cast for minute exactness of features and organs. Other busts being modeled by looking at the person, lose this exactness, as the callipers are not minutely applicable to the living face, and the fidelity wholly entrusted to the accuracy of the [agent?].

What I claim as my production and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the design for the head and neck of the bust herein set forth.

Fisk Mills

Witnesses
C. H. Fowler
T. J. Chamberlain

I still interpret Fisk's words to say that the cast was made on February 14, but I understand where you're coming from Scott.