Willie?

[Warren]

        So, I'm looking at some CDV photos at an online auction, and on first sight, I thought "Looks like one of the Lincoln boys." Then I see the verso and in faint pencil is "Willie, [undefined=undefined]dear[/undefined] lost Willie!" No explanation in the auction sale regarding the picture. I bought it, it was only a few dollars. Bendann Bros. of Baltimore did Civil War photos, and they have some connection with the Illinois Lincoln society, but I'm not sure how. I cannot find many pictures of Willie Lincoln to compare it too; maybe some of you know of others? I realize the odds are that it isn't him.

My contra-thought is didn't the Lincolns considered Baltimore an anathema and would they have spent any time there? If not, would it be likely that the photographer would have traveled to D.C.? I'd appreciate your thought and any help you can give would be greatly appreciated! And, of course, Merry Christmas![undefined=undefined]

[Gene C]

I can't tell you one way or another, but it is a nice photo.

It does compare well with some of these photos of Willie
http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln68.html

[Eva Elisabeth]

I am sure no expert, but the chin looks too different to me, and the face too round aro the chin.

[RJNorton]

IMO, it is fairly close, but I agree with Eva. I lean toward it being another young man named Willie.

IMO it's most likely not Willie Lincoln.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I doubt that it's Willie Lincoln. Still a lovely photograph to own--whoever wrote the inscription clearly missed their own Willie very much.

[RJNorton]

So folks can compare, here they are side-by-side:

[Eva Elisabeth]

(12-22-2015 07:26 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  I doubt that it's Willie Lincoln. Still a lovely photograph to own--whoever wrote the inscription clearly missed their own Willie very much.

You said this so nicely, Susan, that one can well imagine!!!

Willie's hands also look bigger/longer to me, and more bony (like his dad's). It's difficult to compare though as we don't know at what age the (so far) unknown Willie's photo was taken.

[Houmes]

(12-22-2015 06:16 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I am sure no expert, but the chin looks too different to me, and the face too round aro the chin.

Wrong eyes, wrong eyebrows, wrong chin, and most importantly, wrong ears. Most forensic specialists think ears are as unique as fingerprints.

[LincolnMan]

Close but no cigar I think.

[Hess1865]

Not Willie IMO

[Jim Garrett]

Willie Shoemaker maybe?

[STS Lincolnite]

(12-23-2015 02:26 PM)Houmes Wrote:  Wrong eyes, wrong eyebrows, wrong chin, and most importantly, wrong ears. Most forensic specialists think ears are as unique as fingerprints.

I don't think this is Wille, for the same reasons as Blaine articulated.

There is a really good book on photo identification that I have used in the past. I think Blaine may have mentioned elsewhere on this discussion board as well. It is written by Joelle Steele and called Face to Face: Analysis Comparison of Facial Features to Authenticate Identities of People in Photographs. Ms. Steele also offers consulting services related to facial features analysis.

The book is available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Face-Comparison-Au...lle+steele

And on Ms. Steele's website:
http://www.facecomparisons.com/

[Gene C]

Scott, it looks interesting, is it very technical?

[STS Lincolnite]

(01-26-2016 08:07 AM)Gene C Wrote:  Scott, it looks interesting, is it very technical?

Gene,

Though the technical aspect of photo identification is certainly addressed and explained, I didn't find the book overly technical. It is written for lay people (not professionals) to do photo analysis from a very fundamental standpoint. There are lots of "case studies" (often using recognizable people) presented that really help illustrate and exemplify the author's key points. Members here will have some familiarity with at least one example in the book. I got this book to help me figure out who people were in some old family photos. That being said, I found myself just enjoying the reading of the book.