Earliest Lincoln Photo

[STS Lincolnite]

I'm sure most everyone on this forum has seen the daguerreotype that is purported by Albert Kaplan to be an 1841 image of Abraham Lincoln. I have never given it much thought in the past because, to my eye, there isn't anything more than a very slight resemblance to Lincoln. Today I came across Mr. Kaplan's website that claims the photo has been definitely authenticated as Lincoln. Dave Taylor and I have discussed photo identification in general before and he and I agree...research is one thing but when studying photographs the image has to look like the person it is supposed to be. Below is a link to Mr. Kaplan's website.

http://www.lincolnportrait.com/index.html

The closer I look at this photo, the less and less I think it is Lincoln and my likelihood percentage was low to start with. But I am certainly no expert, and in the interest of discussion and critical appraisal, I would like to hear what other people think. To help with your study, in addition to giving you the weblink above, I am attaching a facial crop of the 1848 Lincoln photo (on the left) that was given to the LOC by Robert Lincoln and of which provenance is beyond reproach. It is generally considered by historians to be the earliest extant photo of Lincoln. I have placed it side by side with the Kaplan photo (supposedly 1841 Lincoln) which is on the right.

What do you think?

[RJNorton]

Scott, I certainly agree with you. Albert Kaplan is a member here and is welcome to respond if he would like.

[STS Lincolnite]

Thanks Roger. I have read all the material on Mr. Kaplan's website and I admit that in spite of a lot of information I'm not yet convinced.

Since I originally posted I have found another website that critically appraises this photo as well as some others that have been purported to be Lincoln. I can't speak to the credentials of the poster, but they make a case of their own. See the following weblink:

http://www.photorestorics.com/article-312.html

As I stated before, I am no expert, but several apparent differences between photos jumped out to me:
1) The bridge of the nose on the Kaplan image protrudes far more than the bridge of Lincoln's nose in any photo I have seen.
2) The individual in the Kaplan photo has a far weaker chin than does Lincoln.
3) No right cheek mole is evident where it should be in the Kaplan photo. With a similar photo angle it is clearly visible on the 1848 photo.
4) Though hair partially is covering, the ear level is lower on the Kaplan photo than on the comparable Lincoln photo.

As you said Mr. Kaplan is a member here, I would be interested to have him chime in on the discussion.

[Thomas Thorne]

If I had this photo unbidden, it never would have occurred to me it was Abraham Lincoln.
Tom

[Gene C]

Did Springfield have a photographer back in 1841 ?

[STS Lincolnite]

No. To his credit, Mr. Kaplan is very fair and balanced about this question on his website he provided the answer there - he considered the same question and made efforts to conduct research to find answers. He discusses this issue and puts forth a scenario that has some plausibility as to when and where, if it was Lincoln, the image may have been taken (he posits Louisville, KY while on a trip with Joshua Speed in late August/September 1841). There are dissenting opinions on his theory (one based on a chemical study of the image) and he includes those opinions on his website.

[Donna McCreary]

The earliest city directory listing for a photographer in Louisville, Kentucky is 1851.

[STS Lincolnite]

(02-07-2015 09:20 PM)Donna McCreary Wrote:  The earliest city directory listing for a photographer in Louisville, Kentucky is 1851.

According to Mr. Kaplan's research, there was a travelling daguerreotypist present in Louisville during that time period in question. From his website:

"The Place

In August 1841 Lincoln and his friend, Joshua Speed, traveled to the Speed plantation in Louisville, Kentucky. He and Speed departed Springfield for Louisville on August 12, 1841, arriving on approximately August 18th. They departed Louisville on September 7th, passing through St. Louis on their way back to Springfield.

A daguerreotype artist, Mr. T.B. Moore, placed an advertisement in the "Louisville Daily Journal" on August 31st, 1841 to the effect that he would remain a few days at the Ormsby House. Mr. Craig's records included the interesting information that Mr. Moore was a dentist as well as a daguerreian. When I learned this it seemed to me that Louisville and Mr. Moore fit well … because during his stay in Louisville, Lincoln went to a dentist."

[Donna McCreary]

I have yet to find a copy of the "Louisville Daily Journal" for August 31, 1841. If anyone has seen a copy, I would like to know where an originial is housed. The LDJ began publication in 1833 - and finding copies is difficult.

It would be logically for Joshua Speed and Lincoln to visit Judge Stephen Ormsby. The judge was known for his hospitality and interest in politics. He lived on a large farm in Lyndon, Kentucky - about seven miles from the Speed family's Farmington. Stephen died in 1844. He was a founder father of Louisville, a famed judge, a large land-owner. I find it odd that he would have a photographer stay several days at his home and not have his own photograph taken. There are no known images of Judge Ormsby.

[LincolnToddFan]

(02-07-2015 07:53 PM)Thomas Thorne Wrote:  If I had this photo unbidden, it never would have occurred to me it was Abraham Lincoln.
Tom

Ditto. I don't believe it's him, it doesn't even look much like him imo.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(02-08-2015 12:24 AM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  

(02-07-2015 07:53 PM)Thomas Thorne Wrote:  If I had this photo unbidden, it never would have occurred to me it was Abraham Lincoln.
Tom

Ditto. I don't believe it's him, it doesn't even look much like him imo.

I 100% agree. Another point - the ears of the gentleman are much "rounder" while Lincoln's are longer.

[LincolnToddFan]

Is there a chance it could be Joshua Speed? It kind of resembles him, no?

[Gene C]

Scott, I agree with your comment in post #3, item 4, about the ears.

Your side by side photo comparison in post #1 was very helpful.

[Eva Elisabeth]

On the site Scott linked to in post #1 is also this comparison:
           

[RJNorton]

(02-08-2015 08:57 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  Is there a chance it could be Joshua Speed? It kind of resembles him, no?

Hi Toia. Here's Joshua Speed. Personally, I doubt it's him, although I think I see the resemblance you see.