Gardner's Photos of Conspirators' Executions Sell for $100,000

[John E.]

Here's an interesting side note for everyone:

I found no evidence that Gardner ever copyrighted the execution photos. I looked up the information when I visited NARA last year and found no supporting evidence.

There were only 7 entries for photos taken of Powell on the monitors. All seven photos had the same description so you can't even tell which photos are being referenced. They were copyrighted in May of 1865.

My guess is that he sold the photos on pre-printed cardstock that said photos were copyrighted.