UNITED STATES: DAGUERROTYPE THOUGHT TO BE EARLIEST KNOWN IMAGE OF U.S. PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN FAILS TO SELL AT AUCTION IN NEW YORK

Record ID: 337735

  • Title: UNITED STATES: DAGUERROTYPE THOUGHT TO BE EARLIEST KNOWN IMAGE OF U.S. PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN FAILS TO SELL AT AUCTION IN NEW YORK
  • Date: 6th October 1998
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 6, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. PAN EXTERIOR CHRISTIE'S AUCTION HOUSE 0.07 2. CLOSE UP CHRISTIE'S SIGN 0.09 3. WS AUCTION ROOM/CU BIDDER LOOKING AT CATALOGUE (2 SHOTS) 0.17 4. CLOSE UP OF LINCOLN DAGUERREOTYPE / VARIOUS OF AUCTION OF LINCOLN DAGUERREOTYPE (6 SHOTS) 0.50 5. SV AUCTION BOARD SHOWING TO BID OF $150 U.S. DOLLARS 0.56 6. SCU RICK WESTER, CHRISTIE'S PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT "CLOSER TO THE SALE WE HAD A FEELING THAT IT MIGHT SELL, OBVIOUSLY THE CONTROVERSY HAD BEEN SO WIDE SPREAD THAT WE FELT ENOUGH PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF IT, BUT WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT I GUESS CLIENTS WERE UNEASY ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY. THE FACT THAT IT DIDN'T SELL DOESN'T ,MEAN IT IS NOT LINCOLN. IF IT HAD SOLD IT DIDN'T MEAN THAT IT WAS LINCOLN. IT'S A FABULOUS PIECE, PROBABLY THE MOST INTRIGUING PIECE I EVER WORKED ON IN 20 YEAS OF SELLING PHOTOGRAPHS, AND IT REALLY SET A NEW CRITERIOR FOR JUDGING HISTORICAL PORTRAITS FOR THE FUTURE" (ENGLISH) 1.32 7. CLOSE UP LINCOLN DAGUERREOTYPE (2 SHOTS) 1.44 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 21st October 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZMFO2DBR0UVM6PV0UX787028
  • Story Text: What is thought to be the earliest image of United States President, Abraham Lincoln failed to sell when it went under the hammer Tuesday (October 6) at Christie's auction house in New York.Despite doubts to the prints authenticity Christie's had expected the bidding to reach more than a quarter of a million U.S.dollars.

    The eyes and nose look familiar, and the young man certainly has a stately bearing.But is it really an image of U.S.President Abraham Lincoln, taken more than a century and half ago? Christie's in New York thought so and put the daugerreotype up for auction with a price tag in the region of 300,000 U.S.dollars, but bidding at Tuesday's auction was slow, with little interest being shown in the 19th century print.It was finally passed for sale, with a top bid of 150,000 U.S.dollars.

    Daguerreotypes, which are one-of-a-kind mirror images, became common in 1839 and the image was said to have come from the Wadsworth family, who were related to Lincoln through marriage.The image was later sold to an antiques dealer, who sold it on to the current owner.

    After spending most of the past five years locked in a safety deposit box, the image headed for the auction block - but Tuesday's failure to sell could have the print heading back to the bank.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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