Scholars and enthusiasts alike believe this portrait of Abraham Lincoln, taken on November 8, 1863, eleven days before his famed Gettysburg Address, to be the best photograph of him ever taken. Lincoln’s character was notoriously difficult to capture in pictures, but Alexander Gardner’s close-up portrait, quite innovative in contrast to the typical full-length portrait style, comes closest to preserving the expressive contours of Lincoln’s face and his penetrating gaze. Photograph taken by Alexander Gardner, 1863.

Title: Abraham Lincoln, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left; a detail from portrait showing Lincoln seated in a chair Abstract/medium: 1 photographic print : albumen silver ; 3.5 x 2 in.

Title: Abraham Lincoln from a portrait taken from life by Charles A. Barry, Springfield, Illinois, June 1860 / on stone by J.E. Baker ; J.H. Bufford's Lith. 313 Washington St. Boston. Abstract/medium: 1 print : lithograph.

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln, candidate for U.S. president. Half-length portrait, seated, facing front 1 photograph : ambrotype ; plate 5 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. Thought to be the last beardless portrait of Lincoln, this photo was "made for the portrait painter, John Henry Brown, noted for his miniatures in ivory. ... 'There are so many hard lines in his face,' wrote Brown in his diary, 'that it becomes a mask to the inner man. His true character only shines out when in an animated conversation, or when telling an amusing tale. ... He is said to be a homely man; I do not think so.'" (Source: Ostendorf, p. 62) Published in: Lincoln's photographs: a complete album / by Lloyd Ostendorf. Dayton, OH: Rockywood Press, 1998, p. 62-63. Title devised by Library staff. Gift; A. Conger Goodyear; 1965. Format: Portrait photographs--1860. Ambrotypes--1860.

Abraham Lincoln sat next to his vice president Andrew Johnson at Lincoln's second inauguration. Cropped photo of a photo by Alexander Gardner. Hannibal Hamlin seated left of Johnson. Tall man to the far right is probably Senator John B. Henderson.

Title: Abraham Lincoln, candidate for U.S. president, half-length portrait, looking left, May 20,1860 Abstract/medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver.

Title: Abraham Lincoln, candidate for U.S. president, half-length portrait, looking right, May 20,1860 Abstract/medium: 1 photographic print : gelatin silver.

Ambrotype of Abraham Lincoln. Ostendorf #O-5

Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President. Seated portrait, facing front