Mary Todd Lincoln, Glass Negative

MarkRea

Cadet
Joined
May 14, 2019
I recently purchased an oddity. I acquired a glass negative of Mary Todd Lincoln. (Photos included).

I took a photo of the negative and created a positive, also included.

What I'm trying to find out is....

Is this an original or more than likely, a copy. It is cdv size roughly. I just don't know enough about photography from this time period to make an educated evaluation.

On a side note.... I did some research and found similar poses, (on the web), but I was unable to find this pose anywhere.

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all.

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IMG_3171 - Copy.JPG
 
Welcome from the Shiloh/Pittsburg Landing Forum and North Mississippi! Be sure and visit the Forum soon.
Regards
David
 
You already have some expert opinions. I will trust those people. Welcome and I'm glad you joined us. I think you have a nice copy piece there.
 
Thank you, learned something today.

You're welcome! Here is one example of a surviving glass Brady negative, a copy negative of a single CDV or maybe a larger format photo. They could then put this single negative out in the sun and make three times as many prints at once than they could with just the original negative.

s_officers_at_camp_of_instructions_-_NARA_-_529831.jpg
 
I recently purchased an oddity. I acquired a glass negative of Mary Todd Lincoln. (Photos included).

I took a photo of the negative and created a positive, also included.

What I'm trying to find out is....

Is this an original or more than likely, a copy. It is cdv size roughly. I just don't know enough about photography from this time period to make an educated evaluation.

On a side note.... I did some research and found similar poses, (on the web), but I was unable to find this pose anywhere.

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all.

View attachment 307512

View attachment 307513
This is a Brady photograph of Mrs. Lincoln in her inaugural gown (Gilder Lehrman Collection)

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Welcome to the forums from the host of the Stonewall Jackson Forum and another collector of Civil War photography.
 
Welcome from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In the course of doing research several years ago, as I was examining the papers of Winfield Scott Hancock at A.H.E.C. in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, I came upon a small sliver of paper addressed to General Hancock from one Mary Todd Lincoln, in which she invited the General to attend the theatre with her and the President. She had the most beautiful handwriting of any civil war era person I have ever seen. Simply just fabulous. David.
 
Welcome from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In the course of doing research several years ago, as I was examining the papers of Winfield Scott Hancock at A.H.E.C. in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, I came upon a small sliver of paper addressed to General Hancock from one Mary Todd Lincoln, in which she invited the General to attend the theatre with her and the President. She had the most beautiful handwriting of any civil war era person I have ever seen. Simply just fabulous. David.


THE theater? In April, 1865? Can't imagine.

Mary had been beautifully educated, the usual Southern take for girls of her ' class ' ( it makes me cringe a little using socially applicable terms of the era like ' class ' ). It's unsurprising her handwriting would be lovely although haven't seen it. What a terrific find! Carlisle.... you know you're too smitten by our ACW when someone mentions Mary Todd Lincoln's handwriting is on a document 1 1/2 hours away and you're thinking of getting in the car.
 
THE theater? In April, 1865? Can't imagine.

Mary had been beautifully educated, the usual Southern take for girls of her ' class ' ( it makes me cringe a little using socially applicable terms of the era like ' class ' ). It's unsurprising her handwriting would be lovely although haven't seen it. What a terrific find! Carlisle.... you know you're too smitten by our ACW when someone mentions Mary Todd Lincoln's handwriting is on a document 1 1/2 hours away and you're thinking of getting in the car.
The note from Mary Todd Lincoln to Hancock was not dated in April of 1865 nor was the invitation to Ford's Theatre but instead to a different theatre in Washington, D.C. at a different time period. If my memory serves me, I think Hancock was recovering in Washington, D.C. from his wound received at the Battle of Gettysburg at the time she wrote the note. There was also a note from Secretary of War Stanton who wished Hancock good luck with his recovery and thanked him for his service to the country. David.
 
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