Featured Any ideas on this family daguerreotype?

Purchased this daguerreotype in Pennsylvania. Any ideas on who this family is?

 

Looks more like an ambrotype or maybe a tintype. They all came in similar cases for a period of time. A dag would have a mirror like reflective surface depending on how you held it. They could be anyone. Doubt you'll ever know unless there's a name written on the inside back of the case, behind the image.

 

Handsome family but as above... Could be anyone.

Debora

 

the case is lovely....R U thinking maybe Lincoln ?

 

That thought crossed my mind.

 

I was thinking ambrotype as well.

 

This is (was) the only known photograph of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln posed together, an original quarter-plate daguerreotype taken the evening of March 4th, 1861.

So this site says......
but they are.....similar..

 

Dunno what site you got that pic and caption from, Komo, but, all due respect to you (and you yourself sound... a tad skeptical), there's no way either of the people in that pic are Abe and Mary.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_photographs_of_Abraham_Lincoln a number of real ones showing what he looked like in 1861. The above dag looks to be one of those wishful thinking images that someone found and self attributed. It has its own poorly made website. http://abeandmarydag.com/

 

The same thought that I had. The details are not showing up very well, which makes me lean to ambrotype with deterioration of either the photographic emulsion or the dark backing that sits behind all ambrotypes. Or, could be a tintype that has deteriorated.

 

Sometimes, small slips of paper with names and dates have been placed behind the picture. Removing the image from the case does need to be done carefully.

 

Lincoln grew his beard in late, 1860. His youngest child, Tad, was born in 1853. The child in the image is much younger, ergo - no Lincoln.
The costume and photo case are consistent with early 1860s. Daguerreotypes do tend to tarnish from the edges toward the center, so it could be a daguerreotype, although late in their use. Difficult to tell from the photo here - you need to have it in hand and tip it in the light to see if it has a mirror surface. They are often difficult to photograph because of the reflective surface.

 

You're saying my pic is not them......or the OP's pic is not them..???

I should have added....they look similar....but the OP's is not them !

but , in truth...I thought the caption would say that 4 me..!


so...I'm confused...

http://www.abeandmarydag.com/

 

Sorry, komo, I agree with Baseball. The pic you posted is not Lincoln and Mary either.

 

Hey , no problem guys & gals......I'm no american historian .....that site i linked looked legit but maybe they're just trying to sell their own Dag ?????

& maybe I watch too much old TV..........

 

I don't believe either of the photos (OP's and komo's) are of Abe and Mary.

IMHO, the AbeandMaryDag doesn't look like them, beyond the obvious similarities of hair and beard styles. "Abe" doesn't even have his signature facial beauty mark (mole?) and "Mary's" face is much more angular. I think that dag owner is just trying to (greatly!) inflate the value of his dag.

 

Yes, it could... I should have mentioned that. But still to me, it looks more like one of the others. The picture is not taken in a way that I can tell, really.

 

https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium/thread-3648.html Long thread about that abeandmary dag. starts to pick up around page 7. One of the people replying seems to be the owner.

 

Carefully removing it from the case could settle the question of what type of photograph it is as well. A daguerreotype will be on a copper plate, ambrotype on glass, and tintype on black painted iron. Usually the back of the image plate is not covered with any other material and remains visible. You can pop it out of the case by cautiously inserting a thin spatula between the velvet liner of the case and the edge of the metal framed packet and gently lifting/prying. The inner packet will consist of the photographic plate, a brass mat, cover glass, and brass "preserver" folded around the edges. You need to be careful not to separate the layers.

 

Now I am intrigued with this controversy about the (not) Lincoln and (not) Mary Todd daguerreotype (the one komokwa posted). I really don't see how the owner of the purported dual portrait can think these are the same people. The clothing of the 2 appears to date during the 1840s. Here is an 1845-46 authenticated Lincoln daguerreotype (note the same wide lapels, and the similar bow tie).


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_photographs_of_Abraham_Lincoln
And an early daguerreotype of Mary Todd Lincoln (undated, but appears to be late 1840's by her dress and hair):

http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=17
For comparison, some other ladies from the 1840s:

https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1840-1849/