Or is there just one more, hidden in the greasy bottom of a cigar box, on the top shelf of a sealed-up garage, tossed in among carpenter's pencils, old staples and advertising pens. Surely, there could be. After all, scientists discover unknown species each year. Sometimes even big ones that you can see with the naked eye.
And every year, without fail, remarkable historical treasures come to light among collectors, from dealers and at auction houses, scooped up from some overlooked place (it always seems to be in Maine).
But a Lincoln! He isn't some obscure illuminated manuscript that is neat (and brought $33,000), but perhaps not immediately breathtaking. He's Lincoln for god's sake, who doesn't know him, or didn't know him, as the case may be? Surely every Lincoln daguerreotype would have been discovered by now! Probably - but we'll never really know for sure.
That we can agree on. And it is that exhilarating possibility itself, and perhaps greed, or ego, or rarely patriotism, that pushes people to occasionally believe their early images to be Lincoln, or anyone else of note for that matter.
It happens a lot.
There are some very notable cases of great claims in this department. This one seems to be among the most famous among regular folks, and certainly among scholars and collectors. It is Albert Kaplan's "Portrait of a Young Man," which Kaplan claims is an early daguerreotype of Lincoln.
He has claimed this for decades, and much has been written about it. Yes, it's World Net Daily. Just read the article.
The problem for Kaplan, and for anyone who thinks he has an early image of someone famous is that there is typically absolutely no way to be sure. None. There will always be skeptics and downright nonbelievers among scholars, collectors and importantly, buyers. Some will also believe, or want to believe, or believe in the way that we all sort of believe in Santa Clause, because it's nice to believe, and feels good.
But there will never be the established fact that surrounds images of famous folks from later in their careers, when they were securely held in the limelight. When every portrait was immediately reported in newspapers, displayed with pride by the photographer and used for lithographs. When those portraits were recognized in their time as valuable pieces of history, treasured and handed down until today.
There is no disputing those. They have what is called provenance. That's what makes them valuable, because there is no doubt that the photo is of that person.
So if you do get that magic image of someone famous, by all means pursue it. With enough research it is possible to prove out an image. It does happen from time to time. Usually with lesser historical figures, but to no less delight. But research also can lead to a dead end.
And so it is, for so many images which "bear a striking resemblance to." There is no shortage of images of Lincoln on eBay. All could also be described as portraits of men with beards.
Some possibilities can be so enticing. I sold a half-plate ambrotype last year that I really hoped could be Stephen A. Douglas. I consulted one expert who disagreed. The more I researched, the more I also thought not. But, boy, the resemblance was strong. The image brought considerably more money than one of similar quality that didn't look like Stephen A. Douglas, or anyone else for that matter. Someone else believed, even just a little. Just the possibility can add value.
What do you think?
I also own this Babbitt half plate ambrotype of Niagara Falls. I could swear the man is Lincoln. But Lincoln did not have a beard when he visited Niagara Falls in 1857 .
All of this leaves me wondering who else is in my collection. There must be notables out there that just aren't well known enough to be recognized. After all, it's rare that someone goes nuts about the daguerreotype they have that surely is of someone that only six scholars in the history of manure processing have heard of. Regardless, it's true that each anonymous portrait we've ever handled is of someone who lived a life that would probably be interesting to know more about. Some are even of a person who made some modest mark on history, and is noted in the historical record.
Who will recognize us in 150 years? Will someone think a photo of me is actually Kiefer Sutherland?
That would be great.
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Do you have look alike images? One that you're sure is someone famous? Comment below so we can all have a look.
Stay tuned. Next Friday, I'll discuss this "First Human Ever Photographed" story that went around on the Internet last week.
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