Lot 71

1860 Lincoln Campaign "Belt-Buckle" Ferrotype After Brady's Cooper Union Portrait

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1860 Lincoln Campaign "Belt-Buckle" Ferrotype After Brady's Cooper Union Portrait

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500

Current Bid: $400

(2 Bids)

by University Archives
July 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
88 Danbury Road
Suite 2A
Wilton, CT, US 06897

Abraham Lincoln
n.p., ca. 1860
1860 Lincoln Campaign "Belt-Buckle" Ferrotype After Brady's Cooper Union Portrait
Pins/Buttons

Abraham Lincoln large head "belt-buckle" ferrotype. 1" x 1.5" (27mm x 40mm), no place, circa 1860. Made for all four 1860 candidates, this example used Mathew Brady's February 27, 1860, photograph of Lincoln. Especially desirable, offering a close-up view that fills the frame. Overall, very good to near fine with smooth emulsion, save light crackling at top. Excellent contrast and detail. Exceptionally scarce in this condition!

Mathew Brady had been operating his successful portrait studio in New York since the 1840s when Abraham Lincoln posed for him the morning of February 27, 1860, before delivering his famous Cooper Union Address. Brady's portrait helped establish Lincoln as a serious presidential candidate, presenting him as statesmanlike, and countering his reputation as a rough-hewn frontier lawyer. It was widely reproduced and distributed, giving many Americans their first clear look at Lincoln. Combined with the success of the Cooper Union Address, Lincoln's national profile was significantly raised and was instrumental in securing his Republican nomination.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 1.5" x 1"
  • Medium: Pins/Buttons

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000