HAG Founder and Historical Documents & Photography Expert Luke Pascal Featured In Antique Trade Gazette
We’re proud to share that Our Founder, Luke Pascal, was recently featured in the Antique Trade Gazette in an article highlighting an exceptionally rare photographic image of Edgar Allan Poe—a carte-de-visite attributed to pioneering photographer Matthew Brady, printed posthumously around 1861.
Because Poe passed away more than a decade before photography became widespread, authentic images of the author are remarkably scarce. This example stood out for its striking visual appeal and quality: a vibrant red border, excellent centering, and strong image clarity, all preserved in notably fine condition. It is precisely the kind of piece where rarity and aesthetics align—a combination that collectors rarely encounter.
The photograph realized $20,000 (including buyer’s premium), far surpassing its original estimate. As noted in the article, historical documents and photography expert, Luke Pascal compared the piece to a Poe carte-de-visite sold several years earlier, emphasizing that this example was decisively superior in condition, color, and overall presentation “checking every box” a collector hopes to see.
We’re grateful to ATG for spotlighting this remarkable sale and for continuing to document moments where historical significance, scholarship, and the marketplace intersect. Opportunities to handle pieces of this caliber are rare and they serve as powerful reminders of why preserving history matters.
Read the Article here:
Check out our blog post on the rare CDV here: