Title:
Civil War Stereoview – “Place Where President Lincoln was Assassinated” – Ford’s Theatre Interior Scene – Taylor & Huntington “Photographic History 1861–1865” Series

Description:
Original stereoscopic albumen photograph card from the famed “1861–Photographic History–1865” series, published by Taylor & Huntington of Hartford, Connecticut. The front features a dual-image stereoview depicting the draped presidential box at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865. The composition shows ornate curtains, bunting, and architectural details framing the historic location.

The mount is a distinctive orange-red card with printed vertical side text reading “1861 The War for the Union 1865” and “1861 Photographic War History 1865.” Along the lower margin appears the printed caption: “3404. Place where President Lincoln was Assassinated.”

The reverse contains a detailed printed description and publisher’s promotional text. Condition shows expected age toning, minor edge wear, and light surface marks, but the images remain clear and well-defined, preserving strong visual depth typical of period stereoviews.

Full Transcription (Verso):
“3404. Place where President Lincoln was Assassinated.
This is the private box in Ford’s Theater, Washington, where President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, on the night of April 14, 1865.

1861—PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY,—1865

This series of pictures are ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS taken during the war of the Rebellion. More than a quarter of a century has passed away since the sun painted these real scenes of that great war, and the ‘negatives’ (made by the old ‘wet plate’ process) have undergone chemical changes which renders it slow and difficult work to get ‘prints’ from them. Of course no more ‘negatives’ can be made, as the scenes represented by this series of war views have passed away forever. The great value of these pictures is apparent. Some ‘negatives’ are entirely past printing from, and all of them are very slow printers.

A WORD AS TO PRICES.

A gentleman living near Watkin’s Glen, New York, wrote us that he thought 30 cents each, too high a price for the stereoscopic war views, as he could buy views of Watkin’s Glen for $1.50 per dozen. We wrote him to this effect:
“If there was but one negative of Watkin’s Glen in existence, and if Watkin’s Glen itself were entirely wiped off the face of the earth, and if this one negative was old and ‘dense’ and very slow to ‘print,’ and if all the people of this country were as much interested in a view of Watkin’s Glen as they are in seeing the real scenes of our great war, so faithfully reproduced, THEN, and ONLY UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, should Watkin’s Glen Pictures be compared to photographs taken ‘at the front’ during the days of 1861 to 1865.”
The gentleman ‘acknowledged the corn,’ took the war views he wished for, paid the reasonable price asked for them, and was satisfied.

The above is the only answer we shall ever make to the question of PRICE. We deem it necessary to say this much, as many persons write and ask us for CHEAP war views; when we change the price of these war views, it will be to double it; they will never be any cheaper than now. They can be obtained only of the undersigned or our duly authorized agents.
If you wish for a catalogue of the war views, send a stamp and your address.

Yours in F. C. and L.,
TAYLOR & HUNTINGTON,
Sole Owners of the Original War Views.
No. 2 State St., HARTFORD, CONN.”

Historical Context:
This stereoview captures one of the most solemn and pivotal locations in American history: the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth just days after the Civil War effectively ended. Images like this were widely distributed in the late nineteenth century, allowing the public to visually connect with defining moments of the war and its aftermath.

The “Photographic History 1861–1865” series represents one of the earliest efforts to document the Civil War through authentic photographic imagery. Produced from original wet-plate negatives, these views were highly valued even in their own time due to the difficulty of producing prints and the irreplaceable nature of the scenes depicted.

Authentication & Encapsulation:
N/A

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer’s request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional “Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate” signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
A powerful and visually striking artifact, this stereoview offers a direct connection to the site of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the closing chapter of the Civil War. Its inclusion in the renowned Taylor & Huntington series enhances both its historical importance and collectible appeal. As an original photographic record from the era, it stands as a compelling and tangible link to one of the most significant events in American history.

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.