Title:
Civil War Stereoview Card – “The Chair Lincoln Sat in When He Was Shot” (No. 3405) – The War For The Union Photographic History Series

Description:
Original 19th-century stereoscopic photograph card featuring a dual-image view of the upholstered rocking chair associated with President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. The front displays two identical sepia-toned images mounted within a vivid red border, typical of later-issued stereoviews. The chair is centrally positioned against a plain interior backdrop, emphasizing its historical significance. Printed along the bottom margin: “3405. The Chair Lincoln sat in when he was Shot. [FOR DESCRIPTION OF THIS VIEW SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS CARD.]”

The reverse contains a detailed printed historical description and publisher’s information. The card exhibits age-appropriate wear, including edge rubbing, minor surface marks, and toning consistent with 19th-century photographic ephemera.

Full Transcription (Reverse):
“3405. The Chair Lincoln sat in when he was Shot.
This easy chair was placed in the private box in Ford’s Theater, Washington, specially for the use of President Lincoln, who, after the wearisome toil of the day liked to rest himself and for the time forget the cares of State by watching the play at the theater. It was while sitting in this chair on the evening of April 14, 1865, that the cowardly assassin sneaked into the private box and creeping up behind the noble Lincoln, fired the fatal shot.

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 to
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 commemorates one of the most pivotal and tragic moments in American history: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The chair depicted became an enduring relic tied directly to that घटना, symbolizing both the personal vulnerability of the President and the national trauma that followed.

Stereoscopic cards like this were immensely popular in the late 19th century, offering viewers a three-dimensional visual experience when viewed through a stereoscope. Publishers such as Taylor & Huntington capitalized on public fascination with the Civil War and its figures, producing photographic series that preserved and disseminated images of significant artifacts, locations, and personalities from the era. This card is part of the broader “Photographic History” series, which sought to document authentic wartime imagery using original negatives from the 1860s.

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:
This evocative stereoview offers collectors a tangible connection to one of the most defining moments in American history. Combining period photography with rich descriptive text, it stands as both a historical document and a visual artifact of national memory. Its association with Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, coupled with its place within a celebrated Civil War photographic series, makes it a compelling and meaningful addition to any serious collection of Lincolniana or Civil War memorabilia.

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.