The descendent of a nineteenth - hundred U.S. Congressman has come across a antecedently unsung presidential portraiture that is likely the oldest go photograph of a U.S. chairwoman , The New York Timesreports .
antecedently , two 1843 portrait ofJohn Quincy Adamswere think to be theoldestphotographs of a president still around . Currently hanging in the National Portrait Gallery , one of them was see on sales event at an antique shop in 1970 for a simple 50 cents . Now , an even older photo of thesixth presidenthas been uncover , and it ’ll cost you more than 50 penny to purchase it .
Adams model for dozens of picture throughout his life , so it ’s not solely surprising that a few more surviving portraits would be uncover . At the time this freshly discovered half - plate daguerreotype was taken in March 1843 , Adams had already served out his full term as president and had generate to Congress as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts . The photo was claim by Philip Haas , who in August of that same class would take other daguerreotype that wepreviously thoughtwere the old surviving photos . ( Despite his apparent willingness to be photographed , Adams called them “ all hideous . ” )
After having three daguerreotypes taken that day in March , Adams give one of them to his friend and fellow Congressman Horace Everett , inscribing it with both their gens . Everett ’s great - large - grandson eventually see it in his family ’s belongings and is now put it up for sales agreement through Sotheby ’s .
It is n’t the old picture of a U.S. chairwoman evertaken , though . The first - ever was in reality a portrait of William Henry Harrison made in 1841 , but unlike this one , the original has not survived . ( The Metropolitan Museum of Art ownsa copyof it , which was made in 1850 . )
The head of the Sotheby ’s department for photo , Emily Bierman , toldThe New York Timesthat the newly happen upon mental image is “ without a doubt the most of import diachronic photo portrait to be offer at auction in the last 20 years . ” ( She also mention that the former POTUS is wearing “ cute air-sleeve ” in it . )
The daguerreotype will be on sale as part of aphotography auctionat Sotheby ’s in October and is expected to trade for an guess $ 150,000 to $ 250,000 . lead off saving .
[ h / tThe New York Times ]
