Abraham Lincoln Daguerreotype, 1846 or 1847 This is the earliest confirmed photographic image of Abraham Lincoln. It was likely made in 1846 by Nicholas H. Shepherd, shortly after Lincoln was elected to the United States House of Representatives. At the time, Lincoln was about 37 years old and beginning his rise onto the national stage. Shepherd operated a Daguerreotype Miniature Gallery in Springfield, located above J. Brookie’s drug store, and later studied law in the office of Lincoln and Her

Unknown man and woman, circa 1844. This early daguerreotype captures a couple seated together, their solemn expressions typical of long exposure times in early photography. The woman’s dark dress with a lace collar and brooch, paired with the man’s patterned vest, cravat, and chain, reflect mid-19th century fashions. Daguerreotypes like this were prized possessions—unique, one-of-a-kind images preserved in protective cases to last for generations. Though their names are lost to history, their li