WHAT: A March 1843 photo that reappeared at auction early this month in a sale of photographs at Sotheby’s New York caused quite a stir. Held in a private collection for some 175 years, the daguerreotype portrait is the earliest known photograph of our sixth president, John Quincy Adams. The shot is also the earliest photo of an American president to appear at auction. It went for $360,500 in the auction.
MORE: Adams sat for the portrait after terms as senator, secretary of state and president (1825-1829). At 75 years of age, after his term as president and while serving as a congressman from Massachusetts, he sat for daguerreotypist and lithographer Philip Haas in his Washington, D.C., studio.
“Everett” on the reverse accompanied by an inscription from Adams is thought to be because he presented the photo to Horace Everett, a congressman from Vermont, who accompanied him during a sitting.
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SMART COLLECTORS KNOW: Invented by Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre in the early 19th century, the daguerreotype was an early form of photography. Too costly and complex to use widely, it was soon made obsolete by new processes.
HOT TIP: The landmark photo is technically a half-plate daguerreotype: Most such images were issued as a pair in a special case.
FYI: Certain daguerreotype cases are also collected.
BOTTOM LINE: A first in several areas, the Adams image is significant. Small wonder that this new landmark sold high.
