Tad Lincoln

Thomas "Tad" Lincoln III (April 4, 1853 – July 15, 1871), fourth and youngest son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. The nickname "Tad" was given to him by his father, who observed that he had a large head and was "as wiggly as a tadpole" when he was a baby. Lincoln was known to be impulsive and unrestrained, and he did not attend school during his father's lifetime. He had free run of the White House, and there are stories of him interrupting presidential meetings, collecting animals, and charging visitors to see his father. He died at the age of 18 on July 15, 1871, in Chicago.

Frederick Hill Meserve (1865-1962), New York textile executive and book lover is considered America's first great photograph collector and a premier authority on Linconiania. Today the collection that Meserve started five generations ago constitutes one of the nation's greatest archives of Civil War era and Abraham Lincoln photographs.

Silver gelatin photograph; printed by Meserve (circa 1916). 2.25 x 3.25 inches. Verso features original Merserve ink stamping credit.

Housed in a paper matte (finished size: 3 x 4.5 inches); may be removed easily, if desired. Face features original notations in graphite written in Meserve's hand: "'Tad' Lincoln."

Also includes a facsimile copy of an original hand-written note (ANS) by Merseve to a young collector, April 25, 1916.

In fine condition.