Q: I’m looking for information about this print. Internet searches have turned up little.
A: Your print looks like a Currier & Ives or similar print based on a Mathew Brady photograph taken in February 1860 before Lincoln became a candidate for president. It was a popular picture that was published in newspapers and used on campaign items as well as prints. Currier & Ives was founded in 1857 by Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) and James Merritt Ives (1824-1895). The company made thousands of lithographs between 1857 and 1907, including 35 different portraits of Lincoln. Many were reproduced. The original Currier & Ives Lincoln print includes the name and address of the company and was hand-colored–the drapery is red and the upholstery on the chair is blue. Your sepia print is a little ragged around the edges. Value of a Currier & Ives lookalike: $50.
The correct answer is, if this image is your print in question, it is an original and authentic small folio Currier & Ives lithograph, (Cunningham C0021 , Gail G0022 ). Not all Currier’s were hand painted, as Currier & Ives lithographs varied in cost, and unpainted were the most economic. Currier’s motto was “Cheap and popular prints for the people”. The condition of the paper and image is “good” condition to “poor” The acidic toning overall, water stain to bottom left, tear into image through right margin. With that said I would value the piece at $200.00. If you spent 100 dollars to a reputable Conservator, it would be worth $500 . I would not value it more than that, because of the small margins. The original Currier sheet size was just greater than 13 by 17.
Oh and the value of a Currier “lookalike” is garbage! The value of owning a reference book with scholarly word and image of authentic Currier and other fine art prints. Priceless!