1860 Early Beardless Lincoln — Pre-Nomination Republican Convention May 12

🗞️ HARPER'S WEEKLY · May 12, 1860
Complete Issue · New York

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One of the most historically significant issues in this entire collection — a beardless Abraham Lincoln portrait in a double-page centerfold of Republican presidential candidates, published four days before Lincoln was nominated at Chicago, when he was still a near-unknown. Lincoln would not grow his famous beard until after his election in November 1860 — making any beardless Lincoln portrait extremely rare and highly collectible. Combined with the Republican Wigwam front page, the Chicago cityscape, and the Southern Democratic seceders from Charleston, this is a primary document of the week that transformed American history.

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🎩 BEARDLESS ABRAHAM LINCOLN — PRE-NOMINATION
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👤 DOUBLE-PAGE CENTERFOLD — "PROMINENT CANDIDATES FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION AT CHICAGO" — INCLUDING LINCOLN AND SEWARD
A magnificent double-page centerfold of portraits of the eleven prominent candidates for the Republican presidential nomination at Chicago — with William Henry Seward of New York as the frontrunner at center, and Abraham Lincoln of Illinois near the lower left. This is one of the earliest published portraits of Lincoln in any American newspaper — and it shows him beardless, the face the world knew before his election. Lincoln would not grow his famous beard until after receiving a letter from 11-year-old Grace Bedell of Westfield, New York in October 1860, who suggested whiskers would improve his appearance. He first appeared beardless at his election; he grew the beard during the journey to Washington for his inauguration. Any published portrait of Lincoln without his beard is extremely rare and highly collectible — the bearded Lincoln is the iconic image known to the world, and the beardless Lincoln belongs to the brief window of 1858-1860 when he was rising to national prominence. Published four days before Lincoln's surprise nomination on the third ballot at the Chicago Wigwam on May 18, 1860, this centerfold captures the exact moment he was transforming from "Honest Abe" of Illinois into the future President of the United States. An extraordinary piece of Lincoln history and American presidential history — price this as a premium issue.

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🏛️ THE REPUBLICAN WIGWAM — CHICAGO
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🏛️ FRONT PAGE — "THE REPUBLICAN WIGWAM AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, IN WHICH THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION WILL BE HELD, MAY 16, 1860"
A front-page illustration of the Republican Wigwam — the massive temporary wooden building constructed in Chicago specifically to house the Republican National Convention of 1860, capable of holding 10,000 people. The Wigwam was where Lincoln's floor managers — led by Judge David Davis — outmaneuvered Seward's forces through the night before the third ballot, promising cabinet positions to Pennsylvania and Indiana delegates and packing the galleries with Lincoln supporters. Lincoln himself waited in Springfield, Illinois, receiving telegrams. This illustration of the Wigwam — published four days before the nomination — is a primary document of the building where the presidency was decided. A significant piece of Lincoln history and Republican Party history.

🏙️ FULL PAGE — "THE CITY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, WHERE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATING CONVENTION WILL MEET ON MAY 16, 1860"
A full-page illustration of Chicago — published as the city was preparing to host the most consequential political convention in American history. A significant piece of Chicago history and Civil War origins history.

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🏛️ THE DEMOCRATIC FRACTURE CONTINUES
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🏛️ HALF PAGE — "MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN SECEDERS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AT ST. ANDREW'S HALL, CHARLESTON"
A half-page illustration of the Southern delegates who walked out of the Charleston Democratic Convention meeting separately at St. Andrew's Hall — the formal organization of the Southern secession from the Democratic Party that would nominate John C. Breckinridge and guarantee Lincoln's election. A significant piece of Civil War origins history.

👤 SMALL PORTRAIT — "HON. CALEB CUSHING, PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATING CONVENTION"
A small portrait of Caleb Cushing — the presiding officer of the fractured Charleston Democratic Convention, a Massachusetts Democrat who had led the party's national gathering to its catastrophic end. A significant piece of Antebellum Democratic political history.

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📋 CONDITION
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I photograph every page of every issue so you can inspect the condition closely before purchasing. Please review all images carefully and don't hesitate to ask any questions — I'm happy to provide additional detail or close-up shots of any page, illustration, or area of concern before you buy.

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📌 DETAILS
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Publication ········ Harper's Weekly
Date ··············· May 12, 1860
City ··············· New York
Format ············· Illustrated newspaper, complete in 16 pages

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📦 SHIPPING & PRESERVATION
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• Stored in an acid-free protective bag and flat-shipped in a padded envelope with heavy cardboard reinforcement
• Fully tracked for your peace of mind

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🔍 SEO TAGS
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