Sotheby’s is presenting for sale a recently surfaced 1846 daguerreotype of Dolley Madison, taken by the photographer John Plumbe Jr. But the photographer’s enterprise soon went bust, and the images captured that day disappeared into the slipstream of history. Now, one of the daguerreotypes made that day is set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s, which is billing it as the earliest known photograph of a first lady. The daguerreotype, which opens for online bidding on June 12, carries an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. Emily Bierman, the global head of the auction house’s photography department, calls it “the most important and exciting photographic portrait to come to market since John Quincy Adams.”https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/11/arts/design/dolley-madison-photograph-auction.htmlSotheby’sJohn Plumbe, Jr.Madison, Dolley—Plumbe, Jr., John | Quarter-plate daguerreotypeLot closes June 26, 02:59 PM EDTEstimate 50,000 – 70,000 USDCurrent Bid 45,000 USDhttps://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/fine-books-and-manuscripts-including-americana/madison-dolley-plumbe-jr-john-quarter-plate

Source: New York Times June 18, 2024 02:55 UTC