Historical figures actually photographed
 

Saw a click bait ad this morning entitled "Famous Historical Figures You Will Be Surprised Were Actually Photographed." Didn't click thru it, but it's an interesting idea. I know some of you guys collect a lot of obscure stuff. Anyone has someone that might blow our minds was actually photographed?

Once CdVs became a popular thing with photographers either buying negatives to make cards to sell, or selling prints by other photographers on their mounts pretty much anyone currently famous at the time was photographed. The format changed over the years, but most anyone who was famous enough to get any press was photographed.

The more interesting photos are occupational, especially ones not posed. Random blacksmiths etc who weren't generally famous or rich enough for pictures, having a picture taken at work is pretty cool.

It's totally different for pictures of someone famous taken well before that fame.

Such as this popular CDV entitled "The Empty Sleeve" of a one-armed man, who lost his arm in the Civil War, whom is Henry Meacham of which a book was written about him.

Owned by Amherst College not me. The only known original photograph of Emily Dickenson (when she was 16). As it's a daguerreotype, it's a 1-of-1

https://cdn.britannica.com/92/185692-004-1D4DDBCD.jpg

Wow! Now we’re talking.

Cool thread for sure