An individual outdoor landscape CDV capturing President Abraham Lincoln’s magnificent funeral catafalque under the monumental civic arch at Chicago, Illinois, May 1865. Presented on a horizontal-format mount with a fine double-ruled border. The verso displays an elegant backmark for S.M. Fassett’s New Gallery, 114 & 116 South Clark St., Chicago.

A stunning documentary photograph capturing the grand scale of Chicago's reception of the fallen president. The horizontal composition centers on an immense, highly ornate Gothic-style triple arch erected in the middle of Park Row. The central archway is beautifully draped with patriotic bunting, cascading white fabric festoons, and flags, capped by a sculpted federal eagle. Passing directly beneath the structure is the massive, black-canopied funeral catafalque, drawn by a matching team of horses. Formed in a crisp line extending to the left is a large escort of young women dressed uniformly in white mourning attire, acting as a symbolic guard of honor, while dense crowds of Chicago citizens pack the sidewalk and iron railings to the right.

When the funeral train arrived in Chicago on the morning of May 1, the coffin was transferred to the open-air catafalque. The procession then marched solemnly down Michigan Avenue, passing under this specially commissioned civic archway en route to the Court House where Lincoln lay in state. Samuel M. Fassett recorded this definitive, historic moment directly from the street parade. Original, first-generation street views of the Chicago procession remain extremely scarce - even for advanced collectors of Lincoln mourning material and early photojournalism.

Very good. The albumen print retains a warm tone, with strong contrast and excellent clarity. The mount is untrimmed and appears to have no material defects.