A choice pairing of two individual portrait-format cartes de visite captured by Mathew Brady during his landmark 16 May 1862 studio sitting in Washington, D.C. Both cards feature the prestigious backmarks of the massive photographic supply house of E. & H.T. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York, printed directly from the original negatives in Brady's National Portrait Gallery.

The first card in this lot captures the famous pensive profile pose, cataloged as Meserve No. 42 (Ostendorf O-59), depicting Lincoln seated and leaning slightly forward with his right hand raised toward his chin in a thoughtful stance. The second card represents the celebrated statesman pose, cataloged as Meserve No. 43 (Ostendorf O-60), which resolves a three-quarter length likeness of the president with his legs crossed, resting his left arm on a draped side table next to his inkwell and silk top hat. 

Both albumen prints exhibit excellent clarity and warm, matching tones. The mounts are flat, well-preserved, and untrimmed.