Mid 19th century ambrotype of a State Fair. At right, a tall man wearing a dark suit and stovepipe hat and bearing a resemblance to Abraham Lincoln is seated on farming equipment, surrounded by other figures and machinery. A large white banner is to the left, and arcade tents are in background. Hand written paper label glued to upper quadrant states: "Taken on State Fair Ground Nov. 1858". Leather frame with gilt embossed mat. 4 3/4" x 6" x 3/8". Note: In 1858 Abraham Lincoln was campaigning throughout Illinois for the U.S Senate seat and this is the same year the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates took place, however, no documentation placing him at a State Fair during November has been found. States holding fairs in November 1858 included Mississippi and Alabama. Provenance: found in the Williamsburg, VA area. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)