Mosher's Memorial Offering to Chicago - Victorian Man with Long Beard - Cabinet Photo, c. 1870s

(4 1/4 x 6 1/2 In) This is an original antique cabinet photograph from 1870s. It shows a Victorian man with a long grey beard. Taken by photographer C. D. Mosher, National Historical Photographer to Posterity, 125 State Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 By special request, the negative from which this cabinet photo is printed was taken for one of the series of Mosher's Historical Autograph Albums of prominent Men and Women. When completed the Albums are to be classified according to their professions and business of the person's photograph they contain, and are to be deeded, with valuable statistics to Chicago, and preserved with the city archives, in a memorial safe in the Court House, with special reference for their historical information. The safe is to be opened only once in every quarter of a century, from the fourth day of July, 1876, and then with appropriate and imposing ceremonies. The Offering, with its portraits and historical reminiscences, will be placed on exhibition in Memorial Hall, at the second and third Centennial anniversaries of our Republic. 'Tis then they will become rare relics of the past, (that we cannot now afford to lose the golden opportunity in giving), as it will be of great importance and value to our descendants and the historian.

When other men our lands will till,
When other men our streets will fill, 
And other birds will sing as gay-
As bright the sunshine as to day,
A hundred years from now."

The photo is in GOOD condition, wear at the edges, album mark, a few light stains and unfortunately some damage from someone using tape on the back.