Photo May Be Last Taken of Lincoln

A photograph from a private album of Ulysses S. Grant may show Abraham Lincoln in front of the White House and could be the last image taken of him before he was assassinated, a collector believes. If it is indeed Lincoln, it would be the only known photo of the 16th president in front of the executive mansion and a rarity—only about 130 photos of him are known to exist.

Grant's great-great-grandson, Ulysses S. Grant VI, had seen the picture before, but didn't examine it closely until late January. A tall figure in the distance caught his eye, although its face was obscured. A photography collector and Lincoln aficionado helped identify it as Lincoln. Although authenticating the 2 1/2-by-3 1/2-inch photo could be difficult, several historians who saw it said the evidence supporting the claim is believable. (More Abraham Lincoln stories.)