Saint-Gaudens made a working bust of Lincoln. The head was inclined at just the right angle so that observers of the statues he made from it would be able to look Lincoln in the eyes. From that model, he made the "Seated Lincoln" (below), currently located in Grant Park, Chicago. He also made the "Standing Lincoln," located in Lincoln Park, Chicago. A replica of "Standing Lincoln" is in Lincoln's Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL.
What does that have to do with the Two Cent Lincoln? Well, on January 2, 1909, Pres. Teddy Roosevelt wrote a letter to Gaudens' widow for permission to have a profile photograph made of that bust that could be used by the portrait engraver of the stamp to be issued on February 2, 1909 (wow, short time-frame!). The photograph was made, and the engraving for Scott 367 was made from it. The angle Lincoln's head on Gaudens' working bust accounts for the somewhat introspective attitude of Lincoln's head on the 367-369 stamps.
Thanks to E. L. for the information.
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Augustus Saint-Gauden's "Seated Lincoln" statue, installed in 1907 or 1908 in Grant Park, Chicago. Photo by Rebecca Schneider. |
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Augustus Saint-Gauden's "Standing Lincoln" statue, installed in 1887 in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Photo from here. |
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