File:Joseph Smith, Jr. (1843 photograph).jpg

1843 photograph of Joseph Smith, Jr. by Lucian Foster

This photograph is believed by some experts to be a daguerreotype of Joseph Smith, Jr. taken in 1843 by Lucian Foster. It is similar in appearance to the painted portrait owned by the Joseph Smith family, which was the painting that Joseph Smith III said was the best likeness of his father.

The authenticity of the photograph has been affirmed by several scholarly studies, but some suggest the daguerreotype was made from a painted portrait. (See http://comevisit.com/lds/faq-dld.htm.)

The image was copyrighted in 1879 by Smith's son Joseph Smith III (Copyright No. 9810). The original daguerreotype has been lost, but as a result of the application for copyright, this photo reproduction (slightly re-touched) is kept on file at the Library of Congress.

The copyright on the photograph has expired.

This media, Joseph Smith, Jr. (1843 photograph).jpg, is in the public domain

This is a work of the United States Government, and as such is not afforded copyright protection under US law.
For further information see Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.
You may freely copy, distribute, display and perform this work, as well as make derivative and commercial works.