President Lincoln — Artist Proof #1
1983 Original Head Design | AP #1 | The First Complete Simpich Lincoln | Includes Wall-Mount Display Case | Heirloom Condition
Every edition starts with one. This is it.
On the bottom of the base, in Robert Simpich’s marker, are three short lines: AP #1, 1983. This is the first artist proof of President Lincoln, the first complete Lincoln to come out of the Simpich doll shop. Every Lincoln that followed in the 1,000-piece edition traces back to this one.
President Lincoln was one of Robert Simpich’s most deeply studied and personally meaningful designs. Robert spent much of his life researching and admiring the man who led our nation through its darkest chapter. He first made a rendition of Lincoln in the 1950s, then took nearly twenty years before returning to the design in its mature Simpich Character Doll form. When President Lincoln was introduced in 1983, Robert worked from the paintings, photographs, and historical references made during Lincoln’s lifetime. The result reflected both his skill as a sculptor and the deep gratitude he and Jan felt for America, and for the freedom that let them chase their creative dreams.
This piece has the original 1983 head. After the introduction, Robert had the chance to study a death mask of Abraham Lincoln, and in 1984 he redesigned the head. Our best estimate is that only 10–20% of the edition carries the original sculpt. This Lincoln isn’t just one of those early pieces. It’s the one Robert made first.
Set him next to a later Lincoln and the difference is easy to see. The 1983 face is fuller and more expressive, with heavy brows and a steady, searching look. It’s Lincoln as Robert first imagined him, before the death mask changed his understanding of the face.
Lincoln is shown at his inauguration in a black wool frock coat and a satin vest, his shirt collar tied with a simple black ribbon. One hand is gathered at his chest. The other is tucked into his pocket. Beside him on a small wooden table rests a gold-toned Holy Bible with a red ribbon marker, a reminder of the oath and the weight of the office he was about to take on.
He also comes with something most Lincolns don’t: a wooden display case built to be wall-mounted. The base slides in on a red felt-lined floor, so he can hang in an office or study and be seen every day, protected from dust and handling.
For a Simpich collector, an artist proof is about as close to the artist’s bench as a piece can get. Artist proof #1 of a design Robert held this close is one of a kind.
Details
President Lincoln, Simpich Character Doll, introduced 1983
Marked AP #1, 1983 on the base: the first artist proof of the design
Original 1983 head sculpt (pre-death-mask redesign)
Includes original table and Holy Bible accessory
Includes wall-mountable wooden display case with felt-lined floor
Original Simpich label on the underside of the base
President Lincoln — Artist Proof #1
1983 Original Head Design | AP #1 | The First Complete Simpich Lincoln | Includes Wall-Mount Display Case | Heirloom Condition
Every edition starts with one. This is it.
On the bottom of the base, in Robert Simpich’s marker, are three short lines: AP #1, 1983. This is the first artist proof of President Lincoln, the first complete Lincoln to come out of the Simpich doll shop. Every Lincoln that followed in the 1,000-piece edition traces back to this one.
President Lincoln was one of Robert Simpich’s most deeply studied and personally meaningful designs. Robert spent much of his life researching and admiring the man who led our nation through its darkest chapter. He first made a rendition of Lincoln in the 1950s, then took nearly twenty years before returning to the design in its mature Simpich Character Doll form. When President Lincoln was introduced in 1983, Robert worked from the paintings, photographs, and historical references made during Lincoln’s lifetime. The result reflected both his skill as a sculptor and the deep gratitude he and Jan felt for America, and for the freedom that let them chase their creative dreams.
This piece has the original 1983 head. After the introduction, Robert had the chance to study a death mask of Abraham Lincoln, and in 1984 he redesigned the head. Our best estimate is that only 10–20% of the edition carries the original sculpt. This Lincoln isn’t just one of those early pieces. It’s the one Robert made first.
Set him next to a later Lincoln and the difference is easy to see. The 1983 face is fuller and more expressive, with heavy brows and a steady, searching look. It’s Lincoln as Robert first imagined him, before the death mask changed his understanding of the face.
Lincoln is shown at his inauguration in a black wool frock coat and a satin vest, his shirt collar tied with a simple black ribbon. One hand is gathered at his chest. The other is tucked into his pocket. Beside him on a small wooden table rests a gold-toned Holy Bible with a red ribbon marker, a reminder of the oath and the weight of the office he was about to take on.
He also comes with something most Lincolns don’t: a wooden display case built to be wall-mounted. The base slides in on a red felt-lined floor, so he can hang in an office or study and be seen every day, protected from dust and handling.
For a Simpich collector, an artist proof is about as close to the artist’s bench as a piece can get. Artist proof #1 of a design Robert held this close is one of a kind.
Details
President Lincoln, Simpich Character Doll, introduced 1983
Marked AP #1, 1983 on the base: the first artist proof of the design
Original 1983 head sculpt (pre-death-mask redesign)
Includes original table and Holy Bible accessory
Includes wall-mountable wooden display case with felt-lined floor
Original Simpich label on the underside of the base
Image 1 of 22
Image 2 of 22
Image 3 of 22
Image 4 of 22
Image 5 of 22
Image 6 of 22
Image 7 of 22
Image 8 of 22
Image 9 of 22
Image 10 of 22
Image 11 of 22
Image 12 of 22
Image 13 of 22
Image 14 of 22
Image 15 of 22
Image 16 of 22
Image 17 of 22
Image 18 of 22
Image 19 of 22
Image 20 of 22
Image 21 of 22
Image 22 of 22
