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

English: 1843 Photograph of Joseph Smith, Jr. by Lucian Foster (November 12, 1806-December 12 1845).

This photograph is believed by many experts to be a daguerreotype of Joseph Smith taken in 1843 by Lucian Foster, and there is no dispute of the fact it is a faithful representation of the likeness of Smith, as it is similar in appearance to the painted portrait owned by the Joseph Smith family. Joseph Smith III, eleven years old at his father's death, said the portrait 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 this photo reproduction (slightly re-touched) is kept on file at the Library of Congress.