mikenolan Loc: Lincoln Nebraska

A hotel in Ottawa Canada has reported that their copy of the famous portrait of Winston Churchill has been stolen and replaced with a replica with a forged Karsch signature.

This photo, of a scowling Churchill, was taken by legendary photographer Yousef Karsch in 1941. Karsch was trying to get Churchill to put down his cigar, and Churchill wasn't willing to do that, so Karsch grabbed it, went back to his camera, and took the now-famous shot, called the 'roaring lion'.

It isn't clear when the theft took place, the last time the hotel is sure the original photo was on display, along with a number of other Karsch photos, was in July of 2019.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

It was probably stolen recently because someone noticed that the frame didn't match the others in the group and it was not hanging straight. That's what led to the investigation and discovery of the fake.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I don't know when this auction took place, but it appears the print has a value around $5000 US.

https://thehotbid.com/2019/04/09/sold-heritage-sold-the-yousuf-karsh-vintage-gelatin-silver-print-portrait-of-winston-churchill-for-scroll-down-to-see/

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Maybe Ed knows the real story, but I have heard the reason for Churchill's dour look was that he had a cigar in his mouth and photographer Karsh removed it. He was a braver man than me.