137

Album of 154 CDV Photos Important American Civil War Political Military Figures

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Album of 154 CDV Photos Important American Civil War Political Military Figures
Civil War CDVs
Important Political and Military Figures of the American Civil War Collector Album of (154) Period Cartes de Visite
Outstanding Collection Album of (154) Period Cartes de Visite Photographs Identified of Important Political and Military Figures of the American Civil War Era, Choice Extremely Fine.
This Contemporary Custom 1862-Dated CDV Album measures about 9.5” wide x 12” tall x 2.25” thick, with magnificent decorative full green leather covers and brass hinges. The upper hinge is broken, but the lower one is still functional. The front cover bears the date “1862” in large type gold scoring. The cartes de visite are divided into two distinct sections, the first of which pertains to Union personalities, starting with President Lincoln, his wife and members of his staff, then progressing to generals and other senior officers such as Winfield Scott, George McClellan, Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, Elmer Ellsworth, one of the earliest casualties of the war and a friend of Lincoln, and famed frontiersman Kit Carson.

Also included in this first section is a piece of the Confederate Flag from Fort Pulaski, Georgia (presumably captured during the Union siege of April 10-11, 1862) presented by General Benham to the “Wednesday Club.”

The second section of the album pertains to the Southern Confederacy and follows the same pattern, beginning with Jefferson Davis and his wife and also including images of important military commanders like Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, P.G.T. Beauregard, Braxton Bragg and Albert S. Johnston.

The cartes de visite are inserted into pocket frames, and they are NOT glued or adhered. Most of those that we have examined were Published by E. Anthony of New York from plates by Mathew Brady. Other imprints include: J.W. Black of Boston, Earles’ Galleries of Philadelphia, and Bendann Brothers of Baltimore.

In addition to the cartes de visite of military officers is one of a younB black child, titled “Young Africa, Or the Bone of Contention.” This one is fit neatly between the sections of the North and South. Another seems to be a photographic copy of a steel engraving of the Monitor and Merrimac. Finally, one of the portraits, that of Commandant (later, Rear Admiral), Samuel Francis Du Pont.

Of interesting note is the portrait of Colonel Francis L. Lee of the Massachusetts 44th. His carte de visite is Personally Hand-Inscribed on the verso to, “Mrs. Ellen Hauteville—with the best love of / Col. Francis L. Lee / Mass 44th.” Lee was commissioned with this rank in August 1862, while Ellen Sears d’Hauteville died in November of the same year. The CDV Images are generally in excellent condition with choice contrast being fresh of the period. A magnificent volume of portraits the likes of which we have never offered before, and sure to be of keen interest to Civil War enthusiasts. Provenance: Ex: Hotel des Ventes’ Chateau d’Hauteville sale, September 11-12, 2015, lot 1079.