Gettysburg Related Civil War-Era 40+ Cartes de Visite Album from Maine

Two photograph albums containing over 40 period cartes de visite from the Civil War era and second half of the 19th century. Pen inscriptions on album pages and collector's notes indicate that the photograph subjects were members of the Gordon, Boynton, Hammond, Elliott, and Smith families of southern and central Maine. There are five cartes de visite among the group depicting Civil War soldiers and officers, and about one quarter of the photos depict children. The remaining subjects range in age from infancy to the elderly, and provide us with many lovely examples of Victorian clothing and hairstyles; there is even a rare photograph of the family dog! Isolated photos have been hand-tinted in the cheeks. Mostly good condition with individual condition issues listed below. The larger of the two albums measures 4.75" x 5.875" x 1."

The lot is comprised of:

1. A smaller booklet with brown cloth binding and gilt text block, containing 20 cartes de visites of mostly Gordon, Smith, Elliott, and Boynton family members, including Sergeant Lucius Woodman Elliott (1841-1910) of the 8th Maine Volunteers. Scattered surface loss to the binding and a missing spine, with minor flaws to the inner pages including foxing and damp stain, measuring 4.125" x 5.5." x 1."

The album belonged to Elliott's first wife, Hattie, as we known from the copiously annotated front pastedown endpaper: "Mrs Hattie L. Elliott's Album Presented by Serg. L.W. Elliott at Skowhegan Maine March 25th, 1864… Please accept this dear wife from / your true and loving husband… L.W. Elliott / left Skowhegan / Apr. 14th 1864 and arrived again, wounded / Skowhegan July / 5th 1864 Left again Dec. 18th 1864 / arrived again Aug / 5th 1865 Discharged / and free man."

2. The larger album has a fancy title page from Robert Brothers, Boston, and contains 23 cartes de visite and small photographs of mostly Gordon, Smith, Elliott, Boynton, and Hammond family members, including Sergeant William Boynton (ca. 1827-1863) of the 19th Maine Regiment killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. (William was also the brother of Union General Henry Boynton.) It is missing its covers and spine, with scattered stains within, else good. Refer to photos for more details. 4.75" x 5.875" x 1."

The two albums are accompanied by a cased Civil War-era tintype, depicting four Union soldiers and officers, housed in a fancy embossed leather and velvet case. Measuring 3.25" x 3.75" x .5." No identification of the soldiers present. Expected minor loss, else very good. 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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