Ninth plate ambrotype. Full leatherette case. Anonymous artist. Virginia [?].

This bearded "Johnny Reb" wears the iconic beehive-style hat popular among Confederate soldiers, who could customize them to a degree by folding or curling the brim to suit their taste. His rough-looking cap complements his long dark beard and burly shell jacket. He points an M1858 Remington Beals revolver off camera, and a leather haversack is slung across his chest. His jacket features dark trim on the collar and cuffs and at least one angled chest pocket.

The soldier’s rectangular belt plate appears to be stamped with Virginia’s distinctive state seal featuring Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon standing victorious over the prostrate body of Tyranny with the motto “Sic Semper Tyrannis.”

This volunteer looks ready to march for the South.





[Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, Tintype, Carte-de-visite, CDV, Albumen, Mexican War, Mexican American War, Civil War, Slavery, Abolitionist, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Early Photography]

Provenance: Herb Peck assembled one of the first and greatest collections of historic American photography before it was stolen in 1978 from his Nashville home. Once thought lost forever, authorities recently traced an unexpected clue and discovered many of Herb’s images unscathed after nearly 45 years in hiding. These daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes comprise one of the most important collections of Civil War portrait photography ever curated. Herb Peck was a true pioneer who understood both the historic and artistic merit of portraits showing the common Civil War soldier at a time when they were often overlooked. These photographs are deeply important to our shared American history, and Fleischer's Auctions is proud to make them publicly available on behalf of the Peck family.

As represented. For a full condition report, please email us.