Sixth plate hand-gilt tintype. Half leatherette case. Anonymous artist. Virginia.

The bearded subject of this portrait wears a neatly tailored officer’s frock coat with large shoulder insignia. His rank appears to be that of a 2nd Lieutenant, and he displays a thin sword that may be associated with previous militia service. What sets this image apart is his rectangular brass belt buckle, 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 accoutrement is rarely encountered in Civil War era photography and leaves no question regarding which state the officer took up arms to defend.

This Virginian likely sat for his photograph early in the conflict, and while the plate exhibits some wear, its subject’s direct stare into the camera remains poignant some 165 years later.






[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.