Sixth plate hand-gilt tintype. Leatherette case. Anonymous artist. Interior of case inscribed in pencil: “Can the absent be forgotten / can the memories ever die?/ Loved to be remembered / as a dream that passes by / Ellen.”

One of the most memorable subjects in the Herb Peck collection. With his piercing eyes and untamed beard, this armed Confederate soldier is an intimidating figure. Both hands grip a double-barreled shotgun across his body. An enormous D-guard bowie knife rests at his side, sheathed and attached to a wide leather belt. The belt is obscured, but it may be secured with a brass frame buckle. A classic Confederate tin drum canteen, rarely seen in Civil War photography, is slung across the subject's chest.

Intriguingly, a note found behind the photograph reads, “Can the absent be forgotten, can the memories ever die? Loved to be remembered as a dream that passes by, Ellen.” While his history is unknown, his image is unforgettable. This is a compelling southern photograph.


[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.

Some varnish reflection at raking light. Otherwise, its condition is as it’s represented. For a full condition report, please email us.