Sixth plate hand-gilt ambrotype. Half leatherette case. Anonymous artist.

One of the more impressive character studies in the Herb Peck Collection, the subject of this ambrotype is a cavalry officer who softly stares into the camera’s lens. He wears a classic gray officer’s frock with faint yellow tinting to his cuffs.

With respect to composition, the artist was able to balance the plate wonderfully, with a clarity that brings the subject to life. A memorable portrait.






[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.