Sixth plate hand-gilt ambrotype. Leatherette case. Anonymous artist. [Virginia?].

An impressive photograph showing a Confederate infantryman wearing a classic gray uniform. A musket rests at his side while he displays a Bowie knife across his chest. A drum canteen hangs from a dark leather strap slung across his body, a surprisingly uncommon accoutrement to see in Confederate soldier images.

Notably, the bayonet scabbard attached to his belt is empty; this suggests he is actually posed with his own gear. His short jacket strongly resembles the Richmond Depot “Type I” style, and may suggest an association with a Virginia regiment.


[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.

Multiple fractures to the plate. Otherwise, its condition is as it’s represented. For a full condition report, please email us.