Sixth plate ambrotype. Leatherette case. Anonymous artist.

Clear portrait featuring a seated, young Confederate soldier armed with his musket. His dark hair is swept up and away from his face, contributing to a wild, rebellious appearance. This southern ruffian wears a gray jacket with black trim detail that runs along both its collar and cuffs. While somewhat obscured due to their size, the buttons do have a device imprinted on their faces that is likely a state seal. A bayonet sits against his waist in its leather scabbard, which is attached via a loop on his plain black leather belt.

This is a classic portrait of a rebel soldier, taken as many were by an unknown photographer in a simple studio.




[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.