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Lot 377

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9th Plate Ambrotype of Civil War Soldier. Unidenti

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9th Plate Ambrotype of Civil War Soldier. Unidentified portrait of a boyish New England private wearing fresh issue nine-button frock coat trimmed with infantry piping and unadorned tall kepi tinted light blue. The naivete of the subject is in contrast to the abundance of weapons, some obviously props, added by the unknown photographer to hype the image with martial appeal. Besides the issue .58 caliber musket and bayonet there is a Foot Officers sword with full belt rig plus a short barrel Allen & Thurber civilian bar hammer pistol suspended upside down by the trigger guard. The private has been promoted to 'officer of the day' complete with red tinted silk sash worn over the shoulder in the regulation fashion. Strong clarity adds to the appeal of the composition with much detail visible without magnification.
The applied black backing is flaking with insignificant spots of peppering noted in field, else near EXC. condition. Housed in a repaired composition case.

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