Autographs
“Full Plate” Tintype of General George Armstrong Custer The Finest of Only Two Known of this Rare Size & Type
(GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER).
c. May 1865 Civil War Period, Outstanding Full Plate Size Colored Tintype Photograph of General George Armstrong Custer, the Plate Size measuring approximately 9” x 7” and matted to an overall size of about 8” x 10”. This historic, high quality waist-up image of General Custer seated, wearing his military uniform and facing right. It has lovely color and tones having been fully Hand-Painted and Tinted for display.

To our best knowledge this example is one of only Two Known examples of Custer in a Full Plate Tintype size. This image was taken in May of 1865 by Photographer John Goldin & Co., and it appears almost identical to Katz-70 which was taken at the same sitting (See: D. Mark Katz's 'Custer in Photographs', in which this CDV type is illustrated and noted on page 55 of that reference). Goldin is primarily known for making smaller size Tintypes for Carte de Visites of Custer, thus this huge Tintype Photo was likely made for a special reason. In 2012 we sold a standard Tintype version of George Armstrong Custer, measuring about 2.5" x 4.0" of a Matthew Brady Photograph which brought $7,080. In 1996 we offered the other known example that was not of the same “look” and was of lesser quality. Tracing that other example, for which the consignor includes some paperwork showing that it sold in an online auction at $12,000 on January 15, 1999 after receiving multiple competitive bids. This current specimen would rank as the Finest Known of the two. An outstanding, fully hand painted and tinted Tintype photo of Custer that is excellent for display and would prove be a major highlight of any collection.