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Although this tintype of Gen. Robert E. Lee is old, it may have been copied from another image. Image courtesy of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee.

Robert E. Lee photo fetches $23,000 for Goodwill

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf

The vintage tintype depicts an unusual view of Lee and is considered rate. Image courtesy of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee.
The vintage tintype depicts an unusual view of Lee and is considered rare. Image courtesy of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee has sold a tintype photograph of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at auction for $23,001 dollars.

The old photo was reportedly spotted in a bin by a Goodwill worker who pulled it out and sent it to Goodwill’s online operation.

Suzanne Kay-Pittman said on Thursday that the bin was headed to the outlet store where everything is sold by the pound. She estimated it would have gone for a dollar and change there.

The Tennessean first reported that the selling price is a national record for Goodwill. It was described at onlinegoodwill.com as an antique Robert E. Lee tintype in a leatherette case.

Kay-Pittman said the winning bidder lives in Virginia and arrangements were being made Thursday to transfer the money.

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AP-WF-09-08-11 1623GMT