December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 86:
Description
This is an authentic mid-19th century Carte de Visite CDV photograph of a young man, almost certainly a Union soldier or veteran of the American Civil War, identifiable by his military attire. The subject is shown in a seated pose, wearing a dark, high-collared, single-breasted military jacket with visible buttons and light-colored trousers. He holds a felt hat in his left hand while resting on a carved studio prop, set against a floral-themed painted backdrop. The photographic quality and CDV format firmly date this portrait to the 1860s. The most unique element is the geographic provenance, as the studio imprint visible beneath the image identifies the photographer as Holler, 8 Sixth St., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. While California did not see major Civil War battles, it supplied thousands of volunteers to the Union Army and housed several military installations. This photograph is a desirable piece of history, linking a Civil War military subject to the scarce photographic history of the American West Coast during the war era.
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