"Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I say ‘let it be done.’”

Scarce Civil War-era albumen print of radical abolitionist John Brown from an original likeness attributed to Boston photographer John B. Haywood. The only known photograph of Brown with a beard, the plate was struck in 1858 or 1859 and is currently the last known photograph of Brown before he was hanged in the wake of his infamous raid on Harper's Ferry.

Brown's bushy white beard is significant, as it is believed he grew this facial hair to obscure his appearance while planning his raid. Photographers reproduced Heywood's photo in large quantities after Brown led his ill-fated and well-publicized attack against slavery. Few period copies such as this one survive, however. It remains in strong condition, with only minor toning from age. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]