CDV-sized tintype full-length portrait. Full leatherette case. 

A compelling, early interracial view that raises interesting questions. 

The details of the African American subject's clothing immediately evoke thoughts of hard and poorly compensated labor. Every article of his outfit is visibly worn and dirty; his pants hang in complete tatters and his shoes seem to be falling apart. A strong-looking man despite his current condition, he eyes the camera with a steely expression while his companion sits quietly with his hands folded on his lap. 

Images of subjects of different races pictured together are relatively scarce in early photography due to the social structures of the era in which they were created. They most commonly feature white children being cared for by African American women. Photographs of two men of different races posed together, such as the one offered here, are considerably more scarce. We will leave bidders to determine their own opinion of nature of their relationship. 

[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] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation]