Half-length seated studio portrait. Sixth plate hand-gilt tintype. N.p., [ca 1870s]. Earlier, circa 1858–1862 leatherette case with a scalloped brass mat, stamped keeper frame, and a plush red velvet pad.

An intimate and beautifully composed Reconstruction-era sixth-plate tintype portrait of a young African American gentleman. Seated before the camera with an earnest, dignified expression, the subject is captured in fine civilian dress. His attire represents a textbook study of 1870s men's fashion, featuring a dark jacket with low-set lapels worn over a matching low-cut vest, a crisp white collared shirt, and a small, patterned bow tie. A delicate, hand-tinted gold watch chain loops gracefully across his vest, complementing a prominent ring worn on his left hand.

Original, cased portraits of African American civilians from the Reconstruction period are scarce and highly sought after by collectors for their raw social history and striking visual presence.

 [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, Stereographs] [Civil War, Union, Confederate]

Very good to excellent. The image plate remains remarkably clean, exhibiting outstanding contrast and clarity. The surface is exceptionally preserved, free from the heavy crazing, scratching, or bending common to period iron plates. Some minor spotting can be seen under magnification.