ROBERT E. LEE (1807–1870). THREE CARTE-DE-VISITE PORTRAITS, WAR- AND RECONSTRUCTION-ERA

Albumen prints on original mounts, 1863–ca. 1866, comprising:

Bust profile in uniform, vignetted; elaborate backmark of “L.E.E. Photographic Gallery, 920 Main Street, over the Richmond Musical Exchange / Wm. W. Davies.” (Richmond), with a contemporary pencil identification at top.

Full-standing view in double-breasted frock coat and sash, sword at side; imprint “C. E. Jones & Vanerson, Photographers, No. 77 Main Street, Richmond, Va.”

Seated three-quarter-length portrait of Lee, slightly turned left; Anthony backmark, “Published by E. & H. T. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York / from Photographic Negative in Brady’s National Portrait Gallery."

Together these three views span Lee’s public image from wartime general to the post-war era. The Jones & Vanerson standing portrait is among the most recognized Richmond studio views made during the Confederacy’s final years; the Anthony/Brady imprint reflects the rapid Northern distribution of Lee’s likeness after 1865; and the scarce W. W. Davies / L.E.E. Photographic Gallery backmark documents an early Reconstruction-era Richmond publisher capitalizing on demand for the general’s image.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Books, Bibles, Soldier's Bibles, Prayer Books, Ephemera, Pamphlets, Publications, Booklets] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]