Collection of 4 studio portrait albumen CDVs. Various locations including Washington, D.C. and Massachusetts: Mathew Brady’s National Photographic Galleries, John Goldin & Co., and Howard Bros., [circa 1864-5]. Photographer’s imprints to mount versos. Period and research identifications to mount versos. One example with a 2-cent blue Washington proprietary revenue stamp to mount verso.

This 4-piece lot focuses on the personnel of the Union Signal Corps, a technically demanding branch of the service responsible for battlefield communication. The lot is anchored by three identified sittings: Perley J. Aiken, Edwin T. Cowell, and an unidentified officer in a Brady-vignetted study. A standout feature of this collection is the clear visibility of the Signal Corps "crossed flags" insignia, worn as both sleeve patches for enlisted men and hat ornaments for officers. The grouping offers a range of perspectives, from formal bust studies to full-length views of soldiers with their sabers and specialized equipment.

Specifically, the lot includes the following images: 

1. Perley J. Aiken (Signal Corps): A seated half-length study by John Goldin & Co. He wears exceptionally bold "crossed flags" sleeve insignia on the upper arm of his shell jacket.

2. Edwin T. Cowell (Signal Corps): A full-length standing study by Howard Bros. Cowell is pictured in a short shell jacket with his hand on a saber, representing the "fighting" side of the signal service.

3. Signal Corps Officer (Brady): A vignetted bust study that features a crystal clear view of the crossed-flags hat insignia on his forage cap. 

4. Signalman in Shell Jacket: A full-length standing study by H. F. Cornwall. This carte shows the subject in a clean shell jacket and features a firmly affixed two-cent blue revenue stamp on the verso.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [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]

The collection is in generally excellent condition, featuring strong tonal contrast and sharp detail across the four subjects. The mounts remain structurally sound and exhibit clear photographer imprints and identifications. Typical minor age-related toning and period-rounded corners are present on several examples.