Collection of 27 images (25 albumen CDVs and 2 tintypes). Various photographers and locations, ca. 1861-5. Several mounts feature photographer's imprints, period ink inscriptions, modern research identifications and canceled US Internal Revenue stamps.

This expansive collection features 27 original Civil War-era photographs, comprising 25 cartes-de-visite and two unmounted tintypes. The archive presents a superb visual cross-section of Union military leadership with an exceptionally strong emphasis on the cavalry branch. The grouping includes numerous identified officers from Pennsylvania and New York mounted regiments, along with early-war militia soldiers and field-grade commanders. The reverses of the mounts offer a wealth of information, including period inscriptions, prestigious photographer's backmarks from Washington, D.C., to Boston and modern research notes detailing horrific battlefield fates.

While this 27-piece grouping features an excellent variety of uniforms and studio backdrops, its true historical gravity lies in its casualties. Most remarkably, the archive contains the portraits of two different officers who were killed in action on the exact same day during the Battle of Brandy Station, the largest cavalry engagement ever fought on the North American continent.

Specific images in this lot include: 

1. Bust portrait of an unidentified officer with an elaborate mustache and goatee (J.C. Toler, Oxford, OH, backmark).

2. Seated portrait of Sgt. Joseph B. Babson, Co. H, 4th Maine Infantry, resting his arm casually on a studio table.

3. Standing portrait of an unidentified officer wearing a slouch hat, military vest and holding his sword, posed against a draped curtain.

4. Standing portrait of Capt. Henry J. Strait, 40th New York Infantry (Mozart Regiment), resting his hand on a fringed chair.

5. Standing portrait of Lt. Richard G. Prendergast, 1st New York Cavalry, noted on the reverse as killed in action at Nineveh, Virginia, on 12 November 1864.

6. Bust portrait of an unidentified field-grade officer with a receding hairline and a full, dark beard (Alex Gardner backmark).

7. Bust portrait of an unidentified officer with a long, dark beard, noted on the reverse as originating from a 4th Maine album.

8. Seated portrait of an unidentified enlisted man of the 31st Ohio Infantry, wearing a sack coat with his arm resting on a table.

9. Standing portrait of an unidentified officer with a dark goatee, resting his hand on a chair with a C.D. Fredricks backmark.

10. Standing portrait of an unidentified soldier of the 22nd New York State Militia, wearing a distinctive early-war gray uniform with dark trim.

11. Bust portrait of Maj. G. F. McCabe, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

12. Seated portrait of a heavily armed officer wearing prominent epaulets, holding a sword across his lap (presented as a dark tintype or ambrotype).

13. Seated portrait of an officer wearing a sash and holding a dark forage cap (presented as a dark tintype or ambrotype).

14. Standing portrait of Capt. J. Edward Carpenter, 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, holding his cap and sword at his side.

15. Bust portrait of Lt. Col. Lawrence Kip, presenting a crisp profile view with a Brady gallery backmark.

16. Bust portrait of an unidentified officer wearing a double-breasted frock coat (Henry Ulke backmark).

17. Standing portrait of Capt. Benjamin F. Foote, 8th New York Cavalry. The reverse notes he was killed in action at Beverly Ford (the opening phase of the Battle of Brandy Station) on 9 June 1863.

18. Vignetted bust portrait of Lt. Charles B. Davis, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry (Rush's Lancers), who was also killed in action at Brandy Station on 9 June 1863.

19. Oval portrait of an unidentified civilian man in a dark suit, noted as Mr. C. P. Noyes.

20. Oval portrait of an unidentified young civilian man with a neatly parted hairstyle.

21. Standing portrait of an unidentified officer of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry, posed in front of a painted camp landscape backdrop.

22. Seated portrait of an unidentified officer prominently wearing a Sixth Corps cross badge.

23. Bust portrait of Lt. Col. Asa Holt, wearing a dark double-breasted coat.

24. Bust portrait of Maj. John Adams Sabine, Paymaster, featuring a full beard and light-colored vest.

25. Standing portrait of Lt. James V. Davenport, 132nd New York Infantry, striking a confident pose with his hand resting on his hip.

26. Standing portrait of an unidentified officer, possibly 1st Maine Cavalry, positioned next to a studio pedestal holding a dark cap.

27. Standing portrait of an unidentified soldier of the 22nd New York State Militia, wearing a light-colored tailored uniform jacket.

[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 images range from good to excellent condition. The albumen surfaces exhibit varying degrees of age-related fading, minor surface wear and the soft tonality typical of period photography, but all retain strong clarity.