A Distinguished Arrival. Albumen CDV illustration. [New York City: J. Chapman, 1865]. Modern pencil inscription to verso. 

An interesting illustration of the capture of Confederate president Jefferson C. Davis. The American public was captivated by Davis's escape and subsequent capture, and enterprising artists cashed in by creating a multitude of satirical illustrations of the event. This scarce example riffs on the main theme: that Davis was captured by Union cavalry while disguised in women's clothing.

Notably, this scene fast-forwards the typical example by depicting Davis's arrival at Fortress Monroe, where he was originally held prisoner. Davis, drawn in a farcical style that evokes a dowager aunt, is led to his confinement by a member of the United States Colored Troops. This soldier proclaims in vernacular, "Hi dar - show dis ole lady a room, one wit a closet to put dis yar skellemtum in!" As if these jabs weren't direct enough, a noose hangs below the entryway. 

While dozens of variants of this genre of CDV satire exist, this is a particularly rare and extreme version. It remains in good overall condition, having likely once been trimmed to fit into an album - a common practice of the era. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation] [USCT, United States Colored Troops, Glory, 54th Massachusetts, Buffalo Soldiers, Black Soldiers]  [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]
 

Mount trimmed.