Half-length albumen portrait. [Richmond, Virginia]: Charles R. Rees, ca. 1860s. Two notes, one period handwritten and one period typed, identifying subject, photographer and provenance. Approx. 5 x 7 in., framed to 7 x 9 in. 

A striking portrait of John Singleton Mosby in full Confederate uniform. Truly embodying the nickname "Gray Ghost," this photo offers a haunting quality as it has faded over time. Nevertheless, Mosby looks directly at the camera while resting his hands, and his hat, in his lap. A single gold star can be seen on both lapels, identifying his rank as major and placing this photograph to some point after he had already established Mosby's Rangers. 

According to the typed post-war label on verso, this photograph was housed in a glass case at the front of Charles R. Rees's gallery in Richmond "as an example of the art of Rees and the prominence of the patrons of the gallery." The manuscript notation reads: "displayed in the window or glass case in front of 'Rees' Photograph Gallery in 1886 / 911 East Main St / Richmond / Va."

A copy of this photo is at the Library of Congress (see digital ID cwpbh 00633). 

[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]

Small crack to photograph.