Collection of 2 studio portrait albumen CDVs. Cincinnati: J. P. Ball and Ball & Thomas, [ca. 1863-4]. Photographer’s imprints to mount recto and verso. Period ink signature and research pencil identifications to mount recto and verso read: "Joe! Your friend, Keith; Keith Gilmore, 79th NY Inf / 2nd Lt, 1st Lt, Captain."

This premier two-piece lot is a visual tribute to the artistry of James Presley Ball, the legendary African-American photographer of Cincinnati. The collection documents two distinct views of the Union war effort in the Western Theater.

The lot includes the following:

1. Captain Keith Gilmore (79th New York Infantry): A sharp, vignetted bust study of the "Cameron Highlander" officer. This image features a warm period ink inscription on the mount recto: "Joe! Your friend, Keith." The reverse carries the prestigious and highly ornamental Ball & Thomas "Photographic Art Gallery" backmark, along with a 3-cent Washington proprietary revenue stamp. Keith Gilmore’s service with the 79th New York "Highlanders" took him from the initial defenses of Washington to the grueling 1863 campaigns in the West. As part of the 9th Corps, the regiment traveled considerably to support the operations at Vicksburg and Knoxville, which likely brought Gilmore into Ball’s Cincinnati studio.

2. Unidentified Western Officer: A superb full-length study of an officer in high cavalry-style boots and a field-grade sack coat, posed against a fluted column. This image is distinguished by a rare and coveted J.P. Ball name stamp on the lower corner of the mount recto, serving as a prominent signature of the artist.

This is an interesting pair of images both produced by pioneering African-American photographer J.P. Ball. 

[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]

Both images are in generally excellent condition, featuring the exceptional tonal range and clarity associated with the Ball studios. The albumen surfaces are well-preserved with a pleasing light sheen. The mounts remain structurally sound with clean edges.