This lot features an exceptional group of ten original carte-de-visite photographs of Union soldiers and officers, each depicted wearing a distinct corps badge or related military insignia. The collection spans highly desirable studio settings with backmarks from notable Washington, D.C., regional, and New York photographers, including Morse's Gallery of the Cumberland, F. Gutekunst, and pioneering female photographer Mrs. Moore.

The assembly offers a rich geographic and tactical cross-section of the federal armies, featuring multiple identified volunteer and Regular Army officers. William J. Augustine's service tracks his operations with the 29th Pennsylvania Infantry, a hard-fighting unit that saw extensive action across both theaters. The collection also captures elements of western mobilization and specialized staff service, including officers identified with the 10th, 12th, 16th, and 20th Corps, alongside a member of New York's historic Steuben Guard.

Specialty lots focusing on the material culture of Union corps badges are highly prized by collectors for their immediate visual appeal and deep connection to regimental pride. Rather than standard uniform poses, each image represents a veteran soldier who intentionally displayed his specific organization's badge for the camera, making this a premier display archive for advanced collectors of Civil War insignia. The presence of a corps badge in an otherwise unidentified image is also a boon to photo sleuths. This lot includes:

1. William J. Augustine, 29th Pennsylvania Infantry: Vignette portrait of an officer wearing an early pattern star variant badge on his collar coat line. Backmark: Morse's Gallery of the Cumberland, 25 Cedar St., opposite the Commercial Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. Period ink identification "Yours truly / William J. Augustine / Lt and officer [?] of / the Pa 29th Inf." Augustine served through intense tactical actions across the Western Theater, participating in the relief of Chattanooga and the Atlanta Campaign.

2. Standing Officer with 10th Corps Badge: Full-length portrait of a soldier standing before a studio backdrop featuring an ornate columned building and next to faux railing structure, displaying a distinct Fort Sumter styled badge pinned to his vest. Backmark: A. C. Lewis, Photographer, No. 10 Market Square, Portland, Me. Verso includes collector graphite tracking reading "10th Corps or Fort Sumter Badge." 

3. Standing Officer in Frock Coat: Full-length standing portrait of an officer with his hand resting on the back of an ornate studio chair. The reverse shows a clean, uncredited blank card mount bearing a clear period pencil notation reading "5th Corps Badge." A period copy of an original CDV, the subject may have died during the war. 

4. Seated Officer with 5h Corps Badge: Three-quarter length seated portrait of an officer in a dark frock coat with light-colored trousers, displaying a prominent star badge on his headgear. The reverse shows a blank mount with a minor surface scrape.

5. Vignette of Officer Porter, 16th Corps: Vignette portrait of a clean-shaven young officer with a small corps badge or medal pinned to his coat collar. The reverse is period pencil-identified as "Porter" above a lower notation reading "16th Corps."

6. Vignette of an Officer with Cross Badge: A high-contrast vignette bust portrait of a mustachioed officer wearing a small cross badge on his jacket. According to the backmark, the image was made by "Geo. H. Wood, Photographer, Towanda, Pa."

7. Seated Soldier in Fatigue Blouse: Seated portrait of a young volunteer, who displays a large 5th Corps badge on the crown of his forage cap. 

8. Standing Officer with Sword: Full-length standing portrait of an officer facing forward in a double-breasted frock coat. A prominent 2nd Corps badge is pinned to his chest. Backmark: F. Gutekunst, Photographer, 704 & 706 Arch St., Philadelphia.

9. Vignette of an Officer with 20th Corps Star: A sharp bust portrait of a bearded officer displaying a star-pattern badge representing the combined 12th and 20th Corps. Backmark: Photographed by J. Fletch. Woodward, No. 50 Cherry Street, Nashville, Tenn. Verso features collector graphite research reading "Major or Lt Col / 12th/20th Corps Badge." 

10. Standing Soldier, Steuben Guard: Full-length standing portrait of an infantry officer in a dark frock coat and slouch hat, displaying a 2nd Corps badge along his shoulder sash. Backmark: Mrs. Moore, 321 Canal St., New York. Verso features collector notes reading "Steuben Guard / 7th NY Inf / 2nd Corps Badge." This subject likely stood in the ranks of a celebrated German-American regiment, braving maximum tactical exposures through the high-attrition battles of the Army of the Potomac.

[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]

Overall very good. Most images retain strong contrast and clarity. Mounts show typical age-toning and light corner wear. Inscriptions and signatures remain legible. Two mounts show trimmed corners from period album insertion.