Full-length studio portrait albumen CDV. Cincinnati: J. P. Ball, 30 W. 4th St., [ca. 1862-4]. Photographer’s imprint to mount recto.

This exceptional full-length study captures an unidentified Union officer in a classic martial pose, leaning against an ornate studio pedestal with his legs crossed. The subject wears a custom-tailored officer's frock coat and high cavalry-style boots, suggesting service as a horse soldier. Most significantly, the officer prominently displays a small pocket revolver tucked into his belt, a detail that adds a layer of grit to the otherwise formal studio setting. The image was produced by the celebrated African-American photographer James Presley Ball at his premier Cincinnati gallery. The technical quality is a hallmark of Ball's work, featuring a sophisticated scenic backdrop and crisp focus.

Ball was a titan of mid-19th-century photography, a pioneering Black entrepreneur who built one of the most successful galleries in the United States. Cincinnati’s location as a gateway to the Western Theater meant that Ball’s studio at 30 W. 4th St. saw a constant stream of soldiers and officers heading toward the front lines in Kentucky and Tennessee. Portraits by Ball are highly coveted by collectors for their historical weight, their superior artistic composition and the prestige associated with one of the era’s most significant photographic artists. This is a particularly candid example. 

[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 image is in generally excellent condition, featuring the rich tonal range and sharp detail characteristic of Ball’s best work. The albumen surface is well-preserved with a pleasing light sheen and minimal age-related toning. The mount remains structurally sound with the rare J. P. Ball recto imprint clearly visible at the bottom left.