[CIVIL WAR] Union Commanders Photographic Montage

Boston: The Notman Photo Co., [1884], photographic print, gelatin silver.

Using a unique technique of glass plate negatives to layer multiple images in order to create the impression of one, the Notman Photo Co., led by William Notman, created a stunning image of the Union Leaders, distributed by the Traveller’s Insurance Company. This image, circulated in various prints after being copyrighted in 1884, was used by the life and accident insurance company of Hartford, Connecticut to advertise post-Civil War, with a nearly identical Confederate commander edition for their southern sympathizers. Though never actually featured together in one photograph, this photographic montage includes the likenesses of Abraham Lincoln, Admiral David G. Farrugut, General William T. Sherman, General George Henry Thomas, General George Gordon Meade, General Ulysses S. Grant, General Joseph Hooker, General Philip Henry Sheridan, and General Winfield Scott Hancock. In the margin of the photograph are the names of each individual with the inscription “With Compliments of the Travellers Insurance Company” and the copyright of the photographer, William Notman. Opening several studios in northeastern U.S. cities, Notman grew in prominence during the 19th century, creating many photographs using this technique. The Travelers Life and Accident Insurance Company is still in business today. 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Abraham Lincoln, Politics, Mary Todd Lincoln, 1860 Election, Election of 1860, 1864 Election, Election of 1864,  Lincoln Assassination, John Wilkes Booth] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs][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]