This exceptional albumen CDV features a magnificent example of nineteenth-century musical culture - a crisp, full-length portrait of an early minstrel or vernacular banjoist. This image represents a compelling genre crossover for advanced collectors of period music history and Americana.

This full-length candid portrait was produced in St. Joseph, Missouri, by Uhlman & Rippel, 51 Edmond Street, ca. late 1860s to early 1870s. The sharp, high-contrast study captures a young musician seated on a wooden parlor chair, positioned in mid-performance beside a heavy, cascading studio drapery. He is attired in a light-colored, long-sleeved work shirt loosely fastened by a large, patterned neckerchief bow and dark trousers. He cradles a classic early-pattern, fretless five-string banjo across his lap, his right hand positioned to strike the strings while his left hand rests high on the extended neck. The reverse features a pale-green geometric border frame enclosing a central Uhlman & Rippel backmark. 

The instrument captured in this image boasts fantastic features for music historians. It features a deep wood or brass rim, a distinct lack of metal tension brackets along the hoop, and a classic smooth, fretless neck - a configuration that produced the deep, plunky tone typical of early minstrel and old-time styles. The St. Joseph, Missouri, gallery stamp adds intrigue to the artifact; situated as a major western transportation hub and outfitting post, their studio captured a fascinating cross-section of frontier characters, tradesmen, and itinerant performers. What was this man's real story? We may never know, but the context clues allow for constructive speculation. Like most of Rick Carlile's images, this is a portrait that is more than meets the eye. 

[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]

Excellent. The carte is in near pristine condition, while the albumen print retains fantastic clarity and tone.