A lot consisting of two (2) original albumen CDVs of separate Union soldiers possessing archival associations with the 20th Maine. The first image depicts a young, clean-shaven soldier seated in a loose four-button fatigue blouse over a buttoned vest. The second image shows a seated, heavily bearded soldier wearing a frock coat adorned with a prominent medal pinned to his breast, his arm resting on a table beside a decorative book or Bible.

The reverse of the young soldier's portrait features a photographer's imprint for C. B. Conant, Photographer, Lewiston, Me., beneath a pencil notation reading "20th Maine(?)." The reverse of the bearded soldier's portrait displays a green 3-cent proprietary revenue stamp canceled in ink, a photographer's imprint for N. R. Rideout & Co., Water Street, Augusta, Me., and a firm pencil notation reading, "20th Maine."

The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry remains one of the most celebrated regiments of the Civil War due to its heroic tactical stand on Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. Raised primarily in the summer of 1862, the regiment drew heavily from enlistees across Maine, including communities surrounding Lewiston and the state capital of Augusta, where these respective photographers operated.

While these specific soldiers are currently unidentified by name, the definitive regional photographer imprints combined with the period revenue stamp place these portraits squarely in the mid-to-late war campaign period of the regiment. The Fifth Corps medals or badges displayed on their coats offer a strong visual clue. 

Wartime portraits carrying associations with the 20th Maine are consistently prioritized by advanced collectors due to the regiment's immense historic legacy. This lot offers an attractive pairing of distinct portrait styles, with enticing additional research opportunities. 

[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 portraits remain in good to very good condition. The images exhibit pleasing contrast and fine detail, with some minor, expected surface soiling and silvering consistent with age. The mounts show light corner wear and typical age-toning.