Two (2) satirical, promotional, and eccentric Americana portraits featuring Frederick Coombs (1803-1874), one of early California's most colorful street characters.

1. Full-length studio portrait albumen CDV. New York: Frederick Coombs, 1865. Lower mount recto bearing copyright line. Mount verso printed with extensive manifesto "For the Benefit of the Union Banner Bearer, the Union Matrimonial Promoter, &c., or Washington of California" featuring a facsimile signature of California Governor F. F. Low. 

Coombs poses in a powdered wig, breeches, buckled shoes, and an embroidered frock coat beside an elaborate banner surmounted by an American eagle, reading in part: "The Spirit of Washington Still Lives! A California Pioneer... The Great American Spread Eagle / Buy of the Pioneer Patron / Saint Valentine and Merry Matrimony."

2. The Goddess of Liberty & Spirit of 1776. Full-length studio portrait albumen CDV. New York: Frederick Coombs, 1866. Lower mount recto bearing title and copyright line. Mount verso printed with glowing press clippings titled "LIKENESS OF F. COOMBS TO THE GREAT PATRIOTS OF 1776" quoting the New York Christian Enquirer, California Police Gazette, and Alta California. 

Coombs poses alongside a young woman draped as the "Goddess of Liberty" in a striped skirt, clutching an American flag and a carved eagle standard, while Coombs stands proudly in full Continental military uniform with epaulets, tricorn hat, and sword.

Coombs was among the earliest itinerant daguerreotypists and phrenologists to arrive in California during the Gold Rush, operating studios in San Francisco in 1850 before losing his premises to devastating city fires. Convinced of his striking physical resemblance to George Washington, Coombs adopted the persona of "Uncle Freddy" or "The Washington of California," parading through the streets of San Francisco and later New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., in full Revolutionary regalia. Selling these self-published promotional CDVs to support his eccentric philanthropic schemes — including establishing matrimonial agencies, free ditch-digging for the poor, and national unity campaigns during and immediately following the Civil War — Coombs stands alongside Emperor Norton as one of the quintessential eccentric folk figures of 19th-century San Francisco.

[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, Stereographs] 

Overall very good condition. The albumen prints exhibit warm, even brown tones and sharp detail with only faint handling wear. Mounts remain flat and structurally intact, with slight corner rounding and faint edge toning. Versos are crisp, completely legible, and free of significant blemishes.