Sixth plate tintype portrait of a Black veteran. Full thermoplastic case.  

Portrait of a handsome African American man seated in a photographer's fringed leather studio chair. Of note is the brass badge pinned to his jacket - this is the classic star-shaped Grand Army of the Republic badge, issued to veterans of the Union army. This of course means that the subject of this image served as a member of a United States Colored Troops regiment, the first black men to wear the uniform of America's armed forces. Integral to federal success during the Civil War, this young veteran was proud to demonstrate his role in the fight for freedom by proudly wearing his GAR badge for his likeness. Unfortunately, his identity is unknown. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation] [USCT, United States Colored Troops, Glory, 54th Massachusetts, Buffalo Soldiers, Black Soldiers] [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] [Medals, Corps Badges, Badges] [Veterans, Veterans’ Organizations, Fraternal Organizations] [GAR, Grand Army of the Republic]