A very clear oval albumen photo showing a young US infantry private in a regulation enlisted infantry frock coat and forage cap, showing his accouterment belts, cap box, and bayonet scabbard, and holding his rifle with bayonet at his side. Our subject wears chin whiskers that disguise his age. He looks to be in his early twenties. The sad fact is that he may not have survived the war. The photo is a very clear, period copy of a tintype, which may have been done simply for better display in the veteran’s parlor, but was also frequently done when there was no other way to obtain a photo of soldier who had died in service.

Whatever his fate, the soldier went to great lengths to wear his gear turned around so that when reversed in the tintype process it would show on the correct side. He even went to the trouble of sliding his bayonet over the muzzle of the rifle on the wrong side so that it would appear correctly mounted. The tintype itself must have been very clear. His face, hands, and uniform show good detail. The artist just retouched slightly his belt and sling plates, but they may have been gilded in the original. The copyist just added some peripheral lines to accent them and lines to delineate the edges of the cartridge box sling.

The photo is on a period cardstock mount with thick and thin gold border lines. The image is about 5.5 by 8 inches and the mount about 7 by 9 inches. The deep Victorian frame is a couple of inches wider each way and displays well. There are tape stains on both the reverse of the mount and the backing board, showing someone made a crude effort to keep it together after the original nails on the reverse holding the backing board popped out. This is not a big repair and does not show from the front if you want to leave it as is. This would be a nice centerpiece for collection of infantry gear and soldier’s effects, or as a stand-alone on a wall.  [sr]

NOTE: The frame does contain glass. See our policy for shipment of framed items.

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