anonymous, sixth plate, housed in a pressed paper case. A superb portrait, the sitter looks intently at the camera, wearing a 9 button shell jacket, with dark (likely red) epaulets, the collar also trimmed with two bars of dark piping. His pants are tailored from the same coarse cloth, and are seemingly part of a uniform which is worn over a civilian's checked vest. He sports a large cravat. Judging by his neat appearance, and demeanor, the sitter is likely a Confederate officer's personal servant. Enslaved African Americans were often conscripted into service to work on construction projects, and free blacks were sometimes empressed into the same service. Officer's slaves sometimes accompanied their masters into the field -- we believe this image to be representative of such an individual. Exhibited at the Museum of the Confederacy's recent "The Confederate Years: The Southern Military in the Civil War." An exceptional rarity, and one of approximately six known images of African Americans in Confederate uniform. Together with an extensive file from the Museum of the Confederacy documenting the loan of this image from the orginal owner.
Condition: Image with original paper seals, strong contrast, one as made dark spot on the plate to right of the sitter's head.