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DESCRIPTION
The headline piece is a "PRESIDENTS OF U. S." composite carte de visite (CDV), c.1869-76: eighteen oval portrait medallions running from George Washington through Ulysses S. Grant — Lincoln and Andrew Johnson in the bottom row — an albumen photograph mounted on card, in Very Good Plus shape. With it: a Civil War-era CDV portrait of an unidentified bearded man seated in a double-breasted coat (the card's back is pencil-noted "for Civil War"; his side cannot be determined and none is claimed); a large c.1870s tintype group portrait of four people in poor, as-found condition; a cabinet card of an elderly bearded man holding his bowler hat, made by the Fine Art Gallery of Rust & Stafford, Hastings, Minnesota — a studio the Minnesota Historical Society's photographer directory dates to 1884-1885; and an AZO real photo postcard of two young brothers in sailor suits, penciled on the back "Earnest & Bernard Smith."
CONTENTS
1. "Presidents of U. S." composite CDV, c.1869-76 — 18 oval medallions, Washington to Grant, albumen print on card, plain back.
2. Civil War-era CDV — unidentified seated bearded man, double-breasted coat, back pencil note "for Civil War," no photographer imprint.
3. Large tintype, c.1870s — group portrait of four (standing man with top hat, white scarf and basket; two women; one seated man).
4. Cabinet card — elderly bearded man holding a bowler hat, painted studio backdrop; backmark "Fine Art Gallery of Rust & Stafford, Hastings, Minn." (studio active 1884-1885 per the Minnesota Historical Society directory).
5. AZO real photo postcard — two young brothers in sailor suits, one standing on a stool; back penciled "Earnest & Bernard Smith."
MEASUREMENTS
The Presidents CDV, the Civil War CDV, and the tintype each measure approximately 3-7/8 x 2-3/8 in. The sailor-suit postcard measures approximately 5-3/8 x 3-3/8 in. The cabinet card measures approximately 6-1/2 x 4-1/4 in.
CONDITION
Very Good overall, itemized honestly: the Presidents CDV is Very Good Plus with only minor surface dirt/flaws; the Civil War CDV photograph is Very Good Plus, its card with back staining, moisture staining along the top edge, and edge wear; the cabinet card is Very Good, its studio-card back with staining/foxing and a few scuffs; the sailor-suit postcard shows rounded corners, edge wear, staining, a vertical crease through the right-hand boy, and moderate-to-heavy staining (including a ring stain) on the back. The TINTYPE is in poor, as-found condition: the plate is bent and irregularly cut (not a clean rectangle), with rust at the upper corners and along the edges, emulsion flaking and loss (worst at the corners and bottom edge), a dark, low-contrast image, scratches, and some surface marks in the upper right that may be scratched initials or process damage — they are not legible. Please examine closely for exact condition.
SHIPPING & RETURNS
Free US Shipping / 30 day returns - Must be returned in original condition.
