American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Sixth plate tintype seated portrait of an experienced soldier identified as Joseph Banks of the 3rd New York Artillery Regiment. Washington, DC: Bell & Bro., n.d. (Some crackling and scratching with spots of loss to emulsion; unsealed.) Housed in a pressed paper case (fully separated at spine, with surface wear throughout). Penciled note behind image reads, "Jos. Banks / 3rd NY Artillery." Printed photographer's label affixed to image verso reads, "Bell & Bro. / 480 Penn. Av. / Washington, D.C." Subject wears his union jacket, with red hand-tinting and gold highlighted buttons, unbuttoned over blue hand-tinted pants. HDS locates a Joseph E. Banks who enlisted on 5/25/1862 as a private and mustered into Company G of the New York 7th Infantry National Guard that same day. He was mustered out just a few months later on 9/5/1862.

[With:] Sixth plate ambrotype of a freshly recruited young man sitting for his in portrait in his Sunday finest, still transitioning from civilian to soldier. He wears what appears to be a kepi and a striped necktie. (Good clarity; unsealed.) Housed in full pressed paper case (separation with repair to spine, surface wear throughout including finish loss and discoloration to portion of velvet pad). Although unidentified, the subject may be from the Northern United States, possibly New England.