[CIVIL WAR]. A group of 6 CDVs of unidentified Brown Water Navy officers, incl. a portrait by African American photographers Ball & Thomas of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The lot is comprised of the following:

A vignette of an unknown officer wearing shoulder straps with an unreadable center device and cuffs out of frame. Memphis, TN: H.A. Balch's Star Photograph Gallery. -- An officer wearing long gray beard, possibly a Lieutenant Commander, wearing two narrow stripes with unreadable should strap device. The cap bears three bands of stripes with the center device blurred (1862 Regulations). Gardiner, ME: Clark. -- A sharp view of a gray bearded two- striper wearing non-regulation shoulder straps showing only the rank pipes at either end but no center device. Baton Rouge, LA: A.D. Lytle. -- A fine companion view of the same officer seated next to a young man in uniform, perhaps his son. The two-striper appears to be a Lieutenant Commander although the shoulder straps device cannot be read, possibly a transitory image as the rank was not promulgated until 16 July 1862. New Orleans, LA: S. Anderson. -- A vignette of a young officer of indeterminate rank. Helena, AR: Bankes' Gallery. Photo credit inked on verso (bent with heavy edge wear and rounded corners). -- A copy shot of a young Master cradling his sword. Cincinnati, OH: Ball & Thomas. -- A sharp, fresh-faced young Lieutenant (1864 Regulations) wearing three narrow stripes beneath a single star and correct shoulder straps showing an inverted anchor between two double pipes. Cincinnati, OH: Hoag & Quick.

Together, 6 CDVs, 2 1/4 x 3 3/4 in., or smaller, on cardstock mounts. Five cartes are in very good condition, 2 with bumped corners.

The Richard B. Cohen Civil War Collection