American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Quarter plate tintype of a young soldier seated against a simple studio backdrop, the table at his side covered with an American flag tinted red and blue. He rests one hand on his knee, and the other hand on his slouch hat, which includes infantry bugle insignia. (Focus a bit soft, but overall very good clarity and contrast.) Housed in half pressed paper case (surface wear).

The tintype was originally acquired with 3 items identified to the Graff family, most notably Joseph Graff, who served with Company D, 23rd Kentucky Volunteers. The items include: The Belles-Lettres Letter Writer. Cincinnati, OH: U.P. James, 1853. Front pastedown with period identification, "Joseph Graff, 23rd Ky Vol, Comp. D, 1863, June 19th" (surface wear; staining and spotting to contents). -- 6 1/4 x 4 in. journal/scrapbook bound in contemporary quarter calf, containing approx. 30 pp. of manuscript notes, scribbles, and the birth and death records of members of the Graff family, including Joseph Graff, who was born in 1843 and died in 1900 as per the inscription (wear to extremities; staining, toning, and wear to used pages). -- 6 x 9 in. leather-bound portfolio containing a stylus and 2 sheets of paper with manuscript notations, most indiscernible with the exception of the name "Joseph Graff" (significant wear). 

Based on the number of references to Joseph Graff, it is possible that he is the subject of the quarter plate tintype offered here. 

Joseph Graff enlisted on 10/8/1861 at Camp King, KY as a private and mustered into Company D, 23rd Kentucky Infantry 12/18/1861. He re-enlisted on 1/5/1864, was promoted sergeant 9/1/1864, and was mustered out on 12/27/1865 at Victoria, TX.