[CIVIL WAR]. 4 portraits of variously armed soldiers, feat. a Prussian Model 1809 Potsdam musket.

Sixth plate tintype full standing portrait of a young soldier wearing a frock coat and forage cap, and holding a Prussian Model 1809 Potsdam musket to one side, with bayonet attached. Certain details are highlighted in gold. (Few imperfections, good clarity; unsealed.) Housed in a Union case (significant wear and nicking to edges/corners). -- Sixth plate tintype seated portrait of a burly private holding a Model 1851 Colt Navy revolveter across his torso, with his oval "US" belt plate partly highlighted in gold. (Plate heavily creased/dented, with abrasions and spots of loss throughout; unsealed and enclosed in mat in front of an ambrotype of children.) Housed in a fully separated pressed paper case. -- Ninth plate ambrotype seated portrait of a bearded soldier wearing a possible state jacket and forage cap, and holding a Model 1832 heavy artillery sword with blade pointed upward. (Some chemical deterioration/darkening, few spots of loss and/or scratches; unsealed.) Housed in fully separated pressed paper case. -- Ninth plate tintype seated portrait of a soldier with breast plate and belt plate visible, holding up an unidentifiable musket to one side. (Significant discoloration/darkening to one side, heavy surface crackling, other imperfections; unsealed.) Housed in a pressed paper case with patriotic motif (spine repair). Penciled inscribed note on accompanying scrap of paper reads, "Mrs. Patterson / 1 copy, 8 x 10 / just as it is color brass plates in front." -- Together, 4 cased images featuring armed soldiers.

The M1809 Potsdam musket was sold to Americans in great supply at the start of the Civil War, with the Union Army buying upwards of 120,000 of them in the first few years of the war. (MacKenzie, Alex. Springfield Armory).