American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Wooden soldier's lap desk with contents. 11 1/2 x 7 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. Remnant of patriotic quote adhered at center of lid. Contents include: name stencil for "J. Snider"; group of four "2" insignia; a pewter mess spoon; 3 unused patriotic covers and leaves of unused stationery; 1 3/4 in. dia. "Brass Shoe Nails" tin holding 4 pen nibs; a small leather housewife; a cased daguerreotype of an unidentified woman; and 3 CDVS, two of women and one of a uniformed soldier identified on verso as "Brother Snider" with Boston photographer's backmark and pencil date "1863."

Provenance: Accompanying dealer note indicates that contents are "original" and the "box is as obtained from the owner's descendants." However, some items included in the desk are inconsistent with the original dealer list, indicating later additions to the contents.