The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

Lot comprised of 25 cartes de visite purportedly acquired from a CDV album compiled by Dr. Mary Walker (as per consignor's modern notations on accompanying tags). The consignor relates that a sampling of the images are inscribed in Dr. Walker's hand. Images in varying conditions though most feature some toning or fading, and spotting, with wear to mount edges and corners. Some CDVs show surface loss on mount verso, as if the top layer of the mount was peeled off.

An 1855 graduate of Syracuse Medical College, Mary Walker (1832-1919) was an author and early feminist who gained distinction during the Civil War as a humanitarian, surgeon and spy. Walker was appointed surgeon of the 52nd OVI in 1863 by General Thomas in recognition of her skills and was captured in 1864 and ultimately exchanged for a Confederate officer "man for man". She was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in January 1866 on the personal recommendation of General Sherman and refused to part with it when it was revoked for "unusual circumstances" in 1917. Dr. Walker died in 1919 and it was not until 1977 that President Carter officially reinstated the award.

The highlight of the collection is a CDV of a young woman identified in period hand (or possibly signed) "Nellie M. Chase." Nashville, TN: Morse's Gallery of the Cumberland (studio imprint on verso). Additional period notation on verso, "No. 13 North-11th Street - Phil'd-Penn." Possibly a previously unknown portrait of Nellie M. Chase (1838-1878), a dedicated Civil War nurse who served with the 13th and 100th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiments and was present at Fredericksburg. Born Ellen Merrill Chase in New Hampshire to Jacob E. Chase and Jane Steele Merrill, she was a distant cousin of Salmon Chase, US Secretary of Treasury. Little is known about Chase's early years, but it has been suggested in a historical novel centered around her life by Carolyn Schriber that she was a teenage runaway who eloped with a man of ill repute (See Beyond All Price: A Novel Based on the Life of Nellie M. Chase). After four years of marriage, Chase reportedly decided to leave her husband when he asked her to serve as the Madame for a new brothel he wished to open. At the start of the Civil War, Chase became a nurse and matron for the 12th Pennsylvania before transferring to the 100th Pennsylvania, also known as the “Roundhead Regiment.” In 1863, Chase ventured to Tennessee and became matron of Union Hospital Number 3 in Nashville. Between her time in the Eastern Theatre and in Tennessee, Chase received acclaim for her services as a nurse. Numerous soldiers who were treated by Chase wrote to newspapers praising her compassion and dedication, frequently comparing her to the renowned Crimean War nurse, Florence Nightingale. While in Tennessee, she met her second husband, Lieutenant George W. Ernest, who represented the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry and was later promoted to Captain of the 13th US Colored Infantry. The two were married in Davidson, TN, in June 1864. They later moved to Paris, Tennessee, where they contracted Yellow Fever and subsequently died from the disease in 1878. (Information obtained from, "Nellie Chase – Nightingale of Fredericksburg,"
by Sheritta Bitikofer, https://emergingcivilwar.com/2022/12/13/nellie-chase-nightingale-of-fredericksburg/)

Several images include penciled identifications on verso, many in the same hand. Consignor's notes indicate that some of the inscriptions were written in Dr. Walker's hand. In comparing the notations with her writings, it is possible that some inscriptions were written in her hand, but we cannot confirm this with all certainty. Images of note include: Standing view of a Union officer with sword in hand, identified on verso as "Will Roberts." Uncredited. Modern penciled notation on verso reads, "From Dr. Mary Walker Album, ID is in her hand" (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Studio view of a man, identified on verso as "A Union mute/mate (?) that lived at Springfield, Ill. near A. Lincoln." Washington: Brady (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Vignetted portrait of a mustachioed man, with penciled notations on verso including reference to General Gilmore (not pictured here) as well as "Isaac Buckingham, Atty, etc. Cleveland, Ohio," who may be represented in the photo. New York: Brady. -- Studio portrait of a man, identified on verso as "John Chapin, Boston, Mass." Uncredited (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Vignetted portrait of a man, identified on verso as "Henry W. Clark 9th Army Corps." Uncredited (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Standing view of a woman, identified on verso as "Mary Jewell (or Powell?) Lima, Mich." Uncredited (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Vignetted portrait of a woman, identified on verso as "Mrs. Hannah Green, Washington, DC." Uncredited (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Seated portrait of a woman wearing a sour expression, signed on verso by the subject, whose name is difficult to discern, from Washington, DC, 1869, with additional notation in the same hand, "Presented to Dr. Mary Walker." Washington, DC: J.N. Bruce & Co. -- Standing portrait of a young woman, identified on verso as "Ettie L. Everitt, Mantua Station, Portage Co., O." Uncredited (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Seated view of a young man with cap in hand, identified on verso as "Eli Miller," with modern penciled notation that reads, "From Dr. Mary Walker Album - ID is in her hand." Uncredited (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Portrait of a gentleman signed below image, "Yours Truly, J.H. Littlefield," identified on verso. Uncredited (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Portrait of Frank Little (as identified on mount below image," with "West Meriden Conn." penciled on verso. Modern notation indicates that the subject served with the 15th Connecticut Infantry and 107th US Colored Troops. Uncredited (surface loss to mount verso, as if top layer of mount was peeled off). -- Vignetted portrait of a woman, identified on verso as "Mrs. E.A. Potter." Uncredited. -- And 11 others.