The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography

Lot comprised of 5 photographs of famed Admiral D.G. Farragut and a clipped signature ("D.G. Farragut, Lt. Commd.") on 1 x 3 1/8 in. piece of page. Conditions overall very good, with light toning, occasional light soiling. Some edge and corner wear to mounts, including some clipped or trimmed edges.

Photographs include: CDV, standing view of Farragut. New York: C.D. Fredricks & Co. -- CDV, seated view of Farragut. New York: Brady. -- Standing view of Farragut wearing a mourning band in honor of Abraham Lincoln. Boston, MA & Newport, RI: & Case. -- Stereoview of Farragut. New York: J. Gurney & Son. -- CDV, distant view of the USS Hartford, Farragut's flagship. New Orleans, LA: McPherson & Oliver.

David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870) was already the senior officer in the United States Navy when he was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral on 21 December 1864 by a grateful President Lincoln in recognition of his signal victory at Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. After braving the guns of Fort Morgan and Fort Gaines, Farragut had charged into the Bay "damning the torpedoes" that had struck the monitor USS Tecumseh.  He engaged a small Confederate squadron centered around the ironclad ram CSS Tennessee under Admiral Franklin Buchanan and captured the fearsome vessel making a prize of her. Farragut became the first Vice Admiral in the Navy, famous for framing his "damn the torpedoes" exhortation and adding it to his navy's growing chest of stirring rallying cries!  Farragut was promoted to full Admiral on 26 July 1866 and further accorded the honor of remaining on active duty for life.  He died at age 69 on 14 August 1870, having served the Navy for nearly 60 years.