American Historical Ephemera & Photography

A group of 12 photographs capturing personalities and places of Louisiana, incl. pre-war image of the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy (LSU) and views of Baton Rouge by McPherson & Oliver and Lytle.

2 3/4 x 2 in. oval print on 3 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. trimmed cardstock mount with printed identification, "Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy" (fading to print, mount unevenly trimmed). Printed information on verso describing the institution, which was the former name of Louisiana State University when it was in Pineville, Louisiana. The institution's first superintendent was Major William Tecumseh Sherman. On January 2, 1860, the college opened with five professors and 19 cadets.

[With:] 3 CDVs of the "Deaf and Dumb Asylum" in Baton Rouge, which was used as a General Hospital during the Port Hudson Campaign, ca 1863 (some toning to each, some light staining and/or toning to mounts). One example credited to McPherson & Oliver, the second credited to A.D. Lytle, Baton Rouge, LA, the third uncredited.

[With:] CDV captioned "Riverview - Baton Rouge." [Baton Rouge, LA: McPherson & Oliver, ca 1863]. A view of the Steamer Empire Parish at Baton Rouge landing (toning, some fading to image; soiling to mount). While this carte lacks a period inscription, a previous example of this CDV offered at auction included an inscription describing the scene: "The Landing at Baton Rouge the building with the wagons in front is the Post Quarter Masters Head Quarters and is on the corner of the street that leads to the camp of Co. A 50th Mass. The Steamer Empire Paris [sic] is on the landing on the building near the steamer is a sign Tunnards Agricultural warehouse and on the next building is a sign Crosse, Tete & Co."

[With:] CDV of young man in Zouave-style uniform/costume standing in a studio. Shreveport, LA: J.H.C. Ahrens, n.d. (chipping to bottom left edge of print, corners trimmed).

[With:] CDV of group of 6 men, one holding a shot gun, the others posed near an assortment of tools, incl. what appears to be a large spouted can, with period identifications on verso. New Orleans, LA: J.A. Sheldon, n.d. (some surface soiling, edge and corner wear to mount).

[With:] 7 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. boudoir photograph of a New Orleans street, on cardstock mount with caption in negative, "No. 572. St. Charles St. & Crescent Hall" (some fading to image, light soiling to image and mount). Penciled inscription on mount identifies the St. Charles Hotel, which is visible in the background. Although unsigned, the consignor relates that this may have been taken by Jay Dearborn Edwards.

[With:] 4 1/4 x 7 3/8 in. boudoir photograph on cardstock mount of a Saddlery and Harness shop that appears to have been damaged by a fire (some surface soiling, corner/edge wear to mount). With "No. 6 Magazine Street" inscribed on mount below image. A child is seated on a trunk in front of the abandoned building.

[Also with:] 2 silver gelatin photographs, 8 x 10 in. or smaller, providing interior views of a circus tent in Baton Rouge (some surface soiling, edge and corner wear). One example with ink stamp of "Ewing Inc. Commercial Dept., Baton Rouge, LA" on verso. -- Uncredited CDV, caricature of African American subject on horseback with caption, "Here's your mule. 2.40 on the Port Hudson Road" (surface soiling; corner and edge wear to mount).