Mar 15, 2012 - Sale 2273

Sale 2273 - Lot 133

Price Realized: $ 2,640
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 4,000 - $ 6,000
SIGNED CDV, WITH CONTEMPORARY LETTER DESCRIBING THE SIGNING (CIVIL WAR.) Signed carte-de-visite of Robert E. Lee, and related letter. Photograph: albumen print, 3 1/4 x 2 inches, signed "R E Lee" in image; mounted on a scrapbook fragment with a bit of 1867 newspaper on verso. Letter: Autograph Letter Signed from William Skeen to "my dear child," likely his eldest son Robert A. Skeen. 4 pages, 8 x 5 inches, on one sheet, minor wear. Richmond, VA, 13 January 1866
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Additional Details

This photograph of the Confederacy's military leader was taken by John W. Davies in Richmond in 1864. "It was a favorite with the General and with Mrs. Lee"--Meredith, Face of Robert E. Lee, pages 50-52.
This autograph was obtained by William Skeen (1818-1893), a wealthy lawyer from Covington in Appalachian Virginia. While in Richmond on business shortly after the war, he had a chance meeting with Robert E. Lee. His letter tells the story: "He came down with a member of the British Parliament, introduced him, & after we talked awhile, he took out a photograph & asked the Genl's autograph. He said he couldn't give it, it was no likeness, but that he could get a good one at V & B's. Of course I had to volunteer to show him the place. He bought four. So did I. We returned. The Gen'l attached his autograph, & said he wished to have one to send to his friend O'Connell, Member of Parliament. Of course I gave him one of mine." This photograph is often found with the backstamp Vannerson & Jones of Richmond. This is likely the "V & B's" shop which Skeen visited.
Skeen also sought advice from the general about his property in Pocahontas County, which had stayed with the Union as West Virginia. Lee advised: "You can stay away from Pocahontas, if you choose, but don't sell your lands. Hold on to them, you'll want them."