Jun 12 at 12:00 PM - Sale 2708 -
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Sale 2708 - Lot 65

Estimate: $ 600 - $ 900
(CIVIL WAR--MASSACHUSETTS.) Carte-de-visite album including John Wilkes Booth and Union officers, apparently compiled by Gov. Andrew. 27 carte-de-visite photographs inserted into the leaves of an incomplete disbound period album, with original detached boards; generally minor wear to contents. No place, circa 1861-1865
Request Condition Report Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

This album apparently belonged to the abolitionist governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew. Two of the photographs are inscribed to Andrew, and many of them represent fallen Massachusetts officers from the war, other known abolitionists, and/or close associates of Governor Andrew.

The first carte-de-visite in the album is of George W. Collamore, by F.L. Lay's of Boston (illustrated). Collamore was a Boston abolitionist and John A. Andrew's business partner until 1856, when he went west to serve as mayor of Lawrence, Kansas and was killed by Confederate raiders in 1863. It makes sense that his portrait would take a prominent role in Andrew's album. The second image is a portrait of Albert Gallatin Browne (1835-1891), who spent the war years as Governor Andrew's military secretary. Lieutenant Colonel William Sterling King was later named by Governor Andrew to be head of the state police.

A portrait of Seth Webb Jr. (1823-1862) was inscribed to Governor Andrew in 1864 from the sitter's brother George Hughes Webb (1833-1901). Webb had been an active abolitionist, a member of the Boston Vigilance Committee, and a founder of the Republican Party of Massachusetts--someone who likely moved in the same circles as Governor Andrew.

Other Massachusetts men include General Edward Wild, commander of Wild's African Brigade; Colonel Everett Peabody (1830-1862), who fell at Shiloh; and Chaplain Arthur Buckminster Fuller of the 16th Massachusetts, who fell at Fredericksburg.

Other well-known figures include Andrew's wartime neighboring governor, William Sprague of Rhode Island; General John Sedgwick (1813-1864); and assassin John Wilkes Booth (illustrated). The last image in the album is unidentified, but is inscribed at bottom to Governor Andrew. A complete list is available upon request.

One carte-de-visite was removed from the album for separate sale, the famed "Scourged Back" image of Private Gordon, who had escaped from slavery. That was sold in Swann's March 20 African Americana auction.

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