The Winter 2023 Issue
Our Winter 2023 issue is now available and I’m excited to share it with you. This is the first time in our 40-plus year history that we have focused on
Category: 2023 Winter
On the Collector-Connoisseur
The term connoisseur conjures up a vision of the meticulous art historian studying an unattributed oil painting that has hallmarks of a master’s brush. Or in a similar vein, the
Survey: The Rise in Popularity of Photograph Albums, 1860s
A search of Newspapers.com reveals American photographers first advertised the availability of cartes de visite, or card photographs, in 1860. The French import did not cross the Atlantic alone. Photograph
Book Review: An Atlanta Newspaper’s View of the Civil War
Ask any hardcore researcher about their method and you will learn how much they value newspapers as a primary source. The coverage of momentous national and local events, opinion and
Traveling Back in Time to Resolve an ID Conflict
By Kurt Luther This column’s photo sleuthing story began with an inquiry from Karen Chittenden, Senior Cataloging Specialist in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress. Chittenden
Possible Revenue-Marine Sailor
By Ron Field Identified as Joseph White, this seafarer may have served in the antebellum Revenue-Marine Service. He wears an overshirt with large stars on the collar, a black silk
Captain at 18, Lieutenant Colonel at 21
When 16-year-old Andrew Geddes volunteered in the Union army, he began a military career that most teenagers might never have imagined. In April 1861, the Canada native left his job
Big Bluff by a Man of Faith in Blue
Forage parties in hostile territory always ran the risk of crossing paths with the enemy. Such was the case for 1st Lt. James Hill on May 16, 1863. On that
A Forgotten “Veteran” Remembered
By Ross J. Kelbaugh In the pre-internet era, dealers in early photography often sold images through fixed-price print catalogs or by mail, fax or phone auctions. In one such auction
Case Study: A Dealer’s Wishful Thinking and the Value of a Second Opinion
By Perry M. Frohne At the recent Chicago Civil War show, I was approached by an experienced collector looking for my opinion on a carte de visite. The image was supposedly