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THB[CIVIL WAR] Double Armed Virginia Officer
![[CIVIL WAR] Double Armed Virginia Officer](https://s1.img.bidsquare.com/item/xl/3224/32245008.jpeg?t=1UMVL5)
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About Auction
LiveOct 9, 2025
A selection of fine Civil War portraits assembled by collector, Pat Booth (1941-2022). Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com
View Full Catalog (48)
- Lot Description
Sixth plate half-length studio portrait ambrotype. [Virginia], circa early 1860s. Full leatherette case. Interior of case inscribed in modern pencil: "1861 / Rob Cowan".
Crystal clear early ambrotype photograph of a double armed Virginia officer. The bearded southron wears an impressive uniform that strongly resembles the style used by the Virginia militia in the immediate pre-Civil War period. The detail is sharp enough that the viewer can make out both the weave of the fabric and the sweat stains on his collar. Heavily armed, he sports a leather holster (with the flap snapped shut) on his waist and a M1850 foot officer's sword in his hand. Interestingly, he also holds his kepi by the brim which is protected from the elements by a tarred leather rain cover. A two-piece "tongue and wreath" belt buckle can be seen just to the left of this kepi; there is little doubt this plate featured a Virginia state seal.
A modern pencil identification found in the back of the leatherette case identifies the sitter as Robert E. Cowan, Company I, 37th Virginia Infantry. Cowan enlisted as a Captain, but his Civil War service was short. Described in reports as "high-toned and chivalrous," Cowan was wounded in action during the Battle of Kernstown in March, 1862, he died from the effects of his injury just a week later. We note that this image sold many years ago on another platform in a different case and without an identification. We are unable to independently verify whether the sitter was indeed Cowan and will leave additional research to the new caretaker. Regardless, this ambrotype ranks as a superlative example of early southern military photography.
[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards]
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