[CIVIL WAR] West Coast Hat Brass: A Pair of Armed "California 100" Troopers from Company M

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Rick Carlile Collection of Civil War Photogra...

By Fleischer's Auctions

Jun 20, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-06-20 09:00:00 2026-06-20 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Rick Carlile Collection of Civil War Photography https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/rick-carlile-collection-of-civil-war-photography-22699
This sale features an extensive catalog of Civil War photographs that were acquired, curated, and researched by seminal collector, Rick Carlile. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  This 2-piece collection of CDVs features an exceptional pairing of California volunteers photographed in the exact same field or home-front studio, utilizing identical props and backdrops. The lot includes:

   

  1. Unidentified California Battalion Trooper (Company M): Full-length standing studio portrait albumen CDV. [ca. 1863-4]. Captures a stern, bearded trooper standing at attention with his hands resting on the hilt of his drawn cavalry sabre. He wears his regulation forage cap adorned with a rare, distinct brass crown insignia explicitly reading "CAL. CAV. BAT." above crossed sabres. He stands against a plain backdrop bordered by a prominent, heavily patterned floral curtain drape. The reverse features modern collector pencil notations tracking him to "Co M 2nd MA CAV / CAL BATTN."

   

  2. Unidentified California Battalion Trooper (Company M): Full-length standing studio portrait albumen CDV. [ca. 1863-4]. Features a young, mustachioed trooper from the same command standing in the identical studio setting, flanked by the same patterned floral curtain. He likewise poses with his hands resting on his drawn cavalry sabre, but has placed his forage cap on a small, fabric-covered table to his right, perfectly showcasing the matching brass "CAL. CAV. BAT." crossed-sabres emblem pinned to the crown. The reverse bears a faint period pencil inscription reading "Hattie" - perhaps a sweetheart. 

   

  This lot represents a spectacular material culture study in regimental photography, capturing two distinct members of Company M of the elite California Battalion utilizing the same studio vignette. Following the success of the original "California Hundred," the state raised four additional cavalry companies (Companies E, F, L, and the aforementioned M) that were mustered into the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry. These original sittings prominently showcase the unique, highly coveted "CAL. CAV. BAT." brass cap badges that distinguished these West Coast riders from standard federal cavalry commands. Having two separate troopers paired together from the exact same California photographic session is a highly uncommon, and perhaps unprecedented, marketplace offering. 

   

  [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, Stereographs] [Civil War, Union, Confederate]

  Condition

  Request Condition Report

  Both images are in very good condition with strong contrast and sharp internal uniform details. The mounts remain structurally sound and square, displaying only minor, age-appropriate light toning and nominal handling wear on the reverses.

• Provenance

  Rick Carlile collection. 

• Shipping Info

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