FROM LIFE CDV VIEW OF CUSTER BY GOLDIN

$1,250.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2024-450

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This is a very nice “from-life” view of Custer by John Goldin & Co. in May 1865, Katz #70 in his Custer in Photographs, taken in May 1865. Custer is shown seated, from mid-calf up, resting one arm on the back of the photographer’s chair, wearing a regulation Major General’s frock coat and shoulder straps, but wearing his broad-brimmed slouch hat with one side turned up, undoubtedly to not shade his face, but playing into is cavalier persona, with mustache, goatee, and long curls on full display. The card has excellent clarity and sepia tones, with just one ink spot above, to the left, and well away from the figure. The card corners were very slightly clipped, not affecting the albumen paper, and show some tiny holes, indicating it was likely pinned to something, with a little unevenness to the lower left corner. The reverse bears a period ink owner’s inscription, “Miss Caroline Tower” and has Goldin’s printed photographer backmark at center: “JOHN GOLDIN & CO. / PHOTOGRAPHERS / Vignette Specialite / No.4 Market Space  / Pa. Ave. / WASHINGTON, D.C.” all on an artist’s palette, with a notice at bottom regarding additional copies, etc.

There is no sign of tax stamp, indicating the photo was actually sold sometime after the August/September 1866 expiration of the wartime tax on certain luxury goods, including photographs. The significance of a from-life view is that the image is made from the original exposure made by the photographer rather than a copy-shot or “pirate view” made by a photographer taking a photo of a printed copy of the image and then printing more copies from that photographic plate, inevitably resulting in a loss of quality in the image as well as being another step removed from the whole process of Custer stepping into the photographer’s studio to have the image made.

Custer, of course, needs no introduction. Goldin took several photographs of him in May 1865, as did Brady, likely at roughly the same time as the Grand Review of the Union armies, a two-day affair of the eastern and western armies parading before officials and civilians in Washington on May 23 and May 24, during which Custer’s horse famously became spooked, supposedly by a thrown bouquet or wreath, enabling him to exhibit his horsemanship at the head of his cavalry division.    [sr][ph:L]

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