Lot 303

Ex-Civil War Veterans Among 1891 U.S. Patent Office Officials - Large Composite Photo by George Prince

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Ex-Civil War Veterans Among 1891 U.S. Patent Office Officials - Large Composite Photo by George Prince

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500

Starting Bid: $350

(0 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Civil War
[Washington, DC], ca. 1891
Ex-Civil War Veterans Among 1891 U.S. Patent Office Officials - Large Composite Photo by George Prince
Photograph

A large composite photograph entitled "United States Patent Office Officials. / April, 1891," by George Loren Prince, Sr. (1848-1929), the Washington, D.C. portrait photographer and ornery rival of Mathew Brady. [Washington, D.C.] The sepia-colored single albumen print displays 44 carte de visite-sized portraits in an orderly yet artful collage. A small tromp-l'oeil panel reading "Copyright 1891 / by / Geo. Prince" is found near bottom center. Many of the portraits have trompe-l'oeil copyright notations, as "Penna. Ave. & 11th St. PRINCE Washington, D.C." The albumen print, the actual size of which is approximately 17.5" x 21," is affixed to a mat printed with the headline and legend. Expected condition issues including toning, isolated foxing, and minor mat rippling, else near fine. Not examined out of the frame. The mahogany-finished frame measures approximately 28.125" x 34.75" x 1". Provenance: Purchased by our consignor at auction; previously part of the Gould Family Estate in Vermont.

Of the 44 U.S. Patent Office Officials here pictured by Prince in 1891, 29 of them were Civil War veterans, which is an average of 66% of the group. Notables include #34, Charles G. Gould (1845-1916), Captain of the 5th Vermont Infantry and a Medal of Honor recipient. Each of the 44 sitters has been identified by our consignor, a museum executive, who has included his research in a guide which can be seen attached, and will be included with the lot.

All of the Patent Office officials who were Civil War veterans had fought for the Union. Their units from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia had seen action in engagements, battles, and campaigns both locally and across the country. The veteran Patent Officers had served across all branches of the armed services, including Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Navy, and state and local militias. They ranked from the lowest ranks of private, sergeant, and corporal, to the more illustrious ranks of lieutenant and captain. Collectively, they had fought in the Battles of Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Cedar Mountain, Petersburg, and Peeble's Farm, or had participated in the Defense of Nashville and the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. The group included at least one amputee, and many who had survived grievous wounds, such as the aforementioned C.G. Gould, who had endured clubbing and bayonet attacks as he scaled the Confederate defenses at Petersburg.

The U.S. Patent Office Officials who were Civil War veterans include:

#3 Schuyler Duryee - 7th New York State Militia.

#6 Solon W. Stocking - 177th New York Infantry.

#7 Walter Johnson - 11th New Jersey Infantry.

#8 O. C. Fox - 76th New York Infantry.

#10 E.A. Byrnes - 14th Massachusetts Infantry (later the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery).

#11 B. W. Pond - 131st New York Infantry.

#12 W. M. Burke - 1st West Virginia Cavalry.

#13 W. H. Blodgett - 141st Pennsylvania Infantry.

#15 G. S. Ely - 1st District of Columbia Cavalry.

#17 Henry P. Sanders - Local D.C. militias.

#19 William L. Auginbaugh - 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry.

#20 Judah W. Jayne - 18th Michigan Infantry.

#22 Thomas J. Hudson - Various Pennsylvania or New York volunteer units.

#24 Lafayette M. E. Cooke - Served in the Union Army.

#25 Francis Fowler - 10th Rhode Island Infantry.

#29 Malcolm Seaton- Served as a navigator in the Union Navy.

#30 Major Francis A. Seely - 4th U.S. Artillery.

#31 Perry B. Pierce - 13th New York Heavy Artillery.

#33 G. D. Seely - 16th Michigan Infantry.

#34 C. G. Gould - 5th Vermont Infantry.

#35 W. W. Townsend - New York Infantry.

#36 E. R. Tyler - Connecticut Forces.

#37 Oscar Woodward - 1st D.C. Cavalry / 1st Maine Cavalry.

#38 J. W. Babson - Maine Volunteers.

#39 Jos. B. Marvin - Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.

#40 Thos. W. Lord -17th U.S. Infantry, later served in the Invalid Corps (Veteran Reserve Corps).

#41 Howard L. Prince - 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry.

#42 Roger Welles - Served in the Union Navy, later Rear Admiral (Post-war rank).

#44 R. C. Gill - 29th Wisconsin Infantry.

George Prince was a prolific photographer based in Washington, D.C., and active from the 1880s until the late 1910s. His interests included photographic portraits of both living and dead presidents: Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, etc. Other subjects included First Ladies Edith Roosevelt and Frances Cleveland; presidential cabinets; inaugural events; the U.S. Congress; and the U.S. Supreme Court. Prince was a popular, up-and-coming photographer of the mid-1880s; a Supreme Court historian has described Prince as: "truly the new young 'prince' of Washington portrait photographers. He was celebrated for his artistic compositions and beautifully finished prints, and local newspapers regularly gushed over his sittings with famous clientele…" Prince also photographed cultural events, like speedways, boxing matches, theatres, gardens, parades, baseball games, and Grand Army of the Republic encampments.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: framed: 28.125" x 34.75" x 1"
  • Medium: Photograph

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