Description:

Robert E. Lee
Washington, DC, ca. 1866
Robert E. Lee Boldly Signed Alexander Gardner Carte-de-Visite
Signed CDV

Robert E. Lee (1807-1870). Measuring 2.25" x 4", Washington, D.C., dated 1866. A carte-de-visite bust portrait of Lee in profile, taken by Alexander Gardner, Photographer to the Army of the Potomac. Lee is pictured dressed in civilian clothes and has signed at the bottom of the image in black ink, "R. E. Lee." The card is captioned "General Robert E. Lee" and bears an 1866 copyright notice in the lower border. With Gardner's backstamp on verso, published by Philip & Solomons. At verso in an unknown hand in pencil and ink at the bottom, "CDV-4104" and "I-BT-293". The card has overall light foxing and minor bumping to the corners. In very nearly fine condition and boldly signed.

This photograph was "one of the only two photographs which show Lee in sharply defined right profile," wrote Roy Meredith, author of "The Face of Robert E. Lee in Life & Legend" (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1947, page 87). An April 25, 1866 letter from General Lee to Alexander Gardner can be found in the Washington & Lee University Collections, in which Lee requests another 100 profile images without imprint. This one is likely from Lee's first order, which was received on April 6, 1866.

Along with Mathew Brady, Scotsman Alexander Gardner (1821-1882) was one of the premier photographers of the Civil War. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1856 and began working with Brady as a photographer. In 1858, Brady placed Gardner in charge of his gallery in Washington, D.C. He made many portrait photographs in the first year of the Civil War, including several of President Abraham Lincoln. He served as a staff photographer under General George B. McClellan until McClellan's dismissal late in 1862. He later followed General Ambrose E. Burnside and General Joseph Hooker and photographed several Civil War battles, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and the siege of Petersburg.

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: 2.25" x 4"
  • Medium: Signed CDV

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April 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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