Item No. 1610396

A nice quarter plate clear-glass ambrotype featuring an outdoor view of two mounted officers. The man in the foreground is seen in profile wearing a dark blue frock coat, dark blue trousers, cavalry boots, and gauntlets. His shoulder straps identify him as a first lieutenant—a staff officer perhaps? He wears an oilcloth forage cap with a badge affixed to the front, but it’s difficult to identify. A sword belt and sash are at his waist along with his M1850 foot officer’s sword. The man in the background appears to be looking at the camera, but is more obscured. He wears a dark blue frock coat, light blue trousers, cavalry boots, and forage cap, but no belt or weapons around his waist. The image was taken from an unusual angle and it’s likely the camera was positioned in a second-story window. There are some drawbacks to this image. Most notable are the flaked-off portions on the far right, along with a few smaller portions on the back end of the horse. There is also some bubbling of the emulsion in narrow areas that reflects a bit at particular angles. There are fine crazing lines throughout the image. An older effort at stabilization was made when a very thin layer of paper was adhered to the reverse of the plate, and this is holding. The image is housed in a full pressed paper case with good, original hinge.