Cartes de visite were Civil War period photographs that were used as calling cards. The images were shared between friends and families and portraits of famous individuals could be purchased at different photography studios.
Up for auction is a period CDV of John Wilkes Booth. It depicts the actor turned assassin seated on a chair, with his right hand tucked under his chin. He holds a glove in his gloved left hand. His pocket watch band is visible under his vest and his cravat is held in place by a stick pin, possible a diamond one that was found on his person after his death in 1865.
This image is Gutman 19 in the book John Wilkes Booth: Himself, a 1979 book which documented all the known images of John Wilkes Booth. This photograph was originally taken by photographer C.D. Fredericks who had a studio in New York City. Though the original photo was taken by Fredericks it was very common for rival photographers to copy the pictures of others and sell them in their own shops. The specific photo for auction does not bare the Fredericks backmark making it clear that this one was produced by a rival photographer - likely as a result of Lincoln's assassination and the high demand for pictures of Booth. This pose was later incorporated into composite CDVs of Booth and his conspirators. An example of that composite can be found below.
The back of this CDV is blank except for a written notation in pencil by an unknown hand that reads "J W Booth / c 1862 / by Fredricks". There is some period staining on the image but is overall in very good shape. The CDV measures 4" x 2.5". Please consult the images below.
