1865 John S. Rees Richmond VA Tintype -Potter's Patent March 7,1865 VERY RARE

  

A Remarkable Survivor from the Fall of Richmond! Note added color and cleaned it up to show details.

Rees Tin Type March 7, 1865.. I'm offering this original piece from my personal collection, and you are truly looking at one of the more significant items I have held.

It isn't just about the subject-though he is very interesting-it is about the incredible moment in history this object observed. This photo was produced on or shortly after March 7th, 1865, a date of immense significance as it represents the final 27 days of the Confederate Capital. The man in the portrait is wearing a classic wide-brimmed slouch hat, which was the preferred headgear for Southern troops. His attire reflects the common Confederate "uniform" seen in the final year of the war-often a mix of military issue and rugged civilian clothing.

This "ragged rebel" look was the reality for the men defending the lines during the Siege of Richmond in the spring of 1865. What makes this photo so rare is the timing. It was taken at the John S. Reese studio in Richmond, Virginia.

Just a few weeks after this man sat for this portrait, the Great Evacuation Fire of April 3rd swept through the city, leveling the Reese studio and much of the business district. Because of that fire, very few portraits from this studio survived, making this a rare "witness" to the collapse of the Confederacy. The mount itself confirms this history. It is an original Porter Patent embossed with that March 7, 1865 date. On the back, you can still see the original Reese studio stamp and the residue from the U. The contrast on the metal is still quite impressive for a piece of this age. As a collector myself, I don't just sell Civil War relics, artifacts, letters, and documents-I protect them. I know how important it is that this reaches you in the same condition it's in now. Archival Protection: I'll have it tucked into an acid-free sleeve and a rigid top-loader.

This is a 100% guaranteed original 19th-century Tin Type. If you have any questions about the Reese backmark or the significance of the Porter patent, please feel free to reach out. I'm happy to talk shop with a fellow enthusiast.