1888-95 GAR Civil War Veteran Cabinet Photo Freeman Charlestown MA. ID'd officer

  
1888-95 GAR Civil War Veteran Cabinet Photo Freeman Charlestown MA. Type: Cabinet Card / Photograph. Format: Cabinet Photo (4 1/4" x 6 1/2"). Subject: Civil War Veteran / Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Officer.

Status: Identified Sitter by Post & Rank / Elite Flagship Chapter History. Studio Location: 52 Main Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Key Features: Gilt beveled edges, premium sharp focus, striking handlebar mustache. Item Description: Up for sale is an exceptionally fine, museum-grade original Victorian cabinet card photograph featuring an incredibly sharp, high-contrast portrait of an explicitly identifiable Union Civil War veteran and Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) executive officer.

The veteran is pictured wearing a dark civilian suit jacket with his official star-and-eagle GAR Membership Badge proudly pinned to his left lapel United States. A Grand Army Of The Republic (Gar) Membership Badge. He features an iconic, well-groomed handlebar mustache and superb facial clarity.

The photograph is mounted on a heavy, premium dark cardstock mount measuring classic 4 1/4" x 6 1/2" cabinet dimensions. The front lower mount features the elegant embossed cursive signature of legendary local photographer G. The reverse features a full-surface printed studio advertisement for Freeman's studio located at 52 Main Street, Charlestown, Mass. Elite History & Verifiable Identity: This photograph is not a standard anonymous veteran image; it contains a rare combination of highly specific, interlocking clues that pinpoint the exact identity of the sitter, linking him directly to one of the most famous and elite veteran organizations in American history. The Flagship Chapter: Because the photo was captured at Freeman's studio in the heart of Charlestown, we know he belonged to the legendary Abraham Lincoln GAR Post No.

Post 11 was universally recognized as one of the most prominent, wealthy, and politically influential GAR chapters in the United States, counting high-ranking Union officers, wealthy Boston merchants, and statesmen among its members. The Executive Office: The top suspension bar of his medal features the distinct 2 + 2 bar rank insignia modeled after a Civil War Captain's shoulder straps [Officers' shoulder straps]. In the fraternal order of the GAR, this explicitly designates the Senior Vice Commander of the local chapter. Freeman operated out of the 52 Main Street address during the late 1880s and early 1890s. This perfectly matches the heavy, dark cardstock with premium gilt-beveled edges, a luxury style that peaked between 1888 and 1895. A Dream Project for Photo Sleuths: Because local posts held democratic elections and only elected one Senior Vice Commander per calendar year, the identity of this veteran is locked to 8 men who held that exact office at Post 11 between 1888 and 1895.

A collector can quickly cross-reference this short list of names using the. Journals of the Annual Encampment, Department of Massachusetts GAR.

Or the extensive localized officer photo composites preserved directly inside Post 11's historic Memorial Hall landmark on Green Street to unlock his exact birth name, regiment, and combat history. Condition Report: Extremely fine condition with exceptionally sharp focus and superb contrast. The cardstock exhibits premium gilt-beveled edges. The reverse side shows some light, album residue from being safely stored in a family album, which does not affect the front image or the clarity of the backmark advertisement.

Please see photos for a close look at the exact condition. THIS IS NOT A REPRODUCTION.