Original Photo of US Civil War General GRANT taken just days before his death

  
This listing is for a scarce Cabinet Card / CDV / boudoir card photo of U. Civil War Union General Ulysses S. Grant, sitting with his family on the veranda of his Adirondack cottage at Mt. Y, on June 19, 1885 (this image was taken just 35 days before he died). After his war time service, Grant of course was elected 18th President of the United States and served two terms from 1869 to 1877.

Grant arrived at the Cottage three days before this good, clear image was photographed by John G. Attended by his family, servants, and doctors, Grant was able to complete his memoirs over the few weeks, dying peacefully on July 23, 1885. From what I understand, this is the only photo of Grant's complete family that was ever taken, and it shows the president surrounded by his family.

The Cabinet Card is marked on front, Gen. Grant and Family at Mt. The card is about 6.5 inches wide and 4 inches tall. The condition of this very ancient photo card is exceptional, with no damage - a brilliant image!

Photographs such as this are extremely scarce, and it is today a fine (and still affordable) piece of history from one of the most important men of the U. A bit of background history. Grant stands as one of the most consequential figures of the U. Civil War, a Union general whose name is inseparable from the hard-fought campaigns that preserved the nation and reshaped the nation. Rising from relative obscurity, Grant proved his determination and strategic resolve at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and the decisive Vicksburg Campaign, where the capture of the Mississippi River split the Confederacy and showcased the effectiveness of the Union Army and its commanders. As head of all Union forces, Grant coordinated relentless pressure against Confederate armies, culminating in Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House in 1865, an event documented in period letters, official military correspondence, and surviving Civil War documents that continue to define the era. Grant's wartime legacy is closely associated with the material culture of the conflict, including Union uniforms, officer swords and sabers, the Colt pistols of the era, campaign hats, kepis, cartridge boxes, bayonets, regimental insignia, and original battlefield artifacts, which all reflect the daily realities of the soldiers he commanded.

After the war, Grant became the 18th President of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877 during the complex years of Reconstruction, when federal authority, civil rights legislation, and veterans' issues shaped national policy. His presidency produced a substantial record of signed papers, executive documents, and period photographs, linking his military career with his role as a national leader. Grant's reputation for personal honesty, loyalty to his fellow veterans, and commitment to the Union made him a central figure in postwar remembrance, ensuring that his name remains closely tied to authentic Civil War era relics, historical ephemera, and military antiques that illuminate both the battlefield and the presidency during one of the most transformative periods in American history. I want to make you happy so feel free to ask me questions or ask for another photo if it's necessary - and I will do my very best to answer your questions within a 24-hour period!

Finally, be sure to also look at all my other listings this week for high quality antiques and collectibles!