1860's CIVIL WAR AMBROTYPE PHOTO OF UNION SOLDIER WEARING WHIPPLE HAT / HAVELOCK
Very rare and wonderful, 1860s Civil War Ninth Plate Ruby Plate Ambrotype Photograph of a Union Soldier wearing a rare Whipple hat / havelock combination!! This outstanding, period Ambrotype Photograph measures approx.
1 7/8 by 2 1/4 and is housed in a period, pressed paper hard case. The stamped brass matt is a patriotic design with American Flags at the upper corners and text below the opening that reads "The Union Now and Forever". The Image is a wonderful, bust portrait of the Soldier wearing what appears to be a shell jacket and an exceptionally rare Whipple combination cap and havelock.The Soldier is seated with hands crossed in his lap and that far away look in his eyes that we have seen many times in portraits of Civil War soldiers who have "seen the elephant". Neither the soldier nor the photographer is identified in any way.
One of the more unusually type of headwear of the Civil War period was the hat/havelock combination. The concept of a hat/cap with a built in Havelock sounds like a great idea, but fell short of its believed potential. The hat/Havelock came in several styles and was used by both the Union and the Confederacy. Whipple patented a havelock/hat that was issued several New England soldiers, particularly New Hampshire soldiers.
This version looked more like a cap/havelock. It was made in two version, stiff felt and cloth. This is the headgear pictured in this Ambro. The hat/havelocks were not popular and the soldiers thought the hat/havelock were to hot and heavy.It also was not very "military" looking. Photographs of Soldiers any of the hat/havelocks are very rare. This very rare and wonderful, Civil War Ambrotype Portrait of a Union Army Soldier wearing a Whipple Patent Cap is in very good condition. The focus is sharp, the contrast strong and the tonality rich. There are a few tiny surface blemishes to the emulsion but there do not affect the soldier and are confined to the blank background.
The surface is sound and stable with no significant crazing and no active flaking!! The original pressed paper case is split at the spine and exhibits some surface wear. The patriotic design matt is very well preserved. A rare and wonderful, 1860s Civil War Ninth Plate Ambrotype Photograph of a Union Army Soldier wearing a Whipple hat / haverlock and a fantastic addition to any collection! The item "1860's CIVIL WAR AMBROTYPE PHOTO OF UNION SOLDIER WEARING WHIPPLE HAT / HAVELOCK" is in sale since Friday, November 20, 2015. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Photographs". The seller is "walnutts" and is located in Brewster, Massachusetts.This item can be shipped worldwide.