Original Item: Only One Available. Everything about this image, including its presentation, makes it a splendid memento of the Civil War Era, possibly the post war "Western Frontier". This cased "Sixth Plate" (2.75 x 3.25 inch) tin type portrait shows an unidentified solider. He wears a Blue uniform, open at the neck, with two pistols tucked into his belt, and another in the holster. He's also wearing a typical cavalry style hat, with a U.S. flag to his right. Definitely quite a dashing look.

The image is behind glass held in an ornate brass mat loaded with intricate designs edging the tintype. A gutta-percha case molded front and back with a molded depiction of a ship and a fort flying a U.S. Flag. Interior of the case is lined in velvet type material with decorative designs. The case locks are present, though they do not function correctly anymore.

The tintype does have a nice surface, though there are a few areas of the emulsion having lifted off of the back plate, probably due to excessive moisture. The soldier is still clearly visible. Overall very nice condition.

Tintypes, originally known as or ferrotypes or melainotypes, were invented in the 1850s and continued to be produced into the 20th century. The photographic emulsion was applied directly to a thin sheet of iron coated with a dark lacquer or enamel, which produced a unique positive image. Like the ambrotype, tintypes were often hand-colored. Customers purchased cases, frames, or paper envelopes to protect and display their images.

Primarily used for portraiture, each photo is a unique camera-exposed image and was available in the following standard-sizes. The most common size was the sixth plate.
- Imperial or Mammoth Plate - Larger than 6.5 x 8.5 inches
- Whole Plate - 6.5 x 8.5 inches
- Half Plate - 4.25 x 5.5 inches
- Quarter Plate - 3.25 x 4.25 inches
- Sixth Plate - 2.75 x 3.25 inches
- Ninth Plate - 2 x 2.5 inches
- Sixteenth Plate - 1.5 x 1.75 inches