Original Item: Only One Available. Everything about this image, including its presentation, makes it a splendid memento of the Civil War. This Civil War cased "Ninth Plate" (2.5 x 2 inch) tintype portrait shows an unidentified soldier. He wears a Hardee hat with infantry bugle and “E” company letter and a standard nine-button frock coat of northern Federal or Union issue. He is not armed and is sitting relaxed with his hands together resting on his stomach.

The image is behind glass held in an ornate brass mat loaded with intricate designs edging the tintype. There is no actual leatherette frame and the image itself is unfortunately cracked.

This is a wonderful picture, comes more than ready for display!

Tintypes
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