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 "Sixth Plate" (2.75 x 3.25 inch) tintype portrait shows an unidentified seated Union enlisted soldier with his wife. He wears a standard frock coat of northern Federal or Union issue with the entire coat unbuttoned, showing his unbuttoned vest. He is unarmed with his right arm around his wife. 

The image is behind glass held in an ornate brass mat loaded with intricate designs edging the tintype. A leatherette case molded front and back with decorative floral designs completes the piece. The interior of the case is lined in velvet type material. The case is held together with adhesive that is very close to breaking off. The latch is broken away.

The combination of the sixth-plate format, seated Union enlisted soldier in an open Federal frock coat and vest, accompanying wife, ornate brass mat, floral thermoplastic Union case, and surviving velvet interior makes this a particularly appealing Civil War portrait. The deteriorating adhesive hinge and missing latch are the principal condition concerns, while the intimate composition gives the image considerable historical and personal interest. 

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