Original Item: Only One Available. Everything about this image, including its presentation, makes it a splendid memento of the Civil War. This Civil War half-cased "Sixth Plate" (2.75 x 3.25 inch) tintype portrait shows an unidentified pair of union soldiers. They both wear standard frock coats of northern Federal or Union issue, as well as regulation kepis / forage caps. One bears Corporal chevrons on his sleeve.

The image is behind glass held in an ornate brass mat loaded with intricate designs edging the tintype. The set is missing the lid of the thermoplastic case, but still displays great as is.

This is a wonderful picture, and comes ready for further research and 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