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 infantry sergeant. He wears a standard sack coat of northern Federal or Union issue, with no headgear. There may be a sword in his hands, but it is too low in the frame to say for sure.

The image has heavy cracking as shown. 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 hinge has broken off on one end and the velvet piece has fallen out. It could be fixed for display.

This is a very nice 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