[Civil War Photography] Alexander Gardner [ed.]; William R. Pywell and Timothy H. O'Sullivan [photography]

[Albumen Photographs] Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the Civil War. Plate Nos. 1, 2, and 3: Marshall House, Alexandria, Virginia, Slave Pen, Alexandria, Virginia, and Fairfax Court-House

[Washington, DC]: [Philp & Solomons, Publishers], [1866]. Very Good. Item #49880

[Washington, DC: Philp & Solomons, Publishers, 1866]. Collection of three albumen photographs (23x17.5cm on 42x30.5 cardstock mounts), removed, constituting the first three plates from the second issue of Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the Civil War, here without "Incidents of the War" printed beneath each plate. Each plate with printed number, title, date taken, and attribution of negative and positive. Light wear at removal edge; brief smudging; toning presumably from previous mount; overall a Very Good set.

Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook remains an "early masterpiece of documentary photography," and, per Parr & Badger, "the book was revolutionary in taking war reportage a stage further in veracity, for it was the first to show photographs of the slain..." The images included here are of the more static variety, a hallmark of the publication as many of the photographers Gardner employed (and had lured away from Matthew Brady) were trained landscape photographers and the bulky equipment and demands of the public informed the nature of the work. 

Gardner notes that The Marshall House (plate No. 1) was the site of the killing of Col. Ellsworth of the New York Fire Zouaves. Ellsworth rushed in after seeing a Confederate Flag flying from the establishment in May of 1861, and was killed by the proprietor; news of his death was not relayed to the Zouaves for many hours for fear they'd destroy the city when told. Relic hunters raided the hotel and, according to Gardner, even took away the stairwell and door in which Ellsworth was shot. 

The Slave Pen (plate No. 2) is the most striking image found here with storefront sign of "Price, Birch & Co. Dealers in Slaves" legible. In his description from the Photographic Sketchbook (included only in copy here), Gardner notes the doors of the pen/prison were secured by large locks and bolts, iron bars were affixed to the windows, and manacles were employed for anyone suspected of designs for escape. Auction sales were regularly held here at which Virginia farmers "disposed of their servants to cotton and sugar planters from the Gulf States." 

The village of Fairfax Court-House (plate No. 3) was devastated throughout the war as houses were burned. The Court House pictured here was stripped of its woodwork, "leaving only naked walls and roof. In 1864, loop-holes were cut through the sides of the building for riflemen and troops stationed in it to repel any attack that might be made by guerrillas who constantly hovered in the vicinity" (Gardner). Generals McClellan and Hooker both temporarily commanded the Army of the Potomac here. 

Sources note that as few as 200 copies of the two-volume book were published, though many believe the number to be much lower. Samples, even small ones such as here, are uncommon in retail. 

Parr & Badger, The Photobook: A History Volume I: p. 44; Goldschmidt & Naef, The Truthful Lens, No. 68.

Price: $3,000.00