Item: 1860s Civil War J.H. Buford Confederate & Union Lithograph
Sold For: $798.00
Bids: 23
Date: Apr 08, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Seller: finerthings101
Description and Image By: finerthings101
These were recently found tucked inside an envelope sitting in the rafters of an attic. We can find no information on-line, nor can we find other examples available for sale. What we have here are 43 lithographs on card stock. We do not even know exactly how to advertise them — they are technically not CDV’s or cabinet photos, so we’ve listed them in a couple categories with hopes of generating interest.
What we can say with certainty is that these are early lithos, likely produced around the time of the close of the Civil War or very shortly thereafter. Each card is printed with the publisher’s name, the well-known J.H. Bufford, of Boston, Massachusetts. who was responsible for a good quantity of Civil War period prints. Quite a few of the cards also have “C.F. Morse & Co., Agents, Washington” printed beneath Bufford’s line. The cards measure approximately 4″ x 2.5″ and each features an image of someone who served an important role in the war. Cards include presidents, generals, commodores, colonels, and interestingly, also several of the wives who had their hands in some of the conflict’s events. Images include both Union and Confederate individuals. What is really intriguing is that there is one card that is not quite the same as the others in size and design, although it appears to be around the same age, and it features John Wilkes Booth, with the title “Most Infamous!”. I suspect the main series of cards may have been produced while Lincoln was still alive, and then the Booth card would have been printed afterwards. The backs of all cards are blank.
Could these be one of the very first series of “famous people” cards ever produced, which eventually evolved into trading cards? Anyone who may have info to offer on these cards, it would be much appreciated. We do guarantee with 100% certainty that the cards are 19th Century.
As stated earlier, we have not been able to find any other examples of these anywhere on-line, so we are at a loss as to their value.
It is our honest feeling that these may be quite valuable, and they would undoubtedly make for a magnificent display in a Civil War period photograph album. As you can see, some of the cards are stained in the margins and/or have some foxing, but the images themselves, for the most part, are very good. You won’t be disappointed with this lot.