Between the Covers

Unbound. Carte de visite. Albumen print measuring 2½" x 3½" mounted onto cardstock measuring approximately 2 3/8" x 4", with the photographer's information printed verso. Light foxing and wear, about near fine. Brief pencil notation on verso: "Happy Contraband."

The cameo image depicts an unidentified, young African-American man playing a tin whistle or fife, wearing a white shirt and tie, a dark vest, and a wide-brimmed straw hat with a long silk bow. The Philadelphia Photographic Company opened in 1862 at 730 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, and continued at that address as late as 1865. They produced a number of carte de visites depicting similar images of African-Americans.

This image appears to be unrecorded by *OCLC*, although we note a single holding of a similarly themed carte de visite image by this publisher, depicting an African-American child playing the banjo (Library of Congress, in the Goldstone Collection of African-American Photography).

Item #501852