Lot 88
Rare Full Plate Tintype of Sergeant William H. Carney, the First African-American Soldier Awarded the Medal of Honor. Here we offer an extremely rare full plate, hand-tinted tintype of Sergeant William H. Carney (1840-1908) of the esteemed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the unit led by Captain Robert Shaw (1837-1863) that was immortalized by the Academy Award winning film, Glory in 1989. The dignified Carney, photographed circa 1900 standing alongside his wife, Susannah, proudly dons the medal he was awarded on May 23, 1900, more than 35 years after the conclusion of his military service.
As is common for such full plate images, portions have been painted over so that it resembles a portrait. The verso of the portrait bears a scratched inscription, "Sgt. Wm. Carney, 54th Mass. Vols." along with a date of 1900 or 1901 -- the year appears to have been scratched or altered at least once. By the turn of the century, tintypes were out of fashion, so it is possible that this was an earlier portrait of the couple modified to honor Sergeant Carney's receipt of the long-awaited medal. In any event, the size and content of the portrait make it probable that this piece is not just rare, but in fact unique.
The piece measures 10 x 7¼", with the upper and lower corners of the left side slightly clipped. There is some flaking of small chips to the emulsion, most notably around portions of Carney's right leg, and craquelure to the surface throughout. Except for the aforementioned faults, this important and historical image is in very good condition. Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000
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| Realized $3,600 |
