Description:

ROBERT E. LEE
(1807 - 1870) Confederate General and commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, arguably the most brilliant commander of field armies in American history. A LARGE SIGNED BRADY PHOTO OF LEE, TAKEN ONLY DAYS AFTER THE SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX Likely unique signed photograph displaying the incomparable grace and dignity in defeat of the commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, the famous Mathew Brady image of Robert E. Lee with his son, Major General George Washington Custis Lee at left and his chief aide, Colonel Walter Taylor at right, taken only days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. The three war heroes are shown full length on the porch of Lee's with the war-weary general seated and shown in sharp detail. The image itself is 7 1/4" x 8 3/4" and mounted to 8 3/4" x 10 3/4" (sight). The mount is imprinted: GEN. R. E. LEE & STAFF BRADY & CO., PHOTOGRAPHERS" with an 1865 patent statement at bottom. General Lee has placed his large black ink signature: "R E Lee" at lower-right. There are a few marginal stains to the mount, the photo itself in generally very good to fine condition. The photo is housed in a period framed with gilt trim which has not been opened since the day this item was framed. After the surrender, Lee stayed at Appomattox until the last of his troops had given up their arms and been paroled on April 12. He arrived home in Richmond on April 15, and the next day, Easter Sunday, greeted his old acquanitance Mathew Brady to have six photographs taken at the rear of the residence. As described by historian Robert Wilson: "...the hatless general's head is squarely centered in front of the crossed rails of a panel door, suggesting Christ on the cross to those for whom Lee would become a powerful symbol of the martyred South. Lee posed right after Lincoln's death, perhaps in an effort to introduce a sense of calm to a volatile time....". This is a stunning piece of history, the photo quite rare and made especially more so with the addition of Lee's signature.

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May 24, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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