Cartes de Visite: Five Rare Books for Collectors

Carte de Visites highlights of the Freeman's The Collected Library, Including Americana and Early Photography auction on March 20 include:

* A group of 14 Carte de Visites of Abraham Lincoln and family

Featuring Lincoln with his son Tad, five CDVs of Lincoln, four CDVs of Mary Todd Lincoln, and a studio portrait of Dennis Hanks, with printed caption "The Man that taught President Lincoln to read, now at Barnum's Museum".

* A group of 12 Carte de Visites of children in Civil War uniforms

Each shows young male subjects in Civil War or militia-style uniforms, some posed with weapons or drums. Most subjects are unidentified. Among those featured is a standing view of a young boy in Civil War uniform with long hair, his dog resting at his side, holding a musket with bayonet in his arm.

* A group of 56 Carte de Visites and Cabinet cards of 19th century performers

Featuring celebrated 19th century actors, actresses, singers, and other notable performers of the era such as Jenny Lind and Sarah Bernhardt.

* A group of 190 Carte de Visites and Cabinet Cards of European subjects including royalty

Highlights include numerous CDVs of Queen Victoria and members of the royal family, as well as writer William Thackeray, and Prime Minister William Everett Gladstone 

* A group of 11 Carte de Visites New York Zouaves

Featuring Colonel Rush C. Hawkins of the 9th Reg't. Zouaves (1861) who enlisted in the 2nd United States Dragoons at 15 during the Mexican-American War, then practiced law in New York City before helping to raise the 9th New York Volunteer Infantry as the Civil War began in earnest. After military service, he was a member of the New York State Assembly, and became an avid collector of rare books, accumulating 225 incunabula.