Relics of the American West: 1850-1920
Lot 2144:
Description
This lot represents a significant grouping of post-Civil War naval ephemera, headlined by an original 1876 General Order No. 1. Hand-signed by John Joseph Read in his capacity as Lieutenant Commander and Chief of Staff, this document was issued from the U.S. Flag-ship “Richmond” at Callao, Peru, to announce members of Commodore C.H.B. Caldwell’s personal staff. Read was a distinguished veteran who served as a Division Officer under Admiral Farragut on the flagship Hartford during the Civil War. Accompanying the document is a period mid-19th-century Carte de Visite (CDV) of Admiral David Farragut. The CDV was produced by photographer E. Decker at No. 249 Superior Street in Cleveland, Ohio, and features “Farragut” written in period ink at the bottom of the reverse. The lot also includes several detailed biographical research sheets detailing Read’s career highlights, including his service at the Siege of Vicksburg and the Spanish-American War. The paper document shows age-appropriate toning and original horizontal mailing folds. The CDV exhibits light foxing and minor corner wear but is notably free of mounting evidence on the reverse. Document: H 9″, W 6 1/8″, D 0.01″; CDV: H 4″, W 2 3/8″, D 0.01″. Please see photos for condition.
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