A period carte de visite depicting celebrated Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) after an original photograph taken by Alexander Gardner (1821-1882), signed by Lee as "R.E. Lee" in the lower right corner. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified authentic. The black and white albumen photograph is mounted on a stock card, with the backstamp verso printed "Alex. Gardner. / Galleries / Photographer to the Army of the Potomac / 511 Seventh Street and 332 Pennsylvania Av. / Published by / Philp & Solomons, / Washington D.C." A 2-cent George Washington revenue stamp is affixed to the bottom verso, above a former collector's pencil inscription. The upper corners of the carte are cropped and there is a tiny hole along the bottom margin. Expected weathering, else near fine. The carte de visite measures 2.375" x 3.75" while the slab measures 4.25" x 7.25."

The aging former military commander is shown in civilian dress, presenting a right side profile, facing left. Roy Meredith, author of "The Face of Robert E. Lee in Life & Legend" (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1947), wrote that this view was "one of the only two photographs which show Lee in sharply defined right profile" (p. 87.) The original correspondence between Lee, subject, and Gardner, photographer, can be accessed through the Lee Family Digital Archive. Our slabbed carte de visite is likely from Lee's first order of cartes, placed on April 6, 1866, which Alexander Gardner discussed in a letter dated four days later; some of these cartes had photography studio imprints, and some did not. In an April 25, 1866 letter from Lee to Gardner, Lee requests another 100 profile images specifically without imprint, noting: "They are much liked, & I wish to send some to the south & west, to friends who desire them…"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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