George Custer
various, October 27, 1863 & 1865
Custer 1865 CDV with Clipped Endorsement After Buckland Mills, PSA Graded NM-MT8
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An encapsulated clipped endorsement by George A. Custer together with a Civil War-era carte-de-visite of the famed general. The signed endorsement measures 3.25" x 2.5", Headquarters of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, dated October 27, 1863. Clipped from a larger document it reads "Approved and respectfully forwarded GA Custer/Brig Genl Comdg 2d Brig." PSA Slabbed and Graded NM-MT8, measuring 5.25" x 3.25" overall. With slightly uneven, lightly toned edges. Minor smudging to some of the ink, but this does not affect the signature. Boldly signed.

Accompanied by a carte-de-visite portrait of Custer, measuring 2.5" x 4", Washington, D.C., N.d. [1865]. Produced by John Goldin & Co. The image shows a seated Custer clad in the regulation frock coat of a Major General, though wearing his casual, broad-brimmed hat, turned up on one side, to showcase his mustache, goatee, and trademark long curls. With bumped corners and edges. Dampstaining to the lower edge. Scattered soiling and light wear/scratching throughout. Mounting residue on verso.

This seated view of the famous cavalryman is # K-70 in Mark Katz?s study of "Custer in Photographs." The original image is credited to John Goldin & Company, and made in May 1865. Goldin appears to have made six variations during the same sitting, produced around the time of the Grand Review and just one month after President Lincoln was assassinated. At this point, Custer was at the peak of his fame, rivaled only perhaps by his fame after his death at Little Big Horn eleven years later. Throughout his early military career, Custer secured no fewer than 12 long-term and brevet promotions between 1861 and 1865. On June 29, 1863, he was promoted to brigadier general and assigned to command a brigade in Judson Kilpatrick?s division. While in this position he led his men in the Battle of Gettysburg and participated in the fighting on what would become to be known as East Cavalry Field.

The above clipped document was written a week after the Battle of Buckland Mills, where the Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. Kilpatrick was ambushed by J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry and routed. Custer called the day ?the most disastrous this division ever passed through.?

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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2.5" x 4"