LEE ROBERT E.: (1807-1870) American General, Commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865. A good vintage signed sepia carte-de-visite photograph by Lee, the albumen print being of the famous 'floppy tie' portrait of the General in uniform with three stars visible on his collar and his tie loosened. Signed ('R E Lee') in dark ink with his name alone to the image. Some light mottling, otherwise VG Provenance: The present photograph was originally contained within an album of autographs of eminent Americans of the Civil War period which were obtained by the Welsh journalist John Griffith (1821-1877) who had travelled to America as a correspondent before the Union victory was sealed and returned in 1867. This famous portrait of Lee, one of his and his wife's personal favourites, was taken in 1864 and is variously attributed to John W. Davies or (less frequently) Julian Vannerson, both respected Richmond photographers.