^#1939 ^Lot 2000 Robert E. Lee

Original sepia 2.25 x 3.5 carte-de-visite photo, by the “’Lee’ Photographic Gallery,” signed under the image in black ink, “R. E. Lee.” Photographer’s imprint on the reverse reads, “The ‘Lee’ Photographic Gallery, 920 Main Street, over the Richmond Musical Exchange. Wm. W. Davies.” Two surface chips, one affecting top of a single letter of signature, and one to background of image, signature and image just a shade light, lightly trimmed top edge, scattered light soiling and staining, and a few chips to left edge, otherwise very good condition. Known as the ‘floppy tie’ portrait, it was taken in 1864 by John W. Davies in the Lee Gallery. Edward D. C. Campbell, Jr., in his article ‘The Fabric of Command: R. E. Lee, Confederate Insignia, and the Perception of Rank’ published in “The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography” (Vol. 98 No. 2, April 1990), wrote that Davies ‘made a single image. The picture was, in fact, a favorite of General Lee and is easily recognized by Lee’s closely cropped beard, ill-fitting collar, and drooping black tie.’