Page 233 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013

428 ● (MILITARY—SPANISH AMERICAN WAR.) ROSS, WILLIAM H. William
H. Ross. Fort Douglas March 15, 1899. Co. B, 24th Inf. Large cabinet card photo-
graph with the photographer’s stamp on the mount; the reverse with a stamp from one of
the companies that made “charcoal,” or sometimes called “crayon” portraits,” giving the
size, etc for the order; a note in ink on the front mount, presumably from a family mem-
ber, simply says “papa.” * Large color “crayon portrait” 20 x 153⁄8 inches drawn from the
cabinet card * with a contemporary obituary for Ross. Professional archival repair to the
reverse of the “crayon” portrait.
Vp, circa 1899-19? [1,000/1,500]
William H. Ross, the subject of this photograph and “Charcoal portrait” fought with Teddy
Roosevelt and the “Rough Riders” and participated at the battle of San Juan Hill. What is
especially interesting is having both the photograph and the “charcoal,” sometimes called
“crayon” portrait made from it together. The process involved sending the company, in this case
the “National Art and Crayon Co” a photograph. They would then enlarge it and project it
on a screen, where an artist would draw over the portrait in crayon. It would be framed and
returned. The stamp on the reverse gives all of the dimensions as well as ordering a flat glass.
The first time we have seen both photo and portrait together.
429 ● (MILITARY—SPANISH AMERICAN WAR.) Cabinet Card portrait of
John W. Greene of Company A of the 9th Ohio Volunteers. Cabinet card; some
very slight fading to the left margin, a couple of tiny dots on the soldier’s left boot; the
pencil identification on the reverse.
Washington, D.C.: Harper & Co., circa
1898-1900 [800/1,200]
The 9th Ohio Volunteers was the only all-black regiment from Ohio to fight in the Spanish-
American War.
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