Gen. G. A. Custer Stereoview

Taylor & Huntington. Stereoview of General George A. Custer published by Taylor & Huntington circa 1890. Image depicts Custer in uniform with his arms crossed. Mounted on an orange cabinet card with "1613. Gen. G. A. Custer. Photograph taken in 1864" printed underneath photograph, "1861 The War for the Union. 1865" printed on left edge, and "1861 Photographic War History. 1865" printed on right edge. On verso is text describing the photographic series and the reasoning behind the publishers' prices. Photo measuring 6" x 3 ¼" and mounted on cabinet card measures 7" x 4". Stereoview is in good condition with moderate foxing to photo, light wear and chipping to all corners and light soiling on verso. This series of stereoview cards was released about 25 years after the American Civil War. Around 7,000 negatives were found in a building maintained by the Anthony Company, and that was once used by the Civil War photographer, Alexander Gardner. James C. Taylor, war veteran and artist, bought the rights to these negatives and started selling the images in the early 1880's. Taylor also amassed a large cache of orange stereoview cards, like the one used here. Taylor and Huntington formed a partnership circa 1890, which they later called the War Photograph and Exhibition Company, and came out with "The War Memories Catalog" which offered a selection of 228 stereoviews from the Gardner and Anthony negatives, and 200 images from the Gardner large-plate negatives. This stereoview of General Custer not only preserves an important and popular figure in military history but also has an intriguing provenance and photographic history. .