IF YOU WANT TO BUY CIVIL WAR PHOTOGRAPHS

**6th-plate ambrotypes of New Jersey brothers William and John Hewitt. William served with the 12th New Jersey, John with the 34th New Jersey. Both survived the war. (John Banks collection)**

Original Civil War photographs are a popular and prominent sub-category of antique photography. Within the Civil War photography sub-category, four major formats dominate: stereo views, cartes de visite (CDVs), cased images and larger photographs. Reputable and well-established dealers in Civil War photographs include:

ONLINE

Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics: This longtime dealer from New York always has a selection of Civil War stereo views, CDVs and other images.

Medhurst and Company Fine Images and Documents: Iowa-based Mike Medhurst has a large selection of hard images and CDVs.

The Civil War Image Shop: Matthew Fleming, who lives in Ohio, frequently updates his site, which features hard images and CDVs.

The Horse Soldier: Chet and Sam Small and family members have operated The Horse Soldier, purveyors of military Americana, in Gettysburg since 1971. They maintain a store in Gettysburg at 219 Steinwehr Avenue.

The Historical Shop: Louisiana dealer Cary Delery has been in business for almost 40 years and has a regular inventory of all types of Civil War photographs.

War Between the States Memorabilia: Len Rosa is another long-time Civil War memorabilia with a regular inventory of photographs, having started his business in 1978.

AUCTION HOUSES

Cowan’s Auctions: Wes Cowan, an appraiser on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow and one of the History Detectives, has several auctions a year at his Cincinnati, Ohio, auction house that feature Civil War photographs.

Heritage Auctions: Based in Dallas, it features Civil War photographs in some of its memorabilia and militaria auctions.

Jefferson Stereoptics: Canadian dealer John Saddy, in business since 1981, holds several antique stereo view auctions each year and almost always has a section of original Civil War stereo views.

eBay: It has become a primary source of Civil War photographs for both collectors and dealers. Here’s the link for the “Civil War” search in the antique photographs section.