Pristine Bust View CDV of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston – C.C. Giers

 
 
This is a superb, near-mint condition carte de visite of General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the highest-ranking and most important commanders in the Confederate Army. The image presents a sharp, classic bust view of Johnston in his general’s uniform with excellent clarity, rich tonal contrast, and strong presence.
 
The CDV features the desirable C.C. Giers photographer’s backmark of Nashville, Tennessee. Giers was one of the premier photographers in the Western Theater and produced some of the finest surviving images of Confederate officers during and immediately after the war.
 
General Joseph E. Johnston commanded the Army of Northern Virginia at the outbreak of the war (wounded at Seven Pines), later led the Army of Tennessee, and famously surrendered to General Sherman in North Carolina in April 1865. He remains one of the most significant and controversial figures of the Confederacy.
This example is in truly pristine condition — bright, clean, and free of foxing, trimming, or fading. Such high-grade CDVs of Johnston with a Southern backmark are increasingly difficult to find and are highly sought after by advanced collectors of Confederate generals, Western Theater material, and high-quality officer portraits.