Extremely Rare CDV of Confederate General George B. Cosby Tanner & Van Ness BM

An exceptionally scarce carte-de-visite featuring Confederate General George B. Cosby, bearing the rare Tanner & Van Ness studio backmark from Lynchburg, Virginia. Images of Cosby are seldom encountered, and examples with Southern backmarks—particularly from this studio—are virtually unknown in private collections.
 
The portrait exhibits excellent clarity and contrast, clearly showcasing Cosby’s distinguished mustache and uniform details. Though the CDV has been trimmed to fit an album and the corners clipped, the image remains visually striking.
This is a truly rare opportunity to acquire an authentic Confederate general CDV with a Southern imprint—an important and desirable piece for advanced collectors of Civil War photography.
 
General George B. Cosby was a Confederate cavalry officer during the American Civil War, known for his service in the Western Theater. Born on January 19, 1830, in Louisville, Kentucky, Cosby graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1852. He served in the U.S. Army with distinction, including duty on the western frontier and in the Pacific Northwest, before resigning his commission in 1861 to join the Confederacy following the outbreak of the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Cosby rose to the rank of brigadier general and served primarily in cavalry and staff roles. He was initially assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department and later transferred to the Western Theater. Cosby participated in several major campaigns, including the defense of Vicksburg and operations in Mississippi and Kentucky. His ability as a cavalry leader and staff officer earned him the trust of senior commanders, and he often played key roles in reconnaissance, communications, and rear-guard actions during Confederate retreats.
After the war, Cosby lived a relatively quiet life, avoiding the political spotlight that many former Confederate officers sought. He settled in California, where he worked in insurance and business. George B. Cosby died on June 29, 1909, in Oakland, California. Though not as famous as some of his contemporaries, Cosby's career reflects the experiences of many mid-level Confederate officers—professionally trained, loyal to their home states, and deeply affected by the war’s outcome.