Rare Civil War Salt Print CDV – Confederate Maj. Gen. Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox

Rare Civil War Salt Print CDV – Confederate Maj. Gen. Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox
 
This is a scarce original salt print carte de visite of Major General Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox, a distinguished Confederate division commander. Produced using one of the earliest photographic processes of the Civil War era, this salt print displays the characteristic rich, matte tonality and lighter overall appearance typical of the medium. Despite the inherent lightness of salt prints, this example shows incredibly well with strong detail, excellent contrast in the facial features and uniform, and a clear, compelling likeness of the general in a classic bust-style portrait. There is no photographer backmark present, which is common on many early wartime Southern images. This image came from a larger collection of Tanner & Vanness and is no doubt their work. The CDV is in strong, attractive condition with minimal fading or wear consistent with its age on the standard mount.
 
Cadmus Marcellus Wilcox (1824–1890) was a West Point graduate (Class of 1846) and Mexican War veteran who resigned from the U.S. Army in 1861 to join the Confederacy. He began the war as colonel of the 9th Alabama Infantry and rose rapidly, fighting at First Manassas, in the Peninsula Campaign, and with distinction under Longstreet and A.P. Hill. He commanded a brigade and later a division in the Army of Northern Virginia, participating in nearly every major engagement from the Seven Days Battles through Appomattox. Postwar, he served in various capacities and remained a respected figure. Identified salt print CDVs of Confederate generals are highly sought after by advanced collectors due to their extreme rarity compared to standard albumen prints.
 
This outstanding example, with its excellent visual impact despite the lighter salt print tones, would be a superb addition to any serious Civil War photography collection, general officer portrait gallery, or Army of Northern Virginia assemblage. Similar early-process images of high-ranking Confederate commanders have commanded strong prices in the collector market.