American Civil War Era Tintype Portrait of a Union Soldier and a Woman

This is an original mid-19th century tintype (ferrotype) photograph depicting a Union soldier and a woman, likely his wife. The image is captured on a thin rectangular sheet of iron coated with a dark lacquer or enamel. The soldier is seated, wearing a dark blue frock coat with a double row of brass buttons, a forage cap (kepi), and visible light-colored stripes on his sleeves, indicating a non-commissioned officer rank. The woman is standing beside him in a period-appropriate plaid or checkered dress with wide sleeves and a high neckline. The background features a studio setting with a draped column and a faint landscape backdrop. The tintype measures approximately 2.5 by 3.5 inches (sixth-plate size). Condition is consistent with age, showing significant flaking of the emulsion in the lower right corner and along the left edge, where the black iron plate is exposed. There is also general surface scratching, silvering around the edges, and minor bending of the metal plate. The monochromatic tones are typical of the 1860s collodion process, with high contrast between the dark uniform and the lighter facial features. No maker's marks are visible, which is common for these itinerant or studio-produced military portraits.