Jefferson Davis Autograph / Sold
President of the Confederate States of America
(1808-1889)
Graduated from West Point (1828); served in Mexican War. Served a term in Congress (1845-46); U.S. Senator from Miss. (1847-51); U.S. Secretary of War in Pierce’s cabinet (1853-57). Again U.S. Senator (1857-61). Withdrew from Senate when Mississippi seceded. Chosen by the provisional congress as President of the Confederacy (Feb. 9, 1861) and elected by popular vote as President for a six-year term and inaugurated at Richmond (Feb. 22, 1862). After war was imprisoned at Fortress Monroe, Va. (1865-67); indicted for treason in 1866.
"At my request, Mr. Davis gave me several hundred of these autographs at the time the Confederate Monument Association of Louisville was building its monument at 3rd and Confederate Place, which we unveiled July 30th 1895.
The crossed banners were painted by my daughter, Peachy, (now Mrs. Ewing Cockerell) after they were autographed.
Hundreds were sold at that time, and those remaining have been sold at various times since to help swell the funds for the other Confederate Monuments. We are selling them now for the Davis Monument to be erected at Fairview, Ky., the birthplace of Jefferson Davis.
Mrs. L.E. Williams
Achorage, KY
May 26
1917
Attested by
Mrs. George Lewis Danforth, President Albert Sidney Johnson Chapter – United Daughters of the Confederacy. - Louisville, Kentucky"
Nice bold original autograph with letter of provenance and Brady photo CDV. c. 1861 Civil War Era, Confederate President Jefferson Davis Carte de Visite Photograph, by Mathew Brady, Likely published by Salisbury Bro. & Co., Providence, R.I.,
Very rare and original, 1860’s Vignette Albumen CDV Photograph of Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis taken from a rare Portrait by Mathew Brady and mounted on a card mount with embossed, patriotic embossed "frame" surround. Measures about 2.5” x 4” with the portrait measuring about 1.25” x 1.5”. This albumen CDV Photograph is an oval shaped, the vignette bust portrait is surrounded by an embossed "frame" made up of laurel sprigs at the left and right, a spread wing bald American Heraldic Eagle with a Federal Shield on his breast at the top and crossed American Flags, crossed cannons and a sword below, an unusual tribute to someone considered a Traitor! The card mount typically carries the mark of the photographer / publisher - Salisbury Bros. & Co. of Providence, Rhode Island. This appears to be a pirated (or possibly authorized) retouched and enhanced version of the 1861 Mathew Brady Portrait of Jeff Davis, likely issued during the Civil War for sale to Northern sympathizers of the Southern Cause.
Complete with a JSA autograph certification.
Inventory Number: AUT 050 / Sold