Sixteenth plate tintype portrait of an unidentified Civil War–era soldier, presented in a full Union case. The soldier is shown in uniform, seated and facing the camera, wearing a dark forage-style cap and buttoned jacket consistent with mid-19th-century military dress. The image is a tintype on iron, typical of the period, and dates to the early 1860s based on uniform style and case type. No photographer’s imprint is visible on the image itself.

The case interior reveals significant personal material concealed behind the velvet pad. Tucked within are a small additional portrait of a woman, likely a loved one, and a lock of hair wrapped in paper. Such hidden keepsakes are characteristic of deeply personal wartime objects, assembled to accompany soldiers during service or preserved as intimate memorials. The presence of both a secondary portrait and hair strongly suggests sentimental intent rather than studio practice, elevating the object beyond a standard soldier portrait.

The Union case is fitted with a riveted hinge and retains its original interior components. The paper label inside reads “Littlefield, Parsons & Co., Union Cases, With Embracing Riveted Hinge,” with patent dates of October 14, 1856, and April 21, 1857 printed on the insert. Handwritten notes are present on the interior paper but are indistinct and not fully legible. The combination of the soldier’s tintype, the hidden woman’s portrait, and the preserved lock of hair forms a cohesive and historically resonant Civil War-era personal assemblage.