Exceptional Civil War-era carte de visite portrait of a U.S. naval officer in full dress uniform, taken by Upson & Simson of 356 Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y. The subject is captured standing at attention, hands gloved and resting at his sides, dressed in a long double-breasted frock coat adorned with shoulder epaulettes, a dress sword at his side, and a dark cocked hat with rosette. The heavy gold trim and dignified stance suggest a senior officer—likely a captain or commodore—posed for formal presentation, perhaps at the time of a promotion or transfer of command.

The clarity and detail in this image are excellent, showing fine textures in the frock coat and sword tassel, along with a proud, weathered face suggestive of years at sea. The backmark of Upson & Simson places the image firmly in Buffalo, New York, a city that saw significant naval traffic during and after the Civil War due to its strategic location on the Great Lakes. The simple interior studio backdrop and patterned carpet are typical of mid-to-late 1860s portraiture.

This is an outstanding naval CDV from a seldom-seen Northern photographer, offering strong aesthetic appeal and potential for further research. A commanding addition to any Civil War or naval history collection.