Exceptional and finely hand-tinted sixth-plate daguerreotype portrait of a proud young man seated beside a covered table, dressed in formal attire and adorned with striking patriotic regalia. He wears a richly colored sash decorated with thirteen stars, symbolizing the original American colonies, and a prominent five-pointed star medal beneath an eagle. The star bears the initials “C & C”, identifying him as a member of a mid-19th century temperance or patriotic fraternal society, likely tied to the Cadets of Temperance or a similar organization rooted in moral reform and civic virtue.

The Cadets of Temperance, a youth affiliate of the Sons of Temperance, was active from the 1840s to the Civil War era and sought to instill values of abstinence, patriotism, and discipline in young men. The badge’s stylized eagle and star motifs, along with the prominently featured "C & C" lettering, suggest a leadership or ceremonial role within the society, possibly denoting “Cadet and Commander” or “Captain and Council.”

The sitter's calm yet assertive expression, his meticulously combed hair, and the artistic rendering of his society garments—all enhanced with original hand-applied tinting—make this an unusually vivid and symbolically rich portrait.

A remarkable and early example of American fraternal portraiture, steeped in patriotic and reformist symbolism. Possibly photographed in Ohio, c. 1850s, when temperance societies flourished throughout the Midwest and Northeast.