Exceptional group of nine gem-sized tintype portraits housed in matching pressed brass mats, likely commemorating a shared military service. The set includes seven young men in Union uniforms—several appearing to wear frock coats and high collars consistent with the Veteran Reserve Corps (VRC)—alongside two civilian portraits, possibly wives or nurses. The images were found together in Buffalo, New York, and the consistent presentation suggests they were compiled deliberately, potentially as a memorial or reunion keepsake.

The VRC, composed of partially disabled or convalescent soldiers, served a critical function during the Civil War as hospital guards, prison wardens, and ceremonial sentries. Most notably, VRC units were assigned as honor guards during President Abraham Lincoln’s funerals and viewings in Washington, Baltimore, and other cities along the funeral train route. The solemn expressions and uniformity of this grouping suggest the possibility of such a commemorative context.

Each gem tintype retains crisp detail and is housed in its original oval floral-embossed mat, lending the ensemble a strong visual cohesion. A rare surviving group portrait of Civil War-era individuals—possibly comrades—preserved in miniature. A moving historical artifact, likely tied to the wartime service and memory culture of the 1860s.