A full-length portrait of an unidentified boy fills this ninth-plate tintype, presented in its original thermoplastic union case with an embossed gilt brass mat framing an oval window. The ferrotype dates to the Civil War era, consistent with both the ninth-plate format and the subject's dress. No photographer's imprint is visible on the case or mount.

The boy stands erect against a plain studio backdrop, wearing a dark flat-brimmed cadet-style cap with a light band across the crown, a loose white shirt open at the collar, a dark sack coat with visible sleeve detail, and dark trousers supported by suspenders visible at the waist. His arms hang at his sides and his expression is direct and composed.

The cadet cap style was widely worn by both military school students and youth organizations during the 1860s, and its presence here alongside the boy's upright posture suggests a formal affiliation or commemorative intent behind the sitting. The union case retains its original embossed acanthus and foliate border decoration in gilt brass with a red fabric surround.