Union case, the capture of Major Andre

A union case for holding early photographs. Quarter plate in size, the body of the case is made of compression moulded shellac (secretions of the lac beetle) with wood powder filler. It has an intricate, moulded scene depicting the capture of Major Andre on the top, a copy of the oil painting by Asher Brown Durand, 1845, currently held in the Birmingham Museum of Art, US. The reverse side is plain. Engraved by F.Goll, it was manufactured by S.Peck & H.Halverson, c. 1855-1857. Internally the case has a purple coloured, velvet lined cushion on the left, providing protection to the original glass, no longer present, with two embedded brass hinges and an integrated spring clasp. Union cases were used to carry light-sensitive early photographs like ambrotypes or daguerreotypes to prevent them from fading and over 1000 different designs are known to exist.

stamped: "Genuine Union Case. Improved. Fine Gilt and Burnished Hinge. S.Peck's Patent Oct 3rd. 1854. H. Halverson's Patent. Aug. 7th, 1855, Assigned to S.Peck." (on paper in bottom half of case)

AIBDC : 009276