This book was written by Benson J. Lossing, published in 1977, the narrative is 512 pages and is illustrated with black and white photos and colored drawings. Matthew B. Brady, who photographed the Civil War 1861-1865 and sold his wonderful collection of negatives to the United States government, was unique as a photographic artist. The reproduction of his famous war negatives shows history in this History of the Civil War that he was fifty years in advance of his time, for many of his photographs compare favorably with the best quality of work today. That he was well equipped for this for great work is shown by his remarkable career. In the early 50's, he was the representative photographic artist of the day. His studios on Broadway, New York City, were patronized by the famous men and women of the period. The list of famous men and women who posed before his magic camera is to long to receive more than passing mention in this brief notice. A few of the prominent negatives now in the possession of the United States government may, however, be mentioned such as portraits of Washington Irving, James Fenimore Cooper, Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Cullen Bryant, John G. Saxe, John Lothrup Motley, and the great authors and poets of the period. This list, taken at random from thousands, shows beyond dispute that Brady was the leader in his profession. The most important of all Brady's work, as General Greenley says, is his marvelous collection of Civil War photographs. It was Brady who left his profitable business to take photographs of the war. He secured permission from President Lincoln, and under the protection of Allen Pinkerton of the Secret Service Bureau, Brady and his men started taking pictures, thinking the war would not last more than tow or three months, but for four long, weary years, they were actively at work throughout the country, and his wonderful collection of negatives of the great historical scenes and portraits of the leaders on both sides attest to his energetic and remarkable work. It was these negatives that he sold to the United States government, and by special permission of the War Department, reproductions have been made direct from the originals which so fittingly illustrate, as nothing else could do, the vivid text of Dr. Lossing in this History of the Civil War. This hard back book is in good condition, but does not have a dust cover.

Item # AA2686