What IS this? (Civil War Era)

[PrettySquareGal]

Does anyone have information on what this may be? It was auctioned off with a bunch of Civil War items.

 

[Diamondback]

I'm tempted to say it looks like a privately-purchased ID tag (there was a good explanation in season one of Mail Call, which made the "Best Of" DVD), but can't really present myself as authoritative. Can you give us size or any other information to help refine the effort?

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Sure! It's 2" x 2.5"!

That's all I know.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Disclaimer: I know -nothing- about civil war stuff. So take with grain of salt.


It looks like some sort of paper embossing stencil to me.

you would put the paper under and with a stylus gently push and raise the paper through the stencil.

modern example of this:

http://www.stensource.com/howtoemboss.htm

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Oh, interesting! It does kind of look like a stencil!

 

[Diamondback]

Yeah, at that size it's too big for what I was thinking.

 

[scotrace]

Sent image to a rabid collector. We should have an answer soon.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Sent image to a rabid collector. We should have an answer soon.

Oh thank you!

 

[RetroToday]

Looks like a stencil to me as well, especially since it appears that ink was applied overtop the cut-out signature.

The oddity is the decorative border. Looks like the decorative tin they used to use to frame photos in hinged cases, such as ones done in the daguerrotype photo process. Hmmmm. Also, each frame of those is approximately that size.

See this link to see what I mean:
http://www.stereoviews.com/dagstins.html

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Looks like a stencil to me as well, especially since it appears that ink was applied overtop the cut-out signature.

The oddity is the decorative border. Looks like the decorative tin they used to use to frame photos in hinged cases, such as ones done in the daguerrotype photo process. Hmmmm. Also, each frame of those is approximately that size.

See this link to see what I mean:
http://www.stereoviews.com/dagstins.html

Yes, it looks like it could be maybe a nameplate that fit into one of those.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

But again, I do see where it looks like ink was applied.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

But again, I do see where it looks like ink was applied.

See I think the -frame- thing is just to protect the more fragile stencil from bending when not in actual use....

You would have to slide the actual stencil out in order to put it on the item to be 'marked'....

 

[PrettySquareGal]

See I think the -frame- thing is just to protect the more fragile stencil from bending when not in actual use....

You would have to slide the actual stencil out in order to put it on the item to be 'marked'....

Yes, yes...and I am really seeing an ink roll going back and forth over it where the black markings are...

I wonder what was stenciled?? Maybe his uniform on the inside??

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Hmmm I think we're onto something!

http://www.civilwarmuseum.org/article003.htm

 

[scotrace]

The verdict, from Collector Guy:

"A stencil for the back of a photograph you silly."

 

[PrettySquareGal]

The verdict, from Collector Guy:

"A stencil for the back of a photograph you silly."

So, in other words, every time a photograph was taken of this fellow, he would engrave his name on the back with this stencil?

 

[Miss Neecerie]

So, in other words, every time a photograph was taken of this fellow, he would engrave his name on the back with this stencil?

Or he was the photographer.....and it was his little ad on the back......like studios still do in the bottom corner....

 

[PrettySquareGal]

But that's not as glamorous as it being an early dog tag! I can see it being used that way, too! Kind of like a temporary ink tat.

But it's definitely a stencil I now know.

Thank you.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

So this was maybe a way to imprint a signature before the days of vulcanized rubber stamps?

 

[MrNewportCustom]

But that's not as glamorous as it being an early dog tag!

It is to a photographer!

When I saw the ink stains in the larger image, and then learned it's diminutive size, I was certain that it was a stencil for inking. Makes sense, too, that with the way it's mounted that it'd belong to photographer.


Lee
_______________________

Olan Mills, your grandfather is on the phone.