2023-08 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/26/2023
James Edward Taylor (1839-1901) was an artist with Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper during the American Civil War who was assigned to cover the campaign of General Phillip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley which began in August of 1864. Following the war, Taylor compiled over 500 narrative sketches and drawings based on his unique experience as the only artist assigned to cover General Sheridan. His sketches show heroic encounters, tragic deaths, thrilling victories, defeats, and all manner of military activity. Group of five undated Autograph Letters Signed, "James E. Taylor" in which the artists is selling Civil War copy photos to Colonel George Meade. Meade ultimately published a book "Photographs of Union and Confederate Officers in the Civil War in America, From the Collection of Gen. Meade". Although undated, all the letters are written from Taylor's home, Lexington Avenue, New York City. In the first letter Taylor lists 16 Officers which he is willing to copy for Meade ... The second letter he advises, "I am laying out a Gettysburg incident, an order from Col. Rapple of Scranton showing Color Sergt Crippen 143rd Penn nobly dying defending his colors on the 1st day ... In the third letter he continues with the Crippen incident, "I have just had an 8" x 10" negative made of the Crippen subject, the drawing of which I furnished you last Thursday - 35c per ... In the fourth letter, he continues with Gettysburg, "Likely you would like to see a copy of my recent furnished picture of the 143rd Penn at Gettysburg -1st day fighting ... In the final letter, Taylor continues, "Enclosed is the Photo off my design of Death of Color Sergt Crippen ... I represented in the position he was in at the moment of being shot ..."Taylor published a lithographic print of the Crippen Incident titled, "An heroic incident--Color Sergeant Benjamin Crippen refuses to surrender the flag".
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