0703: Rosanna Blake Collection, 1818-2000

This collection consists of manuscript and other paper items collected by Rosanna A. Blake. Included are letters, diaries, correspondence, unit rosters, Confederate imprint forms and currency, 1860-1865. Also included are 3D items including firearms, edged weapons, tin soldiers, original Civil War art work, the Volck shield, and Southern periodicals relating to the Civil War. Notably, the collection includes 3 original Robert E. Lee letters, 1 Jefferson Davis letter, and 2 general orders dictated by Lee. The O'Brien sub-collection contains Civil War pamphlets and booklets, over 300 monographs and books, photos, CDV's, original Civil War art work, the Volck shield, ambrotypes and tintypes, one original Robert E. Lee letter, original Civil War sketches and etchings, and other 3D items. Most materials are Confederate related.

The digitized items here do not represent the entirety of the Rosanna Blake Collection, 1818-2000. To view what other materials are in this collection but not yet digitized and available online, search the guide to the Rosanna Blake Collection, 1818-2000.

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"Writing the Emancipation Proclamation"

Adalbert Johann Volck

Etching #3: "Writing the Emancipation Proclamation," from Volck's "Confederate War Etchings" folio. From the 1863 copper plates. "The Work of Adalbert Johann Volck 1828-1912," by George McCullough Anderson.
Charge of the VMI Cadets at Battle of New Market, May 1864, from original at VMI Lithograph of Battle Near Mill Springs, Ky., and Death of Gen. Zollicoffer, 1862

Charge of the VMI Cadets at Battle of New Market, May 1864, from original at VMI, b&w. This made from a painting by an 1880 graduate, Benjamin West Clinedinst, depicts the charge of the VMI Corps of Cadets in the Battle of New Market on May 15, 1864. Measuring 18 x 23 feet, it is located in VMI's Jackson Memorial Hall.
General T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson Kurz & Allison print of General T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson

Kurz & Allison print of General T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson, b&w auction estimates (Oct 2015) $500 to 750
Pen and Ink sketch of Robert E. Lee by Jacques Reich, ca. 1880's

Pen and ink sketch of Robert E. Lee by Jacques Reich, ca. 1880s for Scribner's Magazine, b&w mounted on cardboard Reich was known for his German mythology paintings and sketches. He did several sketches and drawings of Lee, between the 1880's and the early 1900's. stamp on back reads: Art department file, please return, and Scribner's Magazine, 153-155 Fifth Ave, N.Y, N.Y.
Pen and Ink wash sketch of Robert E. Lee by Jacques Reich, ca. 1880's

Pen and ink wash sketch on board of Robert E. Lee by Jacques Reich, ca. 1880s for the Century Co., probably for the Century Magazine, b&w Reich was known for his German mythology paintings and sketches. He did several sketches and drawings of Lee, between the 1880's and the early 1900's.
Report from the US Committee on Military Affairs on the amount of damages by a Rebel Raid on Henderson, Tenn., Nov. 1862. Printed by US House of Representatives as Report No. 184, Mar. 2, 1877.

Report from the US Committee on Military Affairs on the amount of damages by a Rebel Raid on Henderson, Tenn., Nov. 1862. Printed by US House of Representatives as Report No. 184, Mar. 2, 1877. This was printed by the US House of Representatives, as Report No. 184, 44th Congress, 2nd session. This was written by the US Committee on Military Affairs to investigate and ascertain the money collected after the Confederate raid on Henderson, Tenn., and the accounting for those funds.
Last meeting of Lee & Jackson, May 1, 1863

John G. Fay

Last meeting of Lee & Jackson, May 1, 1863, col. Card glued on back reads: "Representing the last meeting between Gens. Lee and Jackson, the evening of May 1st, 1863," by John G. Fay. Printed in 1877. From the original oil painting.
Lithograph of Robert E. Lee

Advertising tobacco silk, with lithograph of Robert E. Lee, with ad for Richmond cut cigarettes. label attached states purchase price of $350 and that it was printed in Richmond, Va.
Last Meeting of Lee and Jackson

Everett Julio

Last Meeting of Lee and Jackson, by Everett Julio. Copper engraving. Engraved by Frederick Halpin. From Julio's original of 1869. a duplicate of 2006.0703.165.
Confederate General Ambrose P. Hil

Confederate General A. P. Hill, b&w. Captions read: Published by Geo. E. Perine, 111 Nassau St, N.Y. and Litho by J. L. Giles, N.Y.
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson portrait engraving, autographed, 1872

A. B. Walter

Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson portrait engraving, autographed, 1872, b&w. Attached description states it is "rare portrait of Gen. Johnston engraved by A. B. Walter from a photograph. Signed by Johnston." Sold for $1,500.
Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson

A. B. Walter

Thomas J. "Stonewall' Jackson, lithograph from a photo from life Caption reads: sold by authority of the Jackson Monument Association for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, at the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va.
Chromolithographic oval print of Robert E. Lee, from a Matthew Brady photo.

Chromolithographic oval print of Robert E. Lee, from a Matthew Brady photo. This is an oval print mounted on cardboard. These were framed and illegally sold as oil paintings. They were made by several printers, such as Hoover in Philadelphia and H.A. Thomas of New York.
Confederate General Joseph Johnston, by Jacques Reich

Confederate General Joseph Johnston, by Jacques Reich, b&w sketch on board Back reads:Gen. Joe Johnston, signed J. Reich
Fitzhugh Lee (post Civil War) Carte de visite

Carte de visite of Confederate General Fitzhugh Lee. Probably post-Civil War.
General Winfield Scott, by Jacques Reich

Gen. Winfield Scott, by Jacques Reich, b&w sketch on board Front reads: Winfield Scott, it is signed "JR" Winfield Scott offered the command of all US forces to Robert E. Lee in early 1861.
Jefferson Davis autograph, "Faithfully yours", 18 Nov. 1870

Jefferson Davis autograph, "Faithfully yours", 18 Nov. 1870 pencil notes on back seems to imply it was sold at one time for 25 dollars.
Joseph Eggleston Johnston Carte de visite

Carte de visite of Confederate General Joseph Eggleston Johnston. Probably post-Civil War.
Mrs. LaSalle Corbell Pickett Carte de visite

Carte de visite of Mrs. LaSalle Corbell Pickett, wife of Confederate General George Pickett. The cheeks on this image were hand-colored.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee, 1870

A. B. Walter

Confederate General Robert E. Lee, 1870, b&w. Original for 2006.0703.335
Action Between the Kearsarge and the Alabama, mezzotint, 1869

Action Between the Kearsarge and the Alabama, mezzotint, 1869, b&w.
Robert E. Lee and friends at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., in 1869.

Robert E. Lee and friends at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., in 1869. This is purported to be a print directly from the original. One account is that two different photos were made that day, another account says five were made. The difference is the placement of the men's hats. In the photo are: Robert E. Lee, seated front row, James Connor, Martin W. Gary, John Bankhead Magruder, Robert D. Lilley, P.G. T. Beauregard, A.R. Lawton, Henry A. Wise, Joseph L. Brent, Blacque Bey the Turkish envoy is on Lee's right, and George Peabody is on his left, W.W. Corcoran, and James Lyons.
Print of "Gen. Grant and Family," ca. 1869 Print of "Kearsarge sinking the Alabama, June 19, 1864."

E. B. Bensell

Print of "Gen. Grant and Family," b&w, mounted on board Caption reads, Painted by E. B. Bensell, Published by John Dainty, Philadelphia, Engraved by A.B. Walter
Printed letter from the Secretary of the Treasury addressing Confederate property in Europe. Apr. 17, 1868. Printed by US House of Representatives as Ex. Doc 304.

Printed letter from the Secretary of the Treasury addressing Confederate property in Europe. Apr. 17, 1868. Printed by US House of Representatives as Ex. Doc 304. This was printed by the US House of Representatives, as Ex. Doc. 304. (40th Congress, 2nd session)
Genl. Joseph E. Johnston, 1867 Lithograph of Battle Near Mill Springs, Ky., and Death of Gen. Zollicoffer, 1862

Genl. Joseph E. Johnston, 1867, b&w. Printed on the back of a color print "The Passage of our Glorious Redeemer to Mount Calvary to be Crucified," by the same printer.