Title:
Martin Van Buren Brady’s National Portrait Gallery CDV – E. & H.T. Anthony, New York – Exceptionally Rare Brady Back Stamp

Description:
Original Carte de Visite (CDV) photograph depicting President Martin Van Buren (1782–1862), published by E. & H.T. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York, from a photographic negative in Brady’s National Portrait Gallery. The albumen photograph is mounted on its original cardstock with a decorative ruled border framing the image.

The sepia-toned portrait presents Van Buren standing in formal attire, dressed in a dark frock coat with waistcoat and cravat. His distinctive white hair frames his face in the characteristic style for which he was widely recognized. He holds what appears to be a book or document in his right hand, a subtle nod to his career as a statesman and legal mind.

The reverse bears the printed Anthony backmark reading:
“Published by E. & H.T. Anthony, 501 Broadway, New York, From Photographic Negative in Brady’s National Portrait Gallery,” along with the decorative “C.A.” medallion emblem. At the top of the reverse appears a period ink inscription reading “Van Buren,” likely added by a contemporary owner for identification.

The card exhibits even age toning and light surface wear consistent with mid-19th century CDVs, with rounded corners and an attractive patina. The image remains clear and well-preserved, with the Brady attribution on the reverse bold and fully legible.

This example is particularly scarce with the Brady’s National Portrait Gallery back stamp. We are hard pressed to locate many other surviving copies bearing this specific Brady attribution on the reverse. In our research, we identified an institutional example held by the Chrysler Museum of Art, underscoring the rarity and recognized historical importance of this format. However this example in the Chrysler Museum is not a full body pose.

Historical Context:
Martin Van Buren, eighth President of the United States (1837–1841), was a principal architect of the Democratic Party and a close political ally of Andrew Jackson. His presidency was defined by the Panic of 1837, one of the most severe financial crises of the 19th century.

This portrait derives from Brady’s National Portrait Gallery, the landmark photographic project initiated by Mathew Brady to systematically document America’s most prominent political and cultural figures. Brady’s work laid the foundation for modern documentary portraiture, and his gallery became one of the most significant visual records of 19th-century leadership.

E. & H.T. Anthony, the preeminent photographic publishers of the Civil War era, distributed Brady’s images widely in CDV format. However, examples explicitly bearing the Brady’s National Portrait Gallery imprint on the reverse are far less commonly encountered today.

Given its documented institutional counterpart and the scarcity of similar examples in the marketplace, this CDV rises to a level that can fairly be described as museum worthy.

Authentication & Encapsulation:
N/A.

• Additional Documentation & Provenance: At buyer’s request, Historical Autographs Gallery will include an additional “Historical Autographs Gallery Certificate” signed by our company founder Luke Pascal at no cost.

Closing Appeal:
An exceptionally rare Brady’s National Portrait Gallery Carte de Visite of President Martin Van Buren, this piece represents a convergence of early presidential history and pioneering American photography. With confirmed institutional holdings and very few comparable examples surfacing publicly—particularly with the Brady back stamp—this is a distinguished and museum worthy artifact suited for advanced collectors of presidential memorabilia and Civil War–era photography alike.

Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.

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