Description

Description: This is a great albumen photograph of an "everyday moment" for a National Guard Company in the peacetime year of 1873. Encamped with five neat rows of small, identical tents and a set of larger tents along the close perimeter of the field, a cannon off to the left, two Guardsmen are waiting at the base of the flag pole, likely about to retire the colors for the day. Cooper House and the village are quite visible in the background.

Photographed by W. G. Smith. There is excellent resolution and good contrast in the image; the flare on the left seems to be original to the negative, as do the discolorations in the upper corners. The type in the bottom blank margin reads: "Camp Townsend. Albany Zouave Cadets, "A" Co., 10th Infantry, N.G.S.N.Y. In Camp, Cooper House Grounds, Cooperstown N.Y. Aug. 5th, 1873." The image measures approximately 8" x 10 3/4" and is mounted on a piece of stiff paper that measures approximately 10" x 12 1/4". Item #P00053

Condition: Light soil on the right side of the photo, mostly over the sky, corners of the backing are bumped with a bit of loss to the bottom left corner; generally very good.