Handwritten and signed biographical manuscript, signed “Elizabeth B. Custer,” one page, 9 x 7.5, no date. Custer describes the background of a Brady portrait of the then 25-year old Major General George Custer, focusing on Custer’s uniform. In full: “The photograph of Major General George A. Custer at twenty five years of age is a copy of one taken by Brady of Washington, the war photographer, the last year of the civil war, General Custer is in undress uniform. The wide felt hat was captured from a Confederate. The shirt of blue flannel was purchased from a government gun boat in the Potomac River. The neck tie was scarlet. General Custer began to wear the red tie when he was made a Brigadier General and assigned to the Michigan Cavalry Brigade. The entire Brigade adopted the tie and when General Custer was appointed Major General and given command of the Third Cavalry Division of the Army of the Potomac they also wore them. The badge on the tie was that of the Michigan Brigade with the name of Custer and the motto of the State.” Manuscript and photo are both affixed to a larger backing and matted and framed with a photographic reproduction of an engraving of Custer which was based on the aforementioned 1865 Brady portrait, to an overall size of 12.75 x 23. In very good condition, with uniform moderate toning and soiling from display, heaviest along the edges, and light silvering to image. The Brady photo referenced by Elizabeth was taken in 1865 by renowned photographer Matthew Brady and is possibly the best known photograph of Custer when he was at the height of his personal fame. A rare firsthand account of one of Custer’s most famous portraits by the woman that knew him best. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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