This is an original image case that was designed to hold an image. These are the style case that are made of a thermoplastic material that is better known as a "Gutta Percha" case. They are high quality cases that held the best images of the Civil War era. It will hold the tintype style image as well as an ambrotype or Daguerreotype. currently it has the image of a lady inside that can easily be removed to add your soldier's image. This one is the size known to collectors as the sinteenth plate image. This means that the image measures approximately 1-3/8th inches by 1-5/8th inches in size. It is the style that was made without the hinges on the sides. On the sides of the case it has a variation on the design that is known as case #721, 'Geometric Scroll,' design case in the wonderful 1988 copy-written book entitled Union Cases; A Collector's Guide to the Art of America's First Plastics by Krainik, Krainik, and Walvoord. They list this version as "SCARCE". This is a great case for your collection and is open for your image.
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