Rare carte de visite of J.P. Ball

Rare carte de visite of early African American photographer J.P. Ball.

Previous to the discovery of this image, the only known view of the photographer was from the 1880s (likely cabinet card).

Ball was first trained as a daguerreotype artist. He worked in support of the abolitionist movement and did his most well known work in the Cincinnati area.

His photograph of Frederick Douglass is well known.

This particular image dates from the Civil War era and bears his hand penned inscription on the back.

Lots of online information available on the photographer.