Very Rare Period Engraving of Stonewall Jackson Struck by the Artist

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/3/2015

Engraving of Jackson, 3” x 4-1/4”, uncolored showing the General in full length, full uniform. The strike is sharp and fine, the piece is also fine. The original image from which this engraving was struck, was drawn by Adalbert J. Volck, a noted Confederate artist who demonstrated his loyalty to the Southern cause by becoming a blockade runner; smuggler of drugs and medical supplies; "safe house" operator for Confederate soldiers and agents; Rebel spy; and personal courier for Jefferson Davis (the President of the Confederacy). He described the circumsrtances of this engraving as follows: "The drawing from which this hasty etching was made is from life. It was on one of my blockade-running trips, not long after the second battle of Bull Run [28-30 Aug. 1862]. I had crossed the Potomac above Ball's Bluff, and carrying important papers, was making my way across the country to get to a certain place, the name of which I have forgotten, but where I knew a person who would push me forward. I came quite unexpectedly upon a camp,and not meeting the pickets, I walked right through it. On the other side of the huts and shelters I saw some officers talking together, among them Jackson. As I seemed unobserved I pulled out my sketch book and made what can hardly be pronounced a striking likeness of the General. I was almost done with it when one of the officers pointed me out, and General Jackson looked around at me with a pleasant smile and turned away. I had, however, to show what I had done to some offier [sic] and also prove to be a friend. I was sent on on horseback with a guide. An etching was made immediately after my return, some three or four days afterward, one or two prints taken, and for some reason, now forgotten, probably during one of my frequent arrests the plate was mislaid. Some five or six years ago I saw an account of this print, said to be the only one in existence, described in one of the monthly magazines (I think the Century). This caused me to look through some old rubbish dating from the war times, and I found the original plate from which these prints were taken. I am sorry to say the plate has again disappeared." The engraving is accompanied by a type note which identifies the piece. In part, “The etching of ‘Stonewall Jackson’ was made by Dr. A.J. Volck of Baltimore ... It is the only likeness of Jackson taken from life in existence and was made by Dr. Volck during the late Civil War ... There are but three or four copies of it and Dr. Volck still has the plate ....About a year ago, an article on ‘Stonewall’ Jackson was published in Century and a copy of the etching was published by Century ... The likeness is considered perfect. ... The etching is quit valuable.” The note is a bit brittle. The etching was reproduced as an illustration to "The Battle of Gaines's Mill", by D.H. Hill, in The century, v. 30, no. 2 (June 1885), p. 295, presumably the reference Volck had in mind, though no description of the plate has been located in The century, beyond the caption: "Sketch of Stonewall Jackson. (Drawn from life near Ball's Bluff by A.J. Volck, probably in 1861.)"

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