1/4 PLATE, CIVIL WAR TINTYPE, \"UPSIDE DOWN BELT BUCKLE\" CONFEDERATE? UNION? For Sale

UP FOR offer IS A SUPER NICE 1/4 PLATE CIVIL WAR TIN TYPE PHOTO OF A CONFEDERATE OR UNION SOLDIER. THE MOST NOTABLE THING ABOUT THE PHOTO IS THE FACT THAT HIS BELT BUCKLE IS CLEARLY ON UPSIDE DOWN. TIN TYPES CREATED A MIRROR IMAGE SO NORMALLY THE BELT BUCKLE WOULD JUST BE BACKWARDS, DUE TO THE WAY CAMERAS TOOK PHOTOS 150 YEARS AGO.BUT THIS IS CLEARLY WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUGHT ON COMPLETLY UPSIDE DOWN. THERE IS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY OVER WHAT THIS MEANS. MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE IT WAS DONE ON PURPOSE BY CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS WHO REMOVED BELT BUCKLES FROM DEAD UNION SOLDIERS, AND THEN USED THEMTO REPRESENT A \"Sn\"WHICH WOULD STAND FOR \"Southern Nations\"I ALSO READ ARTICLES THAT STATE THAT A MASS GRAVE OF CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS WAS EXCAVATED AND MANY OF THE MEN HAD THE \"US\"BELT BUCKLES ON UPSIDE DOWNJUST AS ITS SHOWN IN THIS TIN TYPE. ILL LEAVE THE REST UP TO YOU. I AM NO EXPERT. AS SEEN IN THE PHOTO THE SOLDIER IS IN FULL UNIFORM. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU WILL NOTICE HE HAS ON HIS CANTEEN ANDHAS A KNIFETUCKED IN BEHIND HIS BELT. HIS GUN APPEARS TO BE AN ENFIELD, AND HAS THE BAYONETTE ATTATCHED TO IT. IT ALSO APEARS THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF SCABBORD ON HIS RIGHT SIDE, RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE HIS GUN IS, I ASSUME THE POUCHES ON THE FRONT OF THE BELT ARE FOR PERCUSSION CAPS AND AMMUNITION.IF YOU LOOK AT THE UNIFORM YOU WILL SEE THAT HE HAS TWO STRIPES ON EACH OFHIS ARMS. IM NOT SURE WHAT RANK THAT WOULD BE. THE UNIFORM ALSO APPEARS TO BE GREY NOT DARK, LIKE IN MOST OF THE UNION SOLDIER PHOTOS IVE SEEN ON LINE.THE PHOTO MEASURES 4 1/8 BY 3/18.THE CASE AND FRAME ARE ORIGINAL TO THE PHOTO, IT STILL HAS ITS ORIGINAL GLASS AS WELL. THE CASE APPEARS TO BE LEATHER BUT IM NOT SURE. THE CASE IS IN GOOD CONDITION WITH THE 2 CLASP THAT KEEP THE CASE CLOSED INTACT. THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE CASE ARE NOT CONNECTED, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THERE IS A PIECE OF MATERIAL MISSING THAT WOULD HAVE ACTED AS A HINDGE. THE PHOTOS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE EXCELLENT. I DONT SEE AND AREAS OF DAMAGE OR LOSS, JUST SOME DUST,THERE ARE NO CREASES OR BENDS IN THE PHOTO AT ALL. PLEASE VIEW ALL THE PICTURES CAREFULLY. AS I SAID BEFORE I AM NO EXPERT ON OLD PHOTOS. I PURCHASED THIS PHOTO AT AN ESTATE SALE IN SOUTH EAST MISSOURI. UNFORTUNATELY THE LADY COULD PROVIDE NO HISTORY, ALL SHE COULD TELL ME WAS THAT IT WAS A LONG LOST FAMILY MEMBER. THANKS AND GOOD LUCK. PAYMENT MUST BE RECIEVED WITHIN THREE DAYS OF sales END

On Sep-24-14 at 19:07:59 PDT, seller added the following information:

JUST A QUICK NOTE...NOT MENTIONED ABOVE...THE TINTYPE PHOTO ITSELF \"NOT INCLUDING THE GLASS, THECASE OR ANY OF THE METAL FRAMING, IS VERY THICK AND MUCH HEAVIER THAN THE AVERAGE TINTYPE. NOT SURE IF THIS MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE OR NOT...BUT DECIDED TO MENTION IT ANYWAY, JUST IN CASE.

On Sep-25-14 at 10:49:12 PDT, seller added the following information:

SOME FOLKS HAVE ASKED IF THERE IS ANY DAMAGE TO THE PHOTO...THE ANSWER IS NO. THERE IS NO LOSS OR CREASING OF ANY KIND. THE SPECKS YOU SEEON THE PHOTO IS DUST AND NOTHING MORE. I DID NOT WANT TO ATTEMP TO CLEAN IT BECAUSE I DONT KNOW HOW. THE IMAGE IS PERFECT. THE ONLY RUB MARKS ARE THE ONES WHERE THE GOLD FRAMEMAKES CONTACT WITH THE PHOTO. THANKS TO ALL AND GOOD LUCK.