40122: CDV of the man who fired the first shot in the C

CDV of the man who fired the first shot in the Civil War, Edmund Ruffin, with Charleston backmark. The Carte de Visite shows Edmund Ruffin, a Virginian who traveled to Charleston, S.C. to join the famous Palmetto Guard. With his right hand he holds his musket and with his left his hat. The photo is so sharp that you can clearly read the letters "PG" in a wreath... standing for Palmetto Guard. On the side of his hat you can see where the Palmetto tree emblem is attached. Ruffin is credited with firing the first shot from Morris Island against the federally held Fort Sumter on April 12th, 1861. Ruffin was also the first person to enter Fort Sumter after it fell to Southern forces. On the reverse is the photographers imprint "Quinby & Co., Photographic Artists, Charleston, S.C." The CDV shows great clarity and detail, some fading towards the bottom of image. A wonderful example of this Southern folk hero. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved