Portrait of Brule Man 1858 Melainotype

UNIDENTIFIED. [Portrait of Man. Possibly Brule Sioux], 1856-1860. Sixth plate Neff patent melainotype (tintype), 3.12x2.75" in case, no cover on case. NEFF'S PROCESS Pat 19 Feb 56" visible under the mat once the retainer has been removed. ASG # UNK/3567.

Images of Native Americans in the 1850s were extremely rare in any form.

The Tintype process was invented in 1852 by a Frenchman Adolphe Alexander Martin. The Melainotype process was developed in America in 1854 by Hamilton Smith, a chemistry professor at Kenyon College in Ohio, and then sold the patent rights to Peter Neff Jr., one of Smith's students. The melainotype process was patented on 19 February 1856. The use of an iron plate instead of glass greatly reduced the cost of the photograph.
Credit: http://historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium2/pm.cgi?action=app_display&app=datasheet&app_id=209
Condition Report: Good to Fair: Extensive wear, abrasions.