Did try to keep this in the time period as I did not restore but made the photo look like and aged color picture don't know if I got it just right but close enough I think did restore some major damage.

---Did try to keep this in the time period as I did not restore but made the photo look like and aged color picture don't know if I got it just right but close enough I think did restore some major damage---

Rob, I like to confirm that your 'attempt' (please notice the quotation marks) was very successful. Letting intact some (not disturbing) scratches and the by you well dosed colorization, make that there was no violating of its authenticity! A perfect document of this era now!
Kudos, my friend!

You did a great job on the damage repair, and the coloring, we can now see more detail in his face, bravo Rob. tigs=^..^=

I think he was a heavy drinker Rob. He probably needed some color in his cheeks. :)
Another superb colorization.

TicK

Viewed Full Screen

That's a nice soft job of colorizing, Rob, and leaving some of the "history" in the photograph keeps it true as well. Ulysses Simpson Grant was a surprise in many ways and, in one very important way, was not. He went to West Point but did not excel, learning more about running a unit or an army during America's war with Mexico, closely watching General Winfield Scott, a hero of the War of 1812. When he wasn't in the army, fighting a war, he was nearly a total failure at business or work of any sort, even reduced to selling firewood on the street, before finally being recalled to the army when the Civil War began. During all the previous American wars, leadership in the form of officers was determined by their ability to either buy or bluff their way into a commission, without having any knowledge, experience, or even common sense (leading consequently to the senseless loss of even more lives). West Point started to change that but the Union had so many poor commanders that the age we see in Lincoln's face, in crisp, glass-plate photographs, is most likely due to his disappointment and anxiety over finding a competent General of the Army. It's also one of the reasons that our Civil War lasted so long (the president originally wanted Robert E. Lee to lead the northern troops). Grant was the answer to Lincoln's prayers, slowly gaining a reputation for winning until his choice as overall commander became the only sensible choice for Lincoln. After the war Grant became another notch in the political belt of America, following in our tradition of electing successful military men--George Washington, Zachary Taylor, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower--to the presidency, for which this photo was taken. Politically inexperienced, though scrupulously honest, Grant became known for appointing people who were not of good character. His only real success during his time in office came in pushing through ratification of the 15th Amendment and establishing the National Parks Service. When he left office he returned to doing poorly, financially, until he entered into a contract with writer Mark Twain, to co-author his memoirs. Tick mentioned his drinking, which was substantial and a point of consternation for many of his competitors for command, but that was not what ultimately did him in. In many of the photos taken of him during the Civil War, he's smoking or holding a large cigar. In 1884 he was diagnosed with throat cancer caused, I believe, by his copious tobacco use. A year later, in July, he died just as his memoirs were being published and bringing his family $450,000 (nearly $11 million in today's money). He was finally a civilian success.

Although the light shadows on Grant match the background, I'm 99% certain this background was a painted cloth curtain, popular for many years for photographic portraits, finally replacing paintings of crossed flags and deer dancing in woodlands as a background.

-Nik

Nik you are giving a new level to commenting on Caedes Kudos. My comments pale in comparison to yours. Thanks for the time and effort
you put into your words.

Rob

Fantastic coloring job Rob!! This is such awesome workmanship!!! Keep up the great work buddy!!!

Excellent work on this one even removing the big scratch - perfectly done in my eyes - way to go Rob