#676. "GENERAL ... Don Francisco Gana, brother or nephew of Mrs. J. Sewell Muir" is written on a small white card that comes with this miraculous quarter plate daguerreotype. Also included is a very long history of "General Gana" who most likely is this distinguished officer's son. That information lists the man as being born in 1828, which would suggest that the officer in the daguerreotype was a mere 22 years old when the portrait was made, circa 1850. I sincerely doubt that. General Gana, who most likely lived in Chile or Argentina, was daguerreotyped by Helsby. He is listed in "Craig's Daguerreian Registry" as having worked in Buenos Aires circa 1846 and later in Valparaiso, Chile. Under Helsby's name, stamped in the lower right corner of the brass mat is: "Retratista". Fabulous military daguerreotypes in perfect condition, with the subject vignetted by 150 years of original tarnish (I broke the paper tape and archivally resealed the piece) are extremely rare. Add to that, THE BEST HAND COLORING THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE PLACED ON A HIGHLY POLISHED SURFACE, without actually over-painting, in the English or Continental style, and you have this superlative likeness of the General. His ramrod straight pose, with eyes peering intelligently past the camera, and one gloved hand resting on the hilt of his sword, could not have been presented any better. We all have a sense of his leadership abilities and enormous pride, just gazing upon the soldier. The accoutrements have been perfectly arranged in order to present him at the pinnacle of his service. General Gana is kept in a push button leather case that has a repaired hinge. $12,000