Not having the ability to grow facial hair myself, I wonder how long it would take a fellow to grow a beard as full and impressive as this one. The creases in his face remind me a bit of Abraham Lincoln, who also sported a beard. It’s like they were distant cousins. This man is older, I’d guess in his 50s and the lines in his face add quite a lot of character. The two lines around the image again help us date the photo to the 1862-1863 time frame. The photographer was Haines & Wickes Photographers at 478 Broadway, Albany, NY.
Who Were They? 
He does look a little “weary”. I wonder if he is ill – or just sick of the world.
Beard growth depends on the guy – I have one myself and it would take me only 5 or 6 months to get that much while some guys I know could grow a beard like that in only 3 months.
Do you think this just predates the tax stamp?
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I think he looks weary too. Also, yes, the tax stamp was 1864-1866. Being as this could be as early as 1862, the revenue stamp would not have been a requirement. I’ve also seen several CdVs with a spot on the back where a stamp was removed – probably by a stamp collector.
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The lines seemed etched in his face he looks old and kind..I agree about 50..which was old for back then. His clothing looks heavy and warm.
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I have several Civil War-era CdVs, subjects unidentified, by “Haines” and by “Haines & Elliot”, all with the address 478 Broadway, Albany, NY. Does anyone know anything about Haines?
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I wasn’t really able to determine what *this* Haines’ first name was and without that (and even sometimes with it) I wasn’t able to find anything definitive. There was a “Haines” photographer in Albany, NY, George Haines of MD and Jacob Haines of PA, all contemporaries in the 1880s. I’m sorry that I’m not much more help.
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