First steam-powered ironclad warship of the Confederate States Navy, constructed using the raised and cut down original lower hull and steam engines of the scuttled USS Merrimack. It was one of the participants in the Battle of Hampton Roads, opposing the USS Monitor in March 1862, which was the first ever battle between ironclads. Original unsigned 7.75 x 5.25 photo of an artist’s rendition of the CSS Virginia affixed to a 9 x 7 mount, captioned at the bottom in black ink, “‘The Virginia’ (The Merrimac), so christened after she was iron-cladded [sic] before she went to sea.” Two heavy creases to the upper right and heavy paper loss to the lower right corner of the mount, otherwise very good condition. The ship was known to the Union as ‘The Rebel Monster,’ but despite its fearsome appearance it never successfully broke the Union blockade. A rare depiction of the short-lived warship with a lasting legacy. RR Auction COA.
