A copy of Alexander Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the War is valued at $100,000-150,000 ahead of a sale at Cowan's on November 21.

Gardner (1821-1882) is regarded as one of the first photojournalists, whose unrelenting reportage documents the horrors of the civil war.

Alexander Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the War was published in 1865-1866

It is interesting to note that he was personally appointed official photographer to the Union army under the recommendation of Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Secret Service.

He travelled with a mobile darkroom, allowing him to print his images almost immediately.   

The present lot contains more than 100 albumen photographs from across the span of the war. It was sold on a subscription, but the huge cost of the project meant few could afford to purchase it.

It is incredibly rare, with only a handful of copies known to exist.

Another specimen in comparable condition made $190,000 at Skinner in November last year.

Other lots include a document signed by JP Jones, a Scottish naval officer who fought on the side of the Americans in the revolutionary war.

Jones is considered a pivotal figure in the development of the US navy. The lot is estimated at $40,000-60,000.

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