A rare copy of Alexander Gardner's Photographic Sketchbook of the War could make $120,000-180,000 in a New York auction.

Alexander Gardner was one of the first reportage photographers

The lot is among the star lots of a sale of books and manuscripts at Bonhams on September 22.

Gardner's (1821-1882) record of the US civil war consists of around 100 albumen photographs of the conflict, which do not flinch from its horrors.

It was sold on subscription, but its prohibitive cost meant few were printed.

Another example sold for $190,000 at Skinner in 2013.

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