American School, 1st quarter 19th century; miniature half portrait of a seated African American gentleman, wearing a short black jacket and holding a folded letter in his right hand; possibly signed in the orange triangular space above the letter. Gouache, with touches of metallic color and finished with varnish, 4 1/4 x 3 3/8 in.; in a frame of the period.

Vertical crack down the center, carefully aligned and laid down on a card. Metallic touches on the buttons have dulled