ca. 1854, [daguerreotype of Chouteau’s Pond, St. Louis, Missouri. View of drained area with cows with Collier’s White Lead factory in the background], Thomas M. Easterly via the Missouri History Museum

ca. 1854, [daguerreotype of Chouteau’s Pond, St. Louis, Missouri. View of drained area with cows with Collier’s White Lead factory in the background], Thomas M. Easterly

via the Missouri History Museum

ca. 1860-90, [tintype portrait of a market hunter from Grand Isle, Louisiana holding a large double-barreled shotgun] via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographica, Tintype Collection

ca. 1860-90, [tintype portrait of a market hunter from Grand Isle, Louisiana holding a large double-barreled shotgun]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographica, Tintype Collection

ca. 1860’s, [tintype portrait of a woman smiling coyly from behind a handkerchief], S. Shattuck via the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Photography Collections

ca. 1860’s, [tintype portrait of a woman smiling coyly from behind a handkerchief], S. Shattuck

via the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Photography Collections

ca. 1870, [carte de visite portrait of a woman, presumably blind, with dark glasses], J. P. Blessing & Bro. via the Southern Methodist University Library, Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photography Collection

ca. 1870, [carte de visite portrait of a woman, presumably blind, with dark glasses], J. P. Blessing & Bro.

via the Southern Methodist University Library, Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photography Collection

ca. 1860-1900, [carte de visite portrait of three young ladies; one plays the guitar, another looks at the ball suspended in the air], Gesell via Be-Hold Fine Photographs

ca. 1860-1900, [carte de visite portrait of three young ladies; one plays the guitar, another looks at the ball suspended in the air], Gesell

via Be-Hold Fine Photographs

ca. 1853, [daguerreotype portrait of two gold miners, one in an anchor patterned shirt, one with a large beard] via the Oakland Museum of California

ca. 1853, [daguerreotype portrait of two gold miners, one in an anchor patterned shirt, one with a large beard]

via the Oakland Museum of California

ca. 1850, [daguerreotype portrait of George Lippard, social activist and writer] via the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

ca. 1850, [daguerreotype portrait of George Lippard, social activist and writer]

via the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

ca. 1896, [portrait of a gentleman posed in lady’s costume], Richard von Krafft-Ebing via the Wellcome Library, Archives & Manuscripts Collection

ca. 1896, [portrait of a gentleman posed in lady’s costume], Richard von Krafft-Ebing

via the Wellcome Library, Archives & Manuscripts Collection

ca. 1880-1910, [cabinet card, portrait of two young girls photographing a dance between two others], Donnell via Be-Hold Fine Photographs

ca. 1880-1910, [cabinet card, portrait of two young girls photographing a dance between two others], Donnell

via Be-Hold Fine Photographs

ca. 1850’s, [ambrotype portrait of a younger boy and a gentleman engaged in a game of chess] via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photographs Collection

ca. 1850’s, [ambrotype portrait of a younger boy and a gentleman engaged in a game of chess]

via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photographs Collection

ca. 1870, [tintype portrait of two clowns in costume] via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1870, [tintype portrait of two clowns in costume]

via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1890, [portrait of a mustachioed city letter carrier posed in uniform] via the Smithsonian Institute, Arago National Postal Museum, Curatorial Photographic Collection

ca. 1890, [portrait of a mustachioed city letter carrier posed in uniform]

via the Smithsonian Institute, Arago National Postal Museum, Curatorial Photographic Collection

ca. 1860’s, [ambrotype portrait of Union colonel Benjamin Franklin Watson with his servant and a table with an assortment of objects] via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1860’s, [ambrotype portrait of Union colonel Benjamin Franklin Watson with his servant and a table with an assortment of objects]

via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a blind gentlemen with his son] via Be-Hold Fine Photographs

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a blind gentlemen with his son]

via Be-Hold Fine Photographs

ca. 1860, [post mortem portrait of a gentleman] via the Boston Public Library on Flickr, Print Department

ca. 1860, [post mortem portrait of a gentleman]

via the Boston Public Library on Flickr, Print Department

"Until the handkerchief of history covers us with its Times New Roman black and white post script..."

This blog is a collection of vernacular photography and ephemera focused mainly within the curious and often misunderstood realm of 19th century America. I have a soft spot for all things silly, antiquated, macabre, and grotesque. The content is from a variety of collections; public, academic, and private. In addition, there's an occasional emphasis on Ulysses S Grant and the Civil War, as well.

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Browse by Photograph Type: Tintypes, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Carte de visites, Albumen prints, Cabinet cards, Silver prints

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