ca. 1856, [daguerreotype portrait of oarsman John D. Champlin, wearing uniform of the Thulia Boat Club] via the Daguerreian Society, Matthew R. Isenburg Collection

ca. 1856, [daguerreotype portrait of oarsman John D. Champlin, wearing uniform of the Thulia Boat Club]

via the Daguerreian Society, Matthew R. Isenburg Collection

ca. 1861-65, [hand-tinted ambrotype portrait of a Confederate soldier in the uniform of the 11th Virginia regiment with knapsack and bedroll] via the Library of Congress, Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs

ca. 1861-65, [hand-tinted ambrotype portrait of a Confederate soldier in the uniform of the 11th Virginia regiment with knapsack and bedroll]

via the Library of Congress, Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs

ca. 1860-70’s, [tintype portrait of an intense looking law-man] via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1860-70’s, [tintype portrait of an intense looking law-man]

via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1888, [cabinet card, portrait of A.C. Weyhing, pitcher for Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series for Old Judge Cigarettes], Goodwin & Company  via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Drawings and Prints Collection

ca. 1888, [cabinet card, portrait of A.C. Weyhing, pitcher for Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series for Old Judge Cigarettes], Goodwin & Company 

via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Drawings and Prints Collection

ca. 1854, [daguerreotype portrait of a young lady with a black tailed deer] via the J. Paul Getty Museum, Cased Objects, Photographic Collections

ca. 1854, [daguerreotype portrait of a young lady with a black tailed deer]

via the J. Paul Getty Museum, Cased Objects, Photographic Collections

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a sleeping, or possibly deceased, child with toys] via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a sleeping, or possibly deceased, child with toys]

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs

ca. 1870, [tintype portrait of a performer], William Andrew Bigelow via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1870, [tintype portrait of a performer], William Andrew Bigelow

via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1860’s, [portrait of a Federal fifer] via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1860’s, [portrait of a Federal fifer]

via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1851, “H. Ross/Age 38/Dec 22/Year 1851.” via the Daguerreian Society, Matthew R. Isenburg Collection

ca. 1851, “H. Ross/Age 38/Dec 22/Year 1851.”

via the Daguerreian Society, Matthew R. Isenburg Collection

ca. 1874, [portrait of a gentleman who underwent a shoulder amputation], James Robinson, D.D.S. via A Morning’s Work: Medical Photographs from the Burns Archive, Stanley B. Burns

ca. 1874, [portrait of a gentleman who underwent a shoulder amputation], James Robinson, D.D.S.

via A Morning’s Work: Medical Photographs from the Burns Archive, Stanley B. Burns

ca. 1885, [cabinet card, portrait of two boys displaying their catch], A. C. Isaacs via J. Cosmas Vintage Photography, Albumen and Silver Print Collection

ca. 1885, [cabinet card, portrait of two boys displaying their catch], A. C. Isaacs

via J. Cosmas Vintage Photography, Albumen and Silver Print Collection

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a horned lizard], Barr & Wright via the Southern Methodist University Library, Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photography Collection

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a horned lizard], Barr & Wright

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

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a young chemist with tools] via the Daguerreian Society, Matthew R. Isenburg Collection

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a young chemist with tools]

via the Daguerreian Society, Matthew R. Isenburg Collection

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with an eye injury, holding his child] via Ebay Auctions

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with an eye injury, holding his child]

via Ebay Auctions

ca. 1890’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a woman with a camera] via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photographs Collection

ca. 1890’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a woman with a camera]

via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photographs Collection

"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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