ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a Swedish clown or acrobat wearing a costume covered in bats, rats, and a spider], J. Johansson via Ebay

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a Swedish clown or acrobat wearing a costume covered in bats, rats, and a spider], J. Johansson

via Ebay

ca. 1880’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a reclining tattooed lady], Charles Eisenmann via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1880’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a reclining tattooed lady], Charles Eisenmann

via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a performing family of circus acrobats and a clown], E. Gregson via Ebay

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a performing family of circus acrobats and a clown], E. Gregson

via Ebay

ca. 1885, [cabinet card, portrait of a costumed and tattooed lady], Sword’s Bros. via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1885, [cabinet card, portrait of a costumed and tattooed lady], Sword’s Bros.

via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1870, [carte de visite portrait of an eight-footed horse], Geo. M. Kealy via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1870, [carte de visite portrait of an eight-footed horse], Geo. M. Kealy

via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1870, [carte de visite of the “Circassian Beauty”, identified on verso as Selina Sunubia, in costume], Charles Eisenmann via Ebay

ca. 1870, [carte de visite of the “Circassian Beauty”, identified on verso as Selina Sunubia, in costume], Charles Eisenmann

via Ebay

ca. 1880, [cabinet card portrait of Ann Howard, the “Tattooed Lady”], G.F. Sterling via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1880, [cabinet card portrait of Ann Howard, the “Tattooed Lady”], G.F. Sterling

via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1880’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a tattoed lady, Nora Hildebrandt, wearing an elaborate dress], Charles Eisenmann via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1880’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a tattoed lady, Nora Hildebrandt, wearing an elaborate dress], Charles Eisenmann

via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1870-90’s, [composite tintype of three heads superimposed unto painted circus performers] via Ebay

ca. 1870-90’s, [composite tintype of three heads superimposed unto painted circus performers]

via Ebay

ca. 1875, [carte de visite portrait of a bare chested Frank Howard, the “American Tattooed Man”], Rich via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1875, [carte de visite portrait of a bare chested Frank Howard, the “American Tattooed Man”], Rich

via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1875, [carte de visite portrait of two clowns or acrobats in costume], Rom Photographic Studio via Ebay

ca. 1875, [carte de visite portrait of two clowns or acrobats in costume], Rom Photographic Studio

via Ebay

ca. 1860-90’s, [carte de visite portrait of Eli Bowen,”The Legless Acrobat”, with his wife and child], A. Newman via Jeffrey Kraus, Antique Photographics

ca. 1860-90’s, [carte de visite portrait of Eli Bowen,”The Legless Acrobat”, with his wife and child], A. Newman

via Jeffrey Kraus, Antique Photographics

ca. 1870, [carte de visite portrait of a tattooed lady looking into a mirror] via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1870, [carte de visite portrait of a tattooed lady looking into a mirror]

via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1870-90’s, [carte de visite portrait of a woman, possible a contortionist, in an elevated box] via Ebay

ca. 1870-90’s, [carte de visite portrait of a woman, possible a contortionist, in an elevated box]

via Ebay

ca. 1855-1895, [carte de visite portrait of a circus performer; a woman leaning on a rock], I. W. Taber & Company via Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Carl Mautz Collection

ca. 1855-1895, [carte de visite portrait of a circus performer; a woman leaning on a rock], I. W. Taber & Company

via Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Carl Mautz 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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