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. 1870-1900’s, [carte de visite advertising portrait of advertising girls for J.R. Williams and Son’s Hardware. Keys, cups, rings, chains, etc. hang from their dresses], Jenkins & Shawl via Jeffrey Kraus, Antique Photographics

ca. 1870-1900’s, [carte de visite advertising portrait of advertising girls for J.R. Williams and Son’s Hardware. Keys, cups, rings, chains, etc. hang from their dresses], Jenkins & Shawl

via Jeffrey Kraus, Antique Photographics

ca. 1880-1910s, [tintype portrait of young ladies dressed in costumes as a Japanese maid (possibly related to The Mikado), the Queen of Hearts, Riding Hood, and Bopeep] via Ebay

ca. 1880-1910s, [tintype portrait of young ladies dressed in costumes as a Japanese maid (possibly related to The Mikado), the Queen of Hearts, Riding Hood, and Bopeep]

via Ebay

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. 1860’s, [ambrotype portrait of a gentleman in an unidentified or mostly fictionalized Eastern Woodlands Native American outfit, smoking a long pipe] via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1860’s, [ambrotype portrait of a gentleman in an unidentified or mostly fictionalized Eastern Woodlands Native American outfit, smoking a long pipe]

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1870-1900’s, [tintype portrait of a “bonesman”, or member of the Skull & Bones Society at Yale University] via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics

ca. 1870-1900’s, [tintype portrait of a “bonesman”, or member of the Skull & Bones Society at Yale University]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics

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. 1870-1900’s, [unusual carte de visite advertising portrait of girl with spoons and bells hanging from her dress, small urns perched on her shoulders, a pedestal with statue and clock seated on her head, etc. A banner by her side reads “Durfee” or Durpee”],  J. White & Co. via Jeffrey Kraus, Antique Photographics

ca. 1870-1900’s, [unusual carte de visite advertising portrait of girl with spoons and bells hanging from her dress, small urns perched on her shoulders, a pedestal with statue and clock seated on her head, etc. A banner by her side reads “Durfee” or Durpee”],  J. White & Co.

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. 1880-90’s, [tintype portrait of two women adorned with stringed popcorn and possibly peanuts] via Ebay

ca. 1880-90’s, [tintype portrait of two women adorned with stringed popcorn and possibly peanuts]

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

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a woman in unusual costume, possibly for a Wild West show, with a bow and arrow] via Ebay

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a woman in unusual costume, possibly for a Wild West show, with a bow and arrow]

via Ebay

"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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