ca. 1860-90, [cabinet card, portrait of a frame maker with his tools], A. L. Walline via Be-Hold Fine Photographs

ca. 1860-90, [cabinet card, portrait of a frame maker with his tools], A. L. Walline

via Be-Hold Fine Photographs

ca. 1870-80’s, [cabinet card of an unusual high wheeled tricycle by Victor Tricycle Makers], Overman Wheel Co. via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1870-80’s, [cabinet card of an unusual high wheeled tricycle by Victor Tricycle Makers], Overman Wheel Co.

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1843, [Self-portrait daguerreotype of Robert Cornelius with laboratory instruments], Robert Cornelius via the George Eastman House Collection, Still Image Archive

ca. 1843, [Self-portrait daguerreotype of Robert Cornelius with laboratory instruments], Robert Cornelius

via the George Eastman House Collection, Still Image Archive

ca. 1855-95, [carte de visite portrait of a young girl with a steroscope], Edward Abraham Kusel via the Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Carl Mautz Collection

ca. 1855-95, [carte de visite portrait of a young girl with a steroscope], Edward Abraham Kusel

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

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a gentleman with an armful of what appears to be string or cord], Geo. Avery via Stereographica, Antique Photographica

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a gentleman with an armful of what appears to be string or cord], Geo. Avery

via Stereographica, Antique Photographica

ca. 1860’s-80’s, [tintype occupational portrait of a pair of mechanics holding wrenches] via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1860’s-80’s, [tintype occupational portrait of a pair of mechanics holding wrenches]

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1855, [daguerreotype portrait of a dentist with his tools and a patient] via the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery

ca. 1855, [daguerreotype portrait of a dentist with his tools and a patient]

via the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Renwick Gallery

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of four nonplussed boys posed behind science and lab equipment; photo backed with a printed entrance ticket for “Severn Street British School Christmas Tea Meeting”] via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photography Collection

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of four nonplussed boys posed behind science and lab equipment; photo backed with a printed entrance ticket for “Severn Street British School Christmas Tea Meeting”]

via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photography Collection

ca. 1860-80’s, [occupational tintype portrait of a pair of plumbers with a variety of tools at their feet] via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1860-80’s, [occupational tintype portrait of a pair of plumbers with a variety of tools at their feet]

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1880-90’s, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with his stereoview camera] via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1880-90’s, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with his stereoview camera]

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1858, [daguerreotype portrait of a surveyor with equipment] via the Daguerreian Society, William J. Schultz Collection

ca. 1858, [daguerreotype portrait of a surveyor with equipment]

via the Daguerreian Society, William J. Schultz Collection

ca. 1860-70’s, [tintype portrait of two women posed with a camera box] via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1860-70’s, [tintype portrait of two women posed with a camera box]

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1870-80’s, [cabinet card, occupational portrait of a miner with his equipment], J.W. Wilder via Cowan’s Auction

ca. 1870-80’s, [cabinet card, occupational portrait of a miner with his equipment], J.W. Wilder

via Cowan’s Auction

ca. 1840-60, [daguerreotype portrait of a watchmaker with his tools] via the Library of Congress, Daguerreotype Collection

ca. 1840-60, [daguerreotype portrait of a watchmaker with his tools]

via the Library of Congress, Daguerreotype Collection

ca. 1850-61, [daguerreotype portrait of a tinworker working with a mallet, snips, compass, and metal cylinder], A. Bogardus via the Library of Congress, Daguerreotype Collection

ca. 1850-61, [daguerreotype portrait of a tinworker working with a mallet, snips, compass, and metal cylinder], A. Bogardus

via the Library of Congress, Daguerreotype 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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