ca. 1885, [cabinet card, portrait of six well-dressed young people, all gazing at a small object, possibly a small coin or gold piece, held up by the woman at center], Hower via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery #34

ca. 1885, [cabinet card, portrait of six well-dressed young people, all gazing at a small object, possibly a small coin or gold piece, held up by the woman at center], Hower

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery #34

ca. 1870-1890’s, [hand colored tintype portrait of three young men drinking a pink tinted liquid and eating what appear to be eggs] via Ebay

ca. 1870-1890’s, [hand colored tintype portrait of three young men drinking a pink tinted liquid and eating what appear to be eggs]

via Ebay

ca. 1860’s, [hand tinted ambrotype portrait of gentlemen, possibly a part of the Knights Templar fraternal order, wearing an unusual disc-covered jacket, and holding a sword, mask, and hat] via Be-Hold, Fine Photographs

ca. 1860’s, [hand tinted ambrotype portrait of gentlemen, possibly a part of the Knights Templar fraternal order, wearing an unusual disc-covered jacket, and holding a sword, mask, and hat]

via Be-Hold, Fine Photographs

ca. 1875, [outdoor tintype portrait of newsboys waiting in front of a hotel] via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1875, [outdoor tintype portrait of newsboys waiting in front of a hotel]

via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1890’s, [tintype portrait of three women and two men, one poking his head out from behind a photographer’s light screens] via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery #34

ca. 1890’s, [tintype portrait of three women and two men, one poking his head out from behind a photographer’s light screens]

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery #34

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, [studio tintype of a staged group suicide]  via Luminous Lint, from the Andrew Daneman collection of American Tintypes

ca. 1875, [studio tintype of a staged group suicide] 

via Luminous Lint, from the Andrew Daneman collection of American Tintypes

ca. 1870-1900’s, [cabinet card, “a teacher with students” at a blackboard], The English Studio, Baku via Luminous Lint, from the private collection of John Toohey, LL/44895

ca. 1870-1900’s, [cabinet card, “a teacher with students” at a blackboard], The English Studio, Baku

via Luminous Lint, from the private collection of John Toohey, LL/44895

ca. 1870-90’s, [cabinet card, staged hold-up of a couple perpetrated by another woman], H. N. Kent via Carl Mautz Vintage Photography & Publishing, Cabinet Cards

ca. 1870-90’s, [cabinet card, staged hold-up of a couple perpetrated by another woman], H. N. Kent

via Carl Mautz Vintage Photography & Publishing, Cabinet Cards

ca. 1870-1900’s, [tintype portrait of three uniformed men, one most exaggeratedly posed] via Ebay

ca. 1870-1900’s, [tintype portrait of three uniformed men, one most exaggeratedly posed]

via Ebay

ca. 1860-70s, [tintype portrait of two bearded gentlemen,  David & Thomas Havens, identified on verso] via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics

ca. 1860-70s, [tintype portrait of two bearded gentlemen,  David & Thomas Havens, identified on verso]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics

ca. 1880-1900, “Embracing an Opportunity”, [stereograph of a salesman kissing a woman as her husband looks into stereoscope], Keystone View Co. via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1880-1900, “Embracing an Opportunity”, [stereograph of a salesman kissing a woman as her husband looks into stereoscope], Keystone View Co.

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1870-90’s, [elaborately staged platinotype portrait, showing a knife-and-gun fight, possibly for a stage production] via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery #34

ca. 1870-90’s, [elaborately staged platinotype portrait, showing a knife-and-gun fight, possibly for a stage production]

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery #34

ca. 1875, [hand colored tintype portrait of two dandy baseball players] via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1875, [hand colored tintype portrait of two dandy baseball players]

via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1860-1890, [tintype portrait of a gentleman earnestly holding hands with two  listless individuals] via Ebay

ca. 1860-1890, [tintype portrait of a gentleman earnestly holding hands with two  listless individuals]

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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