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

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

via the George Eastman House Collection, Still Image Archive

ca. 1865, [tintype portrait of a photographer with his camera] via the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

ca. 1865, [tintype portrait of a photographer with his camera]

via the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

ca.1865, [tintype portrait of two fiddlers] via the Online Archives of California, UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library, Zelda Mackay Pictorial Collection

ca.1865, [tintype portrait of two fiddlers]

via the Online Archives of California, UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library, Zelda Mackay Pictorial Collection

ca. 1860, [daguerreotype portrait of Captain John Bolles] “Captain John Bolles of Montville, Connecticut, made seven whaling voyages between 1845 and 1869. After his first voyage he married Nancy Chapman, then sailed off for a two year voyage to the Pacific. When he returned in 1850, it was becoming common for wives to accompany their whaling-captain husbands. Nancy accompanied John on the whaleship ALERT, and was later left in Hawaii as John was very busy with work. By the time they all returned home from the Pacific, she and John had doubled the size of their family.” via the Mystic Seaport Museum, Photographs Collection

ca. 1860, [daguerreotype portrait of Captain John Bolles]

“Captain John Bolles of Montville, Connecticut, made seven whaling voyages between 1845 and 1869. After his first voyage he married Nancy Chapman, then sailed off for a two year voyage to the Pacific. When he returned in 1850, it was becoming common for wives to accompany their whaling-captain husbands. Nancy accompanied John on the whaleship ALERT, and was later left in Hawaii as John was very busy with work. By the time they all returned home from the Pacific, she and John had doubled the size of their family.”

via the Mystic Seaport Museum, Photographs Collection

ca. 1870’s, [tintype portrait of a butcher sharpening his knife] via Diabolus, Etsy

ca. 1870’s, [tintype portrait of a butcher sharpening his knife]

via Diabolus, Etsy

ca. 1850, [daguerreotype portrait of a carpenter/wood worker posed with tools] via the Daguerreian Society, Leonard A. Walle Collection

ca. 1850, [daguerreotype portrait of a carpenter/wood worker posed with tools]

via the Daguerreian Society, Leonard A. Walle Collection

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman playing lap organ or piano] via the Daguerreian Society, Lloyd C. Wright Collection

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman playing lap organ or piano]

via the Daguerreian Society, Lloyd C. Wright Collection

ca. 1848-1880, [ambrotype portrait of a broody gentleman with his respective wind instrument*] via the Musée d’Orsay

ca. 1848-1880, [ambrotype portrait of a broody gentleman with his respective wind instrument*]

via the Musée d’Orsay

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portraits of a music teacher, with a tuning fork, and his wife, with a daguerreotype case] via the Cleveland Museum of Art, Photography Collection

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portraits of a music teacher, with a tuning fork, and his wife, with a daguerreotype case]

via the Cleveland Museum of Art, Photography Collection

ca. 1850, [daguerreotype portrait of four California carpenters] the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Photography Collection

ca. 1850, [daguerreotype portrait of four California carpenters]

the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Photography Collection

ca. 1855, [daguerreotype portrait of two gentlemen musicians with their instruments, a flute and a violin, respectively] via the Library Company of Philadelphia Print Dept., Cased Photographs Collection

ca. 1855, [daguerreotype portrait of two gentlemen musicians with their instruments, a flute and a violin, respectively]

via the Library Company of Philadelphia Print Dept., Cased Photographs Collection

ca. 1870, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with his banjo] via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1870, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with his banjo]

via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1860’s, [carte de visite portrait of four blind musicians] via KaufmaNelson Vintage Photograph Gallery

ca. 1860’s, [carte de visite portrait of four blind musicians]

via KaufmaNelson Vintage Photograph Gallery

ca. 1900, [Military guitar player] via Luminous Lint, Vintage-Photos

ca. 1900, [Military guitar player]

via Luminous Lint, Vintage-Photos

"Until the handkerchief of history covers us with its Times New Roman black and white post script..."

This blog is a collection of photographs 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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Tags: Civil War, Emotive, Medicine, Post Mortem, Spirit photography, Erotic, Photo-manipulation, Cross-dressing, Hidden mother, Children, Pets, Dogs, Circus, Sideshow, Guns, Weapons, Beer, Wine, Instruments, Lookout Mountain, Ulysses S. Grant, Sad-looking Ulysses S. Grant, Posts About Me

Tintypes, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Carte de visites, Albumen prints, Cabinet cards, Silver prints

My Other Blogs & Websites:
Heck Yes, Americana Blog
Decorative Indulgences Blog
Fuck Yeah, American Art Blog
Personal Blog
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