ca. 1880-1910, [albumen portrait of a eight veterinary students and an instructor performing a horse dissection] via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1880-1910, [albumen portrait of a eight veterinary students and an instructor performing a horse dissection]

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1875-95, [tintype portrait of a young man with a bandaged head] via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1875-95, [tintype portrait of a young man with a bandaged head]

via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1860’s, [carte de visite portrait of three young Federal soldier amputees all using hospital issue crutches. The boy at left wears a round metal identification disk pinned to his blouse], W. Snell via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1860’s, [carte de visite portrait of three young Federal soldier amputees all using hospital issue crutches. The boy at left wears a round metal identification disk pinned to his blouse], W. Snell

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a dentist and his patient; accompanied by a carte de visite with an advertisement for “R.D. Neal, Ambrotype Artist and Dentist”.] via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a dentist and his patient; accompanied by a carte de visite with an advertisement for “R.D. Neal, Ambrotype Artist and Dentist”.]

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1855-95, [carte de visite portrait of a young man in his sick bed, possibly ill with measles or chicken pox], Lewis Jackson Stinson 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 man in his sick bed, possibly ill with measles or chicken pox], Lewis Jackson Stinson

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

ca. 1860-80, [carte de visite portrait of two blind musicians with their instruments], G. & J. Hall via Stereographica, Antique Photographica

ca. 1860-80, [carte de visite portrait of two blind musicians with their instruments], G. & J. Hall

via Stereographica, Antique Photographica

ca. 1860’s, [tintype portrait of a dentist and his patient] via Luminous Lint, LL/6947 

ca. 1860’s, [tintype portrait of a dentist and his patient]

via Luminous Lint, LL/6947 

ca. 1854, [daguerreotype portrait  of James Jackson, first physician to Massachusetts General Hospital, 1817-1837], Attributed to Southworth & Hawes via Harvard University’s Houghton Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Art, Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography

ca. 1854, [daguerreotype portrait  of James Jackson, first physician to Massachusetts General Hospital, 1817-1837], Attributed to Southworth & Hawes

via Harvard University’s Houghton Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Art, Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography

ca. 1860-70’s, [carte de visite portrait of a child with unilateral exophthalmos] via Ebay Auctions

ca. 1860-70’s, [carte de visite portrait of a child with unilateral exophthalmos]

via Ebay Auctions

ca. 1855-95, [carte de visite portrait of a gentleman of slight stature in military dress], John A. Winberg 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 gentleman of slight stature in military dress], John A. Winberg

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

ca. 1840-60, [hand colored daguerreotype portrait of a handsome gentleman with a leftward tilt] via Harvard University’s Houghton Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Art, Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography

ca. 1840-60, [hand colored daguerreotype portrait of a handsome gentleman with a leftward tilt]

via Harvard University’s Houghton Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Art, Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography

ca. 1860’s, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with crutches surrounded by three women] via Harvard University’s Houghton Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Art, Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography

ca. 1860’s, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with crutches surrounded by three women]

via Harvard University’s Houghton Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Art, Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography

ca. 1881, [carte de visite portrait of Lucia Zarate], the London Stereoscopic Co. Lucia Zarate was genuinely one of the smallest human beings ever recorded…During her period in London she appeared before Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace on February 26, 1881. Handwritten on verso:  “Greatest Wonder of the Age! Señorita Lucia Zarate, This young lady is 18 years of age, and weighs only 4¾ pounds. Is perfect in form and feature.” via the Museum of the History of Science

ca. 1881, [carte de visite portrait of Lucia Zarate], the London Stereoscopic Co.

Lucia Zarate was genuinely one of the smallest human beings ever recorded…During her period in London she appeared before Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace on February 26, 1881.

Handwritten on verso:  “Greatest Wonder of the Age! Señorita Lucia Zarate, This young lady is 18 years of age, and weighs only 4¾ pounds. Is perfect in form and feature.”

via the Museum of the History of Science

ca. 1857, “The Anatomy Lesson with Dr. George Rolleston”, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson Charles Lutwidge Dodgson is best known by his pen name Lewis Carroll and as the author of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. He was also a mathematics don at Christ Church, Oxford and a highly accomplished amateur photographer. He was particularly skilled at photographing his many ‘child-friends’ but also made numerous portraits of adults, including his Oxford colleagues. Dodgson made this group portrait in the Anatomical Museum at Christ Church in 1857. Gathered around the skeleton of a fish are, from left to right, Dr. George Rolleston, professor of anatomy; William Robertson, demonstrator of anatomy; and undergraduates Augustus Vernon Harcourt and Heywood Smith.  via the Victoria & Albert Museum, Prints, Drawings and Paintings Collection

ca. 1857, “The Anatomy Lesson with Dr. George Rolleston”, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson is best known by his pen name Lewis Carroll and as the author of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. He was also a mathematics don at Christ Church, Oxford and a highly accomplished amateur photographer. He was particularly skilled at photographing his many ‘child-friends’ but also made numerous portraits of adults, including his Oxford colleagues.

Dodgson made this group portrait in the Anatomical Museum at Christ Church in 1857. Gathered around the skeleton of a fish are, from left to right, Dr. George Rolleston, professor of anatomy; William Robertson, demonstrator of anatomy; and undergraduates Augustus Vernon Harcourt and Heywood Smith.

 via the Victoria & Albert Museum, Prints, Drawings and Paintings Collection

ca. 1860-90, [tintype portrait of two gentlemen, one with crutches and a bandaged leg] via Jeffrey Kraus, Antique Photographics

ca. 1860-90, [tintype portrait of two gentlemen, one with crutches and a bandaged leg]

via Jeffrey Kraus, Antique Photographics

"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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