ca. 1865-1910, [tintype portrait of a couple seated in front of a paper moon] via Harvard University Art Museums, Fogg Museum

ca. 1865-1910, [tintype portrait of a couple seated in front of a paper moon]

via Harvard University Art Museums, Fogg Museum

ca. 1870-1900’s, [carte de visite portrait of “Mr. Bells”] via Ordinary Light

ca. 1870-1900’s, [carte de visite portrait of “Mr. Bells”]

via Ordinary Light

ca. 1870, “The Downs By Moonlight”, [carte de visite portrait of a couple by moonlit waters] via Ordinary Light

ca. 1870, “The Downs By Moonlight”, [carte de visite portrait of a couple by moonlit waters]

via Ordinary Light

ca. 1878, “U.S. Boxers”, [tintype portrait of a team in uniform] via Stereoviews: Stereoviews and Fine 19th & 20th Century Antique Photographs

ca. 1878, “U.S. Boxers”, [tintype portrait of a team in uniform]

via Stereoviews: Stereoviews and Fine 19th & 20th Century Antique Photographs

ca. 1888, “The Moon, August 21st, 1888—From negatives made with the great telescope of the Lick Observatory”, Isaiah West Taber via the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

ca. 1888, “The Moon, August 21st, 1888—From negatives made with the great telescope of the Lick Observatory”, Isaiah West Taber

via the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

c. 1900, [portrait of a couple in front of a paper moon] via Harvard University, Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Department of Photographs

c. 1900, [portrait of a couple in front of a paper moon]

via Harvard University, Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Department of Photographs

ca. 1890, “Full Moon”, H. Draper, Published by C. Bierstadt for Underwood and Underwood via the History of Photography Archive, Flickr

ca. 1890, “Full Moon”, H. Draper, Published by C. Bierstadt for Underwood and Underwood

via the History of Photography Archive, Flickr

"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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