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. 1890’s, [cabinet card, unusual portrait of a bespectacled gentleman holding both a cat and a dog], Home Photo Co. via Carl Mautz Vintage Photography, Cabinet Card Collection

ca. 1890’s, [cabinet card, unusual portrait of a bespectacled gentleman holding both a cat and a dog], Home Photo Co.

via Carl Mautz Vintage Photography, Cabinet Card Collection

ca. 1880-1900’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a child with a knife and a chocolate bunny], Wilke via Capitol Gallery, 19th Century Paper Photography

ca. 1880-1900’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a child with a knife and a chocolate bunny], Wilke

via Capitol Gallery, 19th Century Paper Photography

ca. 1860’s, [tintype portrait of a gentlemen peering from behind a studio window prop] via Ebay

ca. 1860’s, [tintype portrait of a gentlemen peering from behind a studio window prop]

via Ebay

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. 1840-60, [daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman with an intense stare and an extreme comb-over], William M. Shew via Harvard University’s Houghton Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Art, Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography

ca. 1840-60, [daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman with an intense stare and an extreme comb-over], William M. Shew

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

ca. 1860’s, [silly, pornographic carte de visite of a couple] via Carl Mautz Vintage Photography, Carte de visite Collection

ca. 1860’s, [silly, pornographic carte de visite of a couple]

via Carl Mautz Vintage Photography, Carte de visite Collection

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a woman in unusual costume, possibly for a Wild West show, with a bow and arrow] via Ebay

ca. 1860-80’s, [tintype portrait of a woman in unusual costume, possibly for a Wild West show, with a bow and arrow]

via Ebay

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. 1887, [tintype portrait of two women posed with a well-dressed and seemingly jolly staircase baluster] via Ebay

ca. 1887, [tintype portrait of two women posed with a well-dressed and seemingly jolly staircase baluster]

via Ebay

ca. 1880-90’s, [tintype portrait of three friends, perhaps playing dead] via Ebay

ca. 1880-90’s, [tintype portrait of three friends, perhaps playing dead]

via Ebay

ca. 1860’s, [ambrotype portrait of a bearded gentleman faced away from the camera] via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1860’s, [ambrotype portrait of a bearded gentleman faced away from the camera]

via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1870-90’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a large, oddly-shaped potato], Scammell via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery #34

ca. 1870-90’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a large, oddly-shaped potato], Scammell

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery #34

ca. 1890-1915, [portrait of a gentleman in mustachioed disguise with center-cut star shield badge that reads “U.S. Detective.”] via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1890-1915, [portrait of a gentleman in mustachioed disguise with center-cut star shield badge that reads “U.S. Detective.”]

via Heritage Auctions

ca. 1840-60, [daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman with a curious expression and a neck beard] via Harvard University’s Houghton Library, Department of Printing and Graphic Art, Harrison D. Horblit Collection of Early Photography

ca. 1840-60, [daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman with a curious expression and a neck beard]

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

"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

Popular Tags: Black history, Medicine, Emotive, Post Mortem, Occupational, Civil War, The Original Hipsters, Spirit photography, Circus, Sideshow

Additional Tags: Children, Pets, Dogs, Painted backdrop, Photo-manipulation, Cross-dressing, Hidden mother, Couples, Women, Advertising, Hand-tinted, Erotic, Studio, Firemen, Science, Facial hair, Eyes, Religion, Beard, Fashion, Music, Trick photography, Photographic History, Guns, Weapons, Beer, Wine, Instruments, Lookout Mountain, Ulysses S. Grant

My Other Blogs & Websites: Heck Yes, Americana - Fuck Yeah, American Art - Decorative Indulgences - Frowzy Indulgences - Etsy