ca. 1860-1880, [tintype portrait of a bespectacled and bearded gentleman wearing a rich paisley robe, a floral cap and a large, hand-tinted cravat] via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1860-1880, [tintype portrait of a bespectacled and bearded gentleman wearing a rich paisley robe, a floral cap and a large, hand-tinted cravat]

via Cowan’s Auctions

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a child and semi-hidden mother], Whipple via Be-hold, Fine Photographs

ca. 1850’s, [daguerreotype portrait of a child and semi-hidden mother], Whipple

via Be-hold, Fine Photographs

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a Swedish clown or acrobat wearing a costume covered in bats, rats, and a spider], J. Johansson via Ebay

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a Swedish clown or acrobat wearing a costume covered in bats, rats, and a spider], J. Johansson

via Ebay

ca. 1855, [daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman holding his daughter], Lewis Babbit via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery

ca. 1855, [daguerreotype portrait of a gentleman holding his daughter], Lewis Babbit

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Skylight Gallery

ca. 1850, “Myself, with Little Luise on my Lap, Hamburg”, Hermann Carl Eduard Biewend via the National Gallery of Canada, Photographs Collection

ca. 1850, “Myself, with Little Luise on my Lap, Hamburg”, Hermann Carl Eduard Biewend

via the National Gallery of Canada, Photographs Collection

ca. 1850’s, [father-daughter daguerreotype portrait] via Ebay

ca. 1850’s, [father-daughter daguerreotype portrait]

via Ebay

ca. 1855, [portrait of two metal workers] via the J. Paul Getty Museum

ca. 1855, [portrait of two metal workers]

via the J. Paul Getty Museum

ca. 1880’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a reclining tattooed lady], Charles Eisenmann via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1880’s, [cabinet card, portrait of a reclining tattooed lady], Charles Eisenmann

via Syracuse University Library, Special Collections Research Center, Ronald G. Becker Collection of Charles Eisenmann Photographs

ca. 1870-75, [carte de visite portrait of Fanny Conant among spirit arms and hands showering her with flowers], William Mumler via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Faking It: Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop

ca. 1870-75, [carte de visite portrait of Fanny Conant among spirit arms and hands showering her with flowers], William Mumler

via the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Faking It: Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop

ca. 1880’s, [tintype portrait of two gentleman; one seated on the other] via Andrew Daneman’s Northern Light Gallery ApS, Tintype Collection

ca. 1880’s, [tintype portrait of two gentleman; one seated on the other]

via Andrew Daneman’s Northern Light Gallery ApS, Tintype Collection

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a performing family of circus acrobats and a clown], E. Gregson via Ebay

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a performing family of circus acrobats and a clown], E. Gregson

via Ebay

ca. 1860-70’s, [ambrotype portrait of a fiddler with his violin; a slip of paper accompanying it reads “Harva Armis Cousin of Newman Armis all of New Hamsher”] via Macrafly, Curated Historic Photography

ca. 1860-70’s, [ambrotype portrait of a fiddler with his violin; a slip of paper accompanying it reads “Harva Armis Cousin of Newman Armis all of New Hamsher”]

via Macrafly, Curated Historic Photography

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a soldier listening to another gentleman in earnest], Window & Bridge via Ebay

ca. 1870’s, [carte de visite portrait of a soldier listening to another gentleman in earnest], Window & Bridge

via Ebay

ca. 1870-1900’s, [Advertising Cabinet Card showing girl with brush and ink making signs for the wall: “The Art of Perfection,” “Ennors Electro Tassergraph has no Equal,” “The Eye that Never Sleeps,” etc.], The Famous Bay Window Photograph Gallery via Jeffery Kraus Antique Photographica

ca. 1870-1900’s, [Advertising Cabinet Card showing girl with brush and ink making signs for the wall: “The Art of Perfection,” “Ennors Electro Tassergraph has no Equal,” “The Eye that Never Sleeps,” etc.], The Famous Bay Window Photograph Gallery

via Jeffery Kraus Antique Photographica

ca. 1875, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with a camera] via the International Center of Photography

ca. 1875, [tintype portrait of a gentleman with a camera]

via the International Center of 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

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