Vintage Photos and Americana

Glossary

Daguerreotype
(1839 to about 1860): The first published photographic process, invented by Louis-Jacques Mande Daguerre in France in 1839. It soon became the most popular medium in the mid 19th century, producing a unique and permanent direct positive image on a silver-coated copper plate without the use of a negative. The plate was exposed in the camera for as long as 20 minutes in daylight, which required the sitter to remain very still for long periods of time. Further, the daguerreotype camera produced an image that was reversed right to left unless the lens was equipped with a reversing mirror. Each daguerreotype is unique. This along with its early date in photographic history, accounts for its desirability as a collectible. Portraits are relatively common while outdoor scenes are rare. The silver surface has a mirror-like shine and, being fragile, were usually housed in protective leather or plastic viewing cases; sizes vary but are measured from double whole plate (8 x 13 inches) to sixteenth plate (1 5/8 to 2 1/8 inches) with the sixth plate the most common (2 5/8" x 3 1/4" inches). The daguerreotype process was eventually replaced by the wet collodian process in the 1850s.

Ambrotype
(1854 to about 1865): A photographic process in which a negative image is formed on collodion-coated glass, then viewed as positive by the inclusion of a black background. Due to the fragility of the glass, ambrotypes were put in cases similar to those used for daguerreotypes.

Tintype
(1856 to about 1930): Popular misnomer for the melainotype and ferrotype process. Introduced in the mid 1850s, a printing process in which a thin sheet of iron was coated with black lacquer. The light-sensitive emulsion was then coated on the iron plate just before placing it into the camera for exposure. The plate was then developed, producing a very durable, efficient and inexpensive photograph that was small is size (approximately 2 x 3 inches). Used most often for portraiture and made popular in the 1850s by street photographers. Also commonly used during the Civil War and remained popular even after the turn of the century.

Salt Print
(1840 to early 1860s): Salt prints were the earliest positive prints and were invented by William Henry Fox Talbot in 1840, as a direct development from his earlier photogenic drawing process. A salt print was made by soaking a sheet of paper in salt solution and then coating one side with silver nitrate. This produced light sensitive silver chloride in the paper. After drying, the paper was put directly beneath a negative, under a sheet of glass, and exposed to sunlight for up to two hours. Salt prints were made until about 1860 having been gradually replaced by the albumen print which gave a clearer image although the process was sometimes revised later.

Carte de Visite
(1854 to about 1905): An albumen print mounted on a card stock backing and measuring 2 1/2" x 4". Popular in the United States in the 1860's and 70's. Often referred to as CDV.

Stereoview
(1851 to about 1925): This image is composed of two photos taken simultaneously from slightly different perspectives. When mounted side by side and looked through a stereoscope, the two images merge to form a single three dimensional image.

Albumen
(1850 to about 1920): Introduced in 1850 by L.D. Blanquart-Evrard. The most common photographic print in the 19th century. Made by coating the paper with egg albumen and sodium chloride, producing a rich sepia color and slightly glossy surface. These prints were often toned with gold chloride to subdue the sepia tone and improve the permanence of the photograph.

Cabinet Card
(1863 to about 1920): A photographic print mounted to a card measuring 4 1/4" x 6 1/2". Most cabinet photos were albumen prints.

Real Photo Postcard
(1900 to present): Real photo postcards are photographs that are reproduced by actually developing them onto photographic paper the size and weight of postcards, with a postcard back.

Home | Photographs | Americana | About | Contact | Glossary | In Memoriam | Links

Copyright 2022, photosandamericana.com - All rights reserved