|
We have not yet found any early photographic formats (Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes) from Bulgaria. That does not mean that none exist, but if they do they were clearly not very common. This was because Bulgaria was still dominated by the backward Ottoman Empire during the period that these formats were most common (1840s-50s). We only begin seeing Bulgarian images with the appearance of albumen printing and as the country was in the process of liberation from the Ottomans. The earliest images we have found so far are cabinet cards, we think date to the early-1880s. There may have been albumen photographs taken earlier, but they were not common and we have not yet found any. Usually the information on the front included 'Cabinet Portrait' We do not see tht in America and western Europe. We are not yet sure about CDVs. The CDV was the first alnumen format to become popular (1860s). It appeared a few years before the cabinet card. But all of this was while Bulgaria was still under Ottoman control and contacts with the West and Western technologies like photography were limited. We do not know if CDVs were taken. We suspect that they were, but cabinet cards were clearly the dominant format. Our limited Bulgarian archive makes assssments difficult. With the 20th century come family snapshots. Various features of these snap shot prints are helpful in dating, but we do not yet ave enough dated images to do this effectively. Notice the ragged edges and white margin on the snpshot here, probably taken about 1960 (figure 1).
We have not yet found any early photographic formats (Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes) from Bulgaria. Nor have we found tun-types. That does not mean that none exist, but if they do they were clearly not very common. This was because Bulgaria was still dominated by the backward Ottoman Empire during the period that these formats were most common (1840s-50s). The Ottomans simply did not have the technology capability that was bing developed in Christian Europe. Photography is just one of many examples. We see some photograph studios in Ottoman cities like Contantinople/Istambul. Often they were opened by Europeans such as Greeks.
We only begin seeing Bulgarian images with the appearance of albumen printing and as the country was in the process of liberation from the Ottoman Turks. The earliest images we have found so far are cabinet cards, we think date to the early-1880s. This coresponds roughly with Bulgarian independence from the Ottomans. There may have been albumen photographs taken earlier, but they were not common and we have not yet found any. Usually the information on the front included 'Cabinet Portrait' We do not see tht in America and western Europe. We are not yet sure about CDVs. The CDV was the first alnumen format to become popular (1860s). It appeared a few years before the cabinet card. But all of this was while Bulgaria was still under Ottoman control and contacts with the West and Western technologies like photography were limited. We do not know if CDVs were taken. We suspect that they were, but cabinet cards were clearly the dominant format. Our limited Bulgarian archive makes assssments difficult. Some of the cabinet cards after the turn of the 20th century may have been done with silver nitrate prints, but this is difficult to determine without the actual print so we are including them as long as they were mounted on CDV or cabinet card mount as the mount is useful in dating. Dating is one of the oprimary reasons for our interest in photograohy. Of course a silver nitrate pjotograph also helps with the dating.
With the 20th century come family snapshots. These were mostly silver nitrate prints. Various features of these snap shot prints are helpful in dating, but we do not yet ave enough dated images to do this effectively. Notice the ragged edges and white margin on the snpshot here, probably taken about 1960.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Bulgrian photography page]
[Return to the Main country photography page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossary]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main countries page]
[Australia]
[Belgium]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Ireland]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[Korea]
[Mexico]
[Scotland]
[Spain]
[United States]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Bulgarian pages:
[Return to the Main Bulgarian page]
[Bulgarian choirs]
[Bulgarian royalty]
[Bulgarian youth groups]
