Figure 1.--Mos American Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes were done as cased images that people caried with them. These early formats were fragile and easily danaged, thus protection was important. Cased photographs were not as common in Europe as in America. Neither format was suitable for albums. And they were expensive enough thst most people only had a few.

Commercial photography was invented in Europe, but grew much more rapidly in America. The invention and improvement of photography created a problem--what to do with the finished portraits. Early photographs were very expensive and fragile. This meant there was not a very serious problem because there were not very many photographs, but they had to be well protected. Thus the initual system of little cases worked well for both Daguerreotyoes and Anbrotypes. Early tin-types were also cased, at least in America. These cased images were especially popular in America. Gradually less expensive tin-type and negative processes were developed. The CDV was the first such formt. Again this occured in France, but photography was more extensive in America than Europe. This created prints in large numbers for the first time. Encasing them was no longer a reasonable solution and not necessary as CDVs were not as prone to damage. Rather prints were mounted on carboard. These mounts came in many colors and print types. Families soon found themselves with piles of photographs. The sollution to photographic clutter was albums in which CDVs and cabinet cards could be collected and brought out for friends and relatives. Albums with slots that CDVs could be fitted into were developed for both CDVs and cabinet cards. Cabinet cards proved more popular in America than Europe. Negatives also enabled photographic studios to print enlargements that could be framed for wall displays. Tin types often came in inexpensive paper frames. After the turn of the 20th century, cardboard mounts gave way to paper frames of various designs. Parents could buy more expensive frames, but paper frames were commonly provided by the studios. All of these different approaches and the styling associated with them can be used to help date photographs.

Cases

Commercial photography was invented in Europe, but grew much more rapidly in America. The invention and improvement of photography created a problem--what to do with the finished portraits. Early photographs were very expensive and fragile. This meant there was not a very serious problem because there were not very many photographs, but they had to be well protected. Thus the initual system of little cases worked well for both Daguerreotyoes and Anbrotypes. Early tin-types were also cased, at least in America. Tin-types were less expensive than Dags and Ambros and thus cased less varefully. These cased images were especially popular in America.

Mounts

Gradually less expensive tin-type and negative processes were developed. Tun-ypes were not mounted, although the ones done in the 50s were commonly cased. The negative-based processes were commonly mounted, at least in the 19th cebtury. The CDV was the first such format. Again this occured in France, but photography was more extensive in America than Europe. This created prints in large numbers for the first time. Encasing them was no longer a reasonable solution and not necessary as CDVs were not as prone to damage. Rather prints were mounted on carboard. These mounts came in many colors and print types.

Sleeves

We notice many studios providing sleeves for finished portraits. This was primarily inexpensive paper sleeves to protect for CDVs. We believe thiswas very common in America. We do not know about other countries. We believe this was fairly common in the 1860s and 70s. We also notice paper sleeves for tin-yypes, but are unsure how common they were. We are not cure about cabinet cards. We have not yet noted paper sleeves for cabinet cards, but that dos not mean they did not exit. We have noted leather sleeves, but do not believe that they wer very common. Over time, most of the sleeves have been lost. Thus there general prevalence in the photographuc record is not a good indicator of actual prevalence.

Albums

Families soon found themselves with piles of photographs. The sollution to photographic clutter was albums in which CDVs and cabinet cards could be collected and brought out for friends and relatives. Albums with slots that CDVs could be fitted into were developed for both CDVs and cabinet cards. Cabinet cards proved more popular in America than Europe. CDVs and caninrts cards could also be used for scrapbooking, but the family snapshot was even more suitable.

Frames

Negatives also enabled photographic studios to print enlargements that could be framed for wall displays. Tin types often came in inexpensive paper sleeves. We do not see paper frames frames until after the turn of the 20th century. Cardboard mounts gradually gave way to paper frames as albumen images were replaced with silver nitrate prints. We see these paper frames in various designs. Some were very plain, often with just framing line boxes like early CDVs. Other had elaborate designs with lovely art deco styling. Some had very elaborate designs and were moire like pieces of art. . Parents could buy more expensive frames, but paper frames were commonly provided by the studios. At first they had to be propped up like cabinet cards. Paper frames were initially not designed to be stood up on desks and tables. Like CDVs and cabinet cards, they had to be propped up. They were more designed tob be stored away and brought out to be shown. Some might have been placed in albums, but mosly they were put away in drawers or other storage areas and brouht out to show visitors. Some had or had ovelapping flaps or protective overlsys. Eventually the cut out back support was invented so that the frames were self supporting. All of these different approaches and the styling associated with them can be used to help date photographs.

Created: 11:53 AM 12/11/2014
Last updated: 12:32 AM 5/4/2015