Figure 1.--We note quite a few ivory-colored mounts in America during the 1890s. Here is an ivory-colored mount from Rochester, New York taken in 1894. This one had gold lettering.

We note quite a few ivory-colored mounts in America during the 1890s. We are not yet sure about the precise chrnology. We do not know where they first appeared. The ivory mounts seem to have been especially common throughout the 1890s. We are not yet sure about the 1880s, but they certainly were ot nearly as common. We note a portrait from Rochester, New York in 1894 with gold printing. Another ivory-colored card was a portrair of Griff Prather Knapp in 1891. On the previous page we see an 1897 card done in what looks like an ivory color with embossed printing. We do not yet have information on other countries.

Chronology

We note quite a few ivory-colored mounts in America during the 1890s. It seems to have been a popular color for mounts. We are not yet sure about the precise chrnology. We do not know where they first appeared. The ivory mounts seem to have been especially common throughout the 1890s. We are not yet sure about the 1880s, but they certainly were ot nearly as common. We beliecve ivory was also used after the turn of the 20th century but then the cabinent card fornat rapidly declined in popularity so the 1890s was the primary tome we see ivory-colored mounts. An ivory-colored card was a portrair of Griff Prather Knapp wearing a Fauntleroy suit in 1891. We note a portrait from Rochester, New York in 1894 with gold printing (figure 1). The boy wears a sailor suit. On the previous page. we see an 1897 card done in what looks like an ivory color with embossed printing.

Countries

Most of our information is about the United States. Many of the portraits we have found are American. We do not yet have information on many other countries. We are not yet sure how these trends crossed national borders. We do note iviry or off-white colors in Germany during the 1890s. A good wxample is an unidentified Stargard family in 1891.

Shades

We note a variety of whitish shades that might be described as cream or ivory. It is difficult to identify the precise color shades. A complication here is that these cards are over 100 years old. As a result there may have been a degree of yellowing which has changed the colors. Here we are not at all sure. Perhaps readers will have some insights here.

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Created: 3:20 AM 3/17/2007
Last updated: 5:29 AM 5/5/2009