Figure 1.--This cabinent card was an early card done in one of the new styles. It is dated 1897. There mat have been earlier ones, but we doubt much earlier. Click on the image for more information about Joseph and his waggon. The new cards came in varied sizes. This one measured approximately 4 x 5.5 inches.

Some of the new mounts has an inovative feature, simulated embossed frame boxes. The old cabinet cards did not have these. The old style simply had the photographer's information at the bottom with the actual photograph pasted above it. Many of the cards with the frame boxes did not have any information to identify the photographer. Some had the photographer's information pressed into the mount. I don't think there was information on the back either, in most cases, but this needs to be confirmed. We also note a range of different sizes, both smaller and larger than the classic style. We see the new mounts both with and without these simulaed frames. The simulated frames were done in different styles, various kinds of decorative scrolling or rope designs. Others had the frame effect created by frame lines molded on the mount. They seem to be pressed into the card stock and not printed on it. The designs was configured so as to give a three-dimensionasl frame affect. We note different shapes. There were rectangles including squares. We also notice ovals. Circles were less common. We are not sure about the chronology of these framed cabinet cards. They seem to be most common in the late-1890s and early-1900s. We have only a few dated examples to date, so the chronology needs to be developed as we expand our archive. The example here was dated 1897 (figure 1).

Photographer's Marks

Some of the new mounts has an inovative feature, simulated embossed frame boxes. The old cabinet cards did not have these. The old style simply had the photographer's information at the bottom with the actual photograph pasted above it. Many of the cards with the frame boxes did not have any information to identify the photographer. Some had the photographer's information pressed into the mount. I don't think there was information on the back either, in most cases, but this needs to be confirmed.

Sizes

We also note a range of different sizes. The new cards were much more diverse than the classic cabinet cards. We note both smaller and larger than the classic style. Here there were two sizes to consider. One was the overall size of the cards. . We see the new mounts both with and without these simulaed frames. Here we note both different size cards as well as different size frames. We note some very small oval frames in the very early-20th century. We notice a cabinet card that was about 6 inches wide 9 inches high. The actual oval photo measures approximateluy 3.5 inches wide by approx 5.5 inches tall.

Framing

The simulated frames were done in different styles, various kinds of decorative scrolling or rope designs. Others had the frame effect created by frame lines molded on the mount. They seem to be pressed into the card stock and not printed on it. The designs was configured so as to give a three-dimensionasl frame affect.

Shapes

We note different shapes that were used for these simulated frame cabinet cards. Here there were two shapes to consider. First was the actual card. They were almost always rectangular, but we notice some square cards. Second was the actual framed photograph. Here the shaps were more varied. There were rectangles including squares. We also notice ovals. Circles were less common, but ovals were very common. We have found quite a number of them. We see oval format portrits in the old classic cabinet cards, but they did not have framing. We also notice the old style cabinet vards with just head portraits at the denter of trge card but no oval device. These new cards always had the oval or rectangular framing devices.

Chronology

We are not sure yet about the chronology of these framed cabinet cards. They seem to be most common in the late-1890s and early-1900s. We have only a few dated examples to date, so the chronology needs to be developed as we expand our archive. The example here was dated 1897 (figure 1). We note an oval cabinet card dated 1909.

Colors

We notice very colors. A lot of tghe early square cards seems to be ivory or off whire shades. We also note brownn cards. Hray and olive green crds were other popular colrs. We are not sure about the shape and chromoklogical conventions for these different shapes.

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Created: 10:05 PM 4/27/2009
Last updated: 1:27 AM 11/18/2010