Figure 1.--This 1919 silver nitrate portrait shows two unidentfied American brothers in matching sailor suits. It was done in a hinged paper frrame with a cover. Note the corners that the print can be slipped into. Put your cursor on the image to see the cover. The photgrapher was the Gainsboro Studio in Brooklyn.

We do not see paper frames frames until after the turn of the 20th century. The thin albumen prints on carboard CDV and cabinet mounts of the 19th century gradually gave way to more substantial paper silver nitrate prints presented with paper frames. The shift from prints on cards to prints protected by paper frames took place at the same time that the shift from albumen to silver nitrate prints took place. Albumen prints were replaced with silver nitrate prints. We first begin to see large mumbers of paper frames are not sure if these sifts were related. Cabinet cards still dominated studio photography in the 1900s, but we see some studio portraits with paper frames. The primary alternastive print tyoe was podtcrds, although many of the were damily snapshots. We first begin to see large numbers of paper frames in the 1910s. By the 1930s, cabinet cards had basically disappeared and we see paper frames. And this continued into the 1950s. The frames changed over time. 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 like the frameon the previous page. There were paper frames with very elaborate designs rather like pieces of art. Some were highly decorated. Others were plain like the frame here (figure 1). Some were done with book-like hinged covers. These trends can help determine identify the date. At first the paper frames had to be propped up like cabinet cards but soon they were designd to be self supporting. Parents could buy more expensive frames, but paper frames were commonly provided by the studios.

The 1900s

We do not see paper frames frames until after the turn of the 20th century. The thin albumen prints on carboard CDV and cabinet mounts of the 19th century gradually gave way to more substantial paper silver nitrate prints presented with paper frames. The shift from prints on cards to prints protected by paper frames took place at the same time that the shift from albumen to silver nitrate prints took place. Albumen prints began to be replaced with silver nitrate prints. Cabinet cards still dominated studio photography in the 1900s, but we see some studio portraits with paper frames. The primary alternative print tyoe was podtcrds, although many of the were family snapshots.

The 1910s

We first begin to see large mumbers of paper frames in the 1910s. By this time the shift to silver-nitrate prints was kargely complete. We first begin to see large numbers of paper frames in the 1910s. The frames changed over time. 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 like the frame on the previous page. There were paper frames with very elaborate designs rather like pieces of art. Some were highly decorated. The frame here is a good exmple of the plain frames done in the portfolio style (figure 1). Some were done with book-like hinged covers. These trends can help determine identify the date.Parents could buy more expensive frames, but paper frames were commonly provided by the studios. One consequence was that there was no longer any idenification informstion cvonnected to tghe pgotogrph as was the case with cabinet cards.

The 1920s

We see a wide range of American paper/cardboard frames or folios. Some have intricate window designs and other embellishments. They were often done to convey a sense of quality. Some were very simple. These simple frames seen common for school photography. We note somme done to emulate what cabinet cards once looked like but with the photograph sklipped into rather than pasted on. The fold over portfolio style continued to be popular. Some had gakscine paper added fir some sranbge reason. At first the paper frames had to be propped up like cabinet cards but soon they were designd to be self supporting. We note a kind of foot that can be folded out to create a kind of self stand.

The 1930s

By the 1930s, cabinet cards had basically disappeared and we see paper frames.

The 1950s

We continue to see paper frames into the 1950s.

Created: 5:16 AM 9/4/2021
Last updated: 5:16 AM 9/4/2021