Figure 1.--This 3 x 5 inch American snapshot had a very large white border. Prints with a 3 x 5 aopect ratio were very common. This widevborder was not. The ptint here was taken in March-April 1945 at the end of World War II.

We begin to see amateur photography in the late-19th century. It was, however, complicated andcexpensive. With the invention of the Kodak Brownie, America and the world was suddently deluged with millions of family smapshots. This greatly expanded the photographic record and our ability to follow fashion and historical trends. There were several different formats for snapshots. Most early snapshots, at least in America, had postcard backs. Eventually snapshots were printed with white borders. These borders and the paper edges can be useful in dating the snapshiors. Eakly snapshiots were black and white. Some parents dated the snapshots on the back. Most did not. A few had the date printed on them. To archive these snapshots on HBC, we need to date them. Here there are a range of indicators that can help us date these snaspshots. Some can be dated with considerable precession. This is probanly true of American snapshots because of our large srchive. we can The clothing styles and basckground such as cars can help date the undated images. Most early snapshits were done as post cards. They can be dated to an extent by the stamp boxes. By the 1930s we see mostly prints with plain backs as the postcard backs became less common. The prints varied in size, border, edges, and other factors. Commercial color film was developed in the inter-War era, but we do not begin to see large numbers of color snoshots until after well World War II. At firsr color prints were done with the same format as black-and white prints. Eventually by the 1970s we see color prints begin to replace black-and-white prints. They were generally printed without borders. The variations in prints differed from country to country, although bthere were some similarities. We are going to use thedated prints to help develop chronological trends for the various varabilities.

Types and Characteristics

At first all snaoshits were black ad white. We begin to see colorcsnao shots in the inter-War period, but color did noit become common until the 1970s. There were two different formats for the new snapshots and many varied chracteristics. Assessing these characteristics can provide some useful information. Many of the early snapshots were done with postcard backs. This was at first very common. This facilitated sending them to friends and family. Thee potcard pritscwere generally done without frames,the image continuing to the edge of the orint. As regular prints became more common, we begin to see white borders. Prints were usually done with white borders. This was not for the esthetics, but it had to do with the wat snapshots were printed. The edges had to be held down and were thus not exposed. The sizes and aspect ratio of the prints varied. This was in part a reflection of the size and shape of the negatives. The borders varied in size and we begin to see serrated or irregular edges and not just smooth edges. There were also different ways of doing the edges. There were clean cut edges, jagged edges, and pinking. We also see prints without borders, but this was primarily when color photograojhy became more common in the 1970s. There were also rounded corners as well as differet shaped prints. The first prints were mostly rectangular following the conventions of the CDVs and cabinet cards. We begin to see square prints in the inter-War era. These various chracteristics are of same practical importance. All these factors, including borders, margins, shapes, edges, and corners can be used to help date photograohic snap shots,mot of which are undated. Mos of the images we ave are American. The time linevfor these varioys characteristics may vary somewhat from country to country.

Chronology

Early snapshiots were all black and white. Some parents dated the snapshots on the back. Most did not. A few had the date printed on them. To archive these snapshots on HBC, we need to date them. Here there are a range of indicators that can help us date these snaspshots. Some can be dated with considerable precession. This is probanly true of American snapshots because of our large srchive. we can The clothing styles and basckground such as cars can help date the inudated images. We begin to see amateur photography in the late-19th century. It was, however, complicated and expensive. With the invention of the Kodak Brownie, America and the world was suddenly deluged with millions of family smapshots. This greatly expanded the photographic record and our ability to follow fashion and historical trends. Most early snapshots. at least in America, had postcard backs. Eventually snapshots were printed with white borders. These borders and the paper edges can be useful in dating the snapshots. Most early snapshots were done as post cards. They can be dated to an extent by the stamp boxes. By the 1930s we see mostly prints with plain backs as the postcard backs became less common. The prints varied in size, border, edges, and other factors. Commercial color film was developed in the inter-War era, but we do not begin to see large numbers of color snapshots until after well World War II. At firsr color prints were done with the same format as black-and white prints. Eventually by the 1970s we see color prints begin to replace black-and-white prints. They were generally printed without borders. The variations in prints differed from country to country, although bthere were some similarities. We are going to use thedated prints to help develop chronological trends for the various varabilities.

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Created: 8:59 AM 4/29/2012
Last updated: 8:59 AM 4/29/2012