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Photo Dating Introduction:

History of Photographic Methods

Daguerreotype

Ambrotype

Ferrotype/Tintype

Albumen

Samples of Case Images

Table of Standard Daguerreotype Sizes

Comparison Table of Case Images

1864 Luxury Tax

Samples of Albumen or Cabinet Cards

Albumen Comparison Table

General Photographic Methods Table

Specific Tintype Plate Size Table

Credits/Resources/Related links

Postcards

Resource Links for Post Card Dating

Photo Dating Books

Union Cases

Photo Dating Introduction 

There are many avenues to explore in photo dating. When determining when a photo was taken, you have to consider more than the obvious, such as clothes worn, the background, objects in the background and the history of the photo (how did you acquire it). The substance a photograph is made of, is another subject to learn.  The photo could be mounted on stiff or thin decorated cardboard, paper, copper or glass.  Any writing on the photo could lead you to a date, like the name of the photographer. This would lead you on a search for a list business records of photographers from that time period. Start a log of your findings, stay organized and persevere. 

If you can not find what your looking for at this site then, you may want to start with a visit to your local library. They may have or can direct you to, locations that have microfiche of old newspapers to study.  You can study photographs of known dates of historic events and eventually develop an eye for details, while noting the dates. Here on our Genealogist Corner you can see a collection of photos from the 1800's.  To identify the date of your specific photograph effectively, you may need to study the history of the items in the photograph.  The history of  fashions, methods of photography, customs of different eras, the history of photography, and even the history of wallpaper.  Do not let this sound too intimidating, chances are most photographs have few clues to research .  The #1, the photographic method, #2, the clothes they are wearing and #3, the photographer's stamp, if there is one present. 

Understanding how historical events effect society and it's fashions is major in researching the date of a photograph.  Specifically one that you may have inherited a copy of an ancestor's photograph and the physical attributes are not available, you only have the clothes to go on or just the hairdo.   The Civil War changed fashion from extravagant to more conservative.  The Victorian era was the life span of Queen Victoria of England from 1837 to 1901, which influenced fashion and mourning customs after the death of Prince Albert in 1861.  The rise of the economy allowed the common man to afford more elaborate clothing.  The invention of the sewing machine enabled factories to produce mass qualities of clothing.  The Victorian period was the true influence of the modern men's fashions, while the women's fashions changed considerably with the rise in feminism in the 20th century. The jewelry fashions throughout that era were influenced by the queen and by new technologies.  It became unpopular to wear jewelry during the day, when Victoria's consort, Prince Albert past away.  

We see so many of our clients photos that have known dates, that we have developed a sense for the time period by exposure.  We are attempting to guide our clients in their efforts to estimate the dates of their photos.   Any information on this subject at this site is found on the World Wide Web by extensive researching.  We make every attempt to give credits where it's due by links to resources.  As we learn more, we add on to this section of our site (always a work in progress). Photos Made Perfect is not an expert on "photo dating".  Often in our research, we found conflicting information and we did our best to figure out which was correct.  If you can contribute to this work please email us.

Happy researching.

History of Photography Methods 

 Identifying Cased Image Types

Many vintage photographs are incased in a little box made from a variety of materials.  Earlier than 1850s they protected little painted portraits and after the invention of the daguerreotype they housed photographs.  Assembled in a factory, they were usually constructed of wood frames, sometimes metal, covered in embossed leather, tortoise or velvet. When opened, it had either two photographs on each side or one photograph and on the back side of the door a velvet or felt pad in the door and a small latch.

Union Cases- In the 1850s thermosplastic a product made from shellac and ground sawdust came into use, because they could be decorated and dyed easier. This plastic was called Composition or Union and so the cases became known as union cases and are collected by some for their beauty alone with or  without the image. The photo was first, the a glass next, then a frame made of brass.  

Daguerreotype Method

Long before the first public announcements of photographic processes in 1839, Joseph Nicephore Niepce, began experimenting with photography. To read more about The World's First Photograph go to the original text. While there were many different types of photography, the three methods of photography are discussed here.  The Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, and Tintype,  were each used in the 19^th century and were each stored in folding wooden case to protect the image from oxidation and handling.  Each type produced one of a kind picture negatives and were monochromatic.  Out of their cases daguerreotypes are easily damaged.  The case and the glass for the Tintypes was used just to give the appearance of the more expensive daguerreotype. They sold for 25 cents.  To view a table of the three methods differences, click here. 

Daguerre’s process, 1839 -1854, involved treating a thin sheet of highly polished silver-plated copper with mercury vapor and bromides and crystals of iodine to make the silver plating sensitive to light giving it a reflective appearance. Appropriately called “mirror with a memory”. The silver is the component that tarnishes and corrodes. Daguerre first published a description of his process in 1839. Like the hologram the daguerreotype image is only visible from certain angles.  No other photographic image has the mirror-like non-image areas or hologram-like image of the daguerreotype. 

Hallmark -- Stamp marks on the daguerreotype plate which identify the plate manufacturer or photographic supply house. Hallmarks usually consist of symbols, initials, and/or numbers. The number indicates the ratio of silver to copper. The most popular number was 40, indicating 1 part silver to 39 parts copper. Lists of hallmarks used by plate manufacturers and the approximate years that they were produced can be used to date images. These lists may be found in reference books, such as Rinhart's The American Daguerreotype and books by Paul K.Berg.

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In gathering information about your photo in efforts to date it, knowing the standard size of daguerreotypes may be helpful. 

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Samples of Case Images

Not all daguerreotypes were in union cases, as you see here.

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Ambrotype 

The Ambrotype method appeared in 1852-1865, the end of the Civil War.  A negative image was produced on a glass plate and viewed as a positive with a black varnished backing.  It may show a slight shadow or three dimensional appearance.  Ambrotype is made by coating a plate of glass with collodion, a highly flammable, colorless or yellowish syrupy solution of pyroxylin, ether, and alcohol, used as an adhesive for making photographic plates.  It was common for the Ambrotype to be colored such as cheeks, lips, buttons, and jewelry.  To view a table of the differences, click here.

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Photo Dating Notes: bonnet, hoop skirt to floor, hair parted down the middle covering ears, chair for support, the case.  The leather cases may sport patriotic symbols during the civil war period. 

Circa: 1865

Can you see the air pockets sandwiched between the glass?

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 Ferrotype /Tintype Method

The Tintype was originally called Melainotype and later a process called Ferrotype was developed and they all appeared to be alike and became known as Tintypes.  These methods were America's first major contribution to the art of photography. It superceded the Ambrotype by the end of the Civil War and went on to become 19th-Century America's favorite quick picture. It was made the same way as the Ambrotype, except that a thin piece of black enameled, or japanned, iron was used in place of glass. Like the Ambrotype, the image is reversed.  Ferrotypes were made from thumbnail size to as large as 11" x 14". With the introduction of multi-lense cameras with sliding backs in the early 1860's, the more typical small sizes were made in volume. These small tintypes became know as Gem Types.  A cut-out would be made in a carte de visite and applied to the backs of cart-de-viste size cards with glued paper holding it in place. Made on a metal plate and with a varnished surface, ferrotypes were very durable.

Tintypes 1856-1863 The invention of Prof. Hamilton Smith of Ohio.  They were made of a thin iron plate (not tin).017inches thick, coated with black paint. If it is removed from the case you can test it with a magnet, if it attracts it, you have a Tintype.  The tintypes of the Civil War Period 1861-1865 are easily identified by the weight and size, 1/6 and 1/4 plate. By eliminating the cases they became less expensive so that soldiers could send photos home, they never did need to be in the cases.  They could also be dated by Potter's Patent paper frames.  The tin is much lighter than the glass Ambrotype.   Both the Ambrotype and the Tintype share the same whitish-gray low-contrast collodion image consequently Tintypes are often sold as the pricier Ambrotype to people that are not aware of the difference. They were also embellished with patriotic designs.  Tintypes did not require glass for protection.

In 1870-1885 the Phoenix Plate Co. made plates with a Chocolate-tinted surface that became popular. During this period, Tintypes also appeared to be more casual, with portrait backgrounds/backdrops of painted beaches and outdoor scenery in contrast to formal photography studios.

Those of you searching for someone who knows how to restore or even just clean the original cased image, you need to contact a Conservator.  . The AIC Guidelines for Selecting a Conservator, will help you make an informed choice.  They provide a free list of conservators in your geographic region.

Restoration or preservation of the original may cost up to $1,500.  The next best thing is what we offer.  We scan the cased image and restore the image digitally.  Now you would have the ability to make multiple copies and store to CD for the future. If you don't care for CD's another option is to take a photograph with a camera that uses film and create a negative for storage.  This process would run from $80 - $150. dependant on specific circumstances.

View a table of the three method differences. 

Circa 1861- 1865 Civil War

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Gem Tintype

A company called Taylor's American Gem Studio produced tiny portraits from 1863-1890 the were cut to put into jewelry items, lockets, tie clips, cufflinks and rings. They were popular because they were so inexpensive.

Carnival Period Tintypes, 

1875 -1930

Type/Size: Tintype

Photographer: none

Photo Dating Notes:

Circa:1880s carnival period.

Photo Dating Notes: Fedora hat, car, 4hand tie, outdoor scene backdrop 

Circa: 1900 carnival period

Tintype Plate Size Table 

Tintype Identifying Timeline Chart

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Comparison Table of Cased Images 

1839- Late1990s

By Act of Congress in August 1,1864 to August 1,1866, a tax was levied on the sale of luxury items to support the war for the Union. Sellers of "photographs, Ambrotype, daguerreotypes, carte de visite or any sun pictures" affix stamps to the backs of photographs at the time of sale, exempting photographs too small for the stamp. The denomination of the stamp was proportionate to the cost of the photograph, according to the following schedule (one cent stamps were used only when the appropriate denomination was unavailable):

From, the "Colonial Dames" of San Diego. 

Backside enlarged

U.S. Intern.Rev.

This photo cost less than 25 cents.

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Financing the Civil War

The Office of Internal Revenue and the Use of Revenue Stamps

Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 16:02:39 -0400
To: photogen@genealogy.org
From: Steve Knoblock 
Subject: 1864 Luxury Tax

I thought I'd post information on the 1864 Luxury Tax, which can help to
date photographs from the 1860s.

By Act of Congress in 1864, a tax was levied on the sale of luxury items to
raise wartime revenue for the Union. The act provided that sellers of
"photographs, ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, or any sun pictures" affix stamps
to the back of such photographs at the time of sale, exempting photographs
too small for the stamp. The denomination of the stamp was proportionate to
the cost of the photograph, according to the following schedule (one cent
stamps were used only when the appropriate denomination was unavailable):


Luxury Tax Schedule for Photographs

Photograph Sale            Required Denomination
Less than $0.25             2 cents stamp (blue or orange)
$0.25 to $0.50               3 cents stamp (green)
$0.50 to $1.00               5 cents stamp (red)
Greater than $1.00         5 cents stamp, each additional dollar or  
				fraction thereof


Tax stamps, required during the period 1 August 1864 to 1 August 1866, were
applied to tintypes and ambrotypes as well as the ubiquitous carte de
visite. Any photographs bearing tax stamps were produced during this
period. The act required that the seller cancel the stamp by initializing
and dating it, providing a valuable source of information. By law, the
selling establishment was required to cancel the stamp with the
photographer’s initials and the date, but most photographers simply
canceled with a quick stroke of the pen. Stamps properly canceled are
valuable because the image can be precisely dated and the photographer
accurately attributed.

Other kinds of stamps were used besides the regular Internal Revenue Stamp.
Stamps specifically for photographs were never produced; it was left up to
the photographer to use a stamp of the proper denomination.

During the summer of 1866, "playing card" stamps were used to make up for a
shortage of official stamps as the levy came to an end. Even playing cards
were taxed as a luxury. These unusual stamps date specifically to the last
few months of the summer of 1866. Blue playing card stamps issued in the
summer of 1866 are the most common. Very rare, are the one cent red playing
card stamps. More frequently seen is the orange two cent playing card stamp.

Tax stamps were never required on all photographs sent through the mail as
some authors contend. The stamps have nothing to do with mailing the image,
as a reading of the act will tell. If the photographs were sent through the
mail they still needed to be in an envelope with a postage stamp on it.
While this might only be a footnote for the photography historian, it's an
important point for the genealogist.

Perhaps subscribers have some photographs bearing Tax Stamps. I'd be
interested in hearing what types (Ambrotypes, cartes de visite) of
photograph and what kind of stamp. If the photograph is dated, even better.

Thank you,

Steve

Steve Knoblock, editor,
info@city-gallery.com

If you would like to go to the link, where this paper is found this is it. 

Financing the Civil War- The Office of Internal Revenue and the Use of Revenue Stamps

Calotype (1845-1855) 

The first process to put photographs on paper by William Talbot.  It's highly unlikely you have one of these they have deteriorated to a pale yellow from not rinsing the chemical off enough.

Albumen Process 1859 - early 1900s

The albumen process was on very thin paper and mounted on cardboard, books and other items.  Mounts come in many colors with text and many sizes and designs. You can identify them by their deterioration. If kept under poor conditions they fade and become yellow, with foxing (brown spots).  Under good conditions they would be gray, not sepia toned and their surface were generally glossy. Egg whites were used in the Albumen paper process which creates the shinny surface. Holding the photograph at eye level and slightly on an angle, you will see the shine of the egg white wash. Basically any Carte de Visite or Cabinet card is an Albumen Process.

If you need more details, read the following for the full account of this process:

Journal Vol. 1856 by Mr. James Ross found in Cyndi's List, a site for genealogist dedicated to every aspect of genealogy related links.  

The Carte de visite was invented in 1854 by Andre Disderi in 1854 and were introduced in 1859.  They were produced in the millions in the later part of the 19th Century they are not particularly rare today, but are collectable.    They were portraits measuring 2 1/4" x 3/4" (5.5cm x 9.5cm), mounted on 2.5 x 4" card. About the size of a business card.  It was an paper albumen photo mounted on cardboard.  They are matted or glossy and usually in sharp focus and when viewed with a magnifying lens they appear grainy like you would see in a modern photographs. They were popular until 1866 when the cabinet card became the latest and greatest.  The Victorians were avid collectors of photographs. The trend was called cartomainia. Every home was decorated with carte de visite. 

Visit our Victorian Photo Albums for individual photo dating comments; this will give you a better understanding of changes through the decades of carte de visits or Viste Sundow Muesum.

To read more about Andre Disderi, type in his name, inventor and 1854.

Photo dating details in Victorian Album #01 image #25.

Cabinet Cards

Cabinet Cards 1866-1906 can be dated by the color of the card, borders, corners and size. They stopped making them after 1906. Most popular card sizes were 6 1/2 x 4 1/2. The photography itself is from an albumen process. One warning when you apply this table to the card you are dating....the photograph on the card maybe a copy of a daguerreotype, for instance.

Colors-Corners and Borders Timeline Table 

1866	1870	1880	1885	1890	1896
White light-weight cardstock 1866-80			Wide gold borders 1884-85		Impressed outer border without color.
Red&gold single&double lines around border 1866-80			Gold beveled edges border 1885-92	Dark cardstock, green,maroon, with gold writing 1890
Square photo corners 1866-70		Front matte finish, backs glossy yellow cardstock 1882-88		Metallic green or gold impressed border on card 1890-1892
		Front and back different colors of cardstock 1880-90		Rounded corner rule, single line around border 1889-96
Mourning of Prince Albert, from his death in 1861 through to the death of Queen Victoria, black cardstock with Gold writing.

See samples in our Genealogy Corner, Vintage Scrapbooks.

Stereo Viewer

When you come across a photo that appears to be two identical photos side by side, you are looking at photos made to view through a entertainment system called a Stereo Viewer.  Stereo viewer was invented in 1849. They can be found at antique shows and sell for about $150., plus the cost of cards to view.  There is where you could spend your fortune.  The subjects appear to be three dimensional, very amusing. Variations of these systems are still in use today.

Photo Dating Note: Cabinet card circa 1866-1880, black card popular in the mourning period for Prince Albert. Single gold line around edge, collar covers neck with lace and a brooch. Photographer's information present.

Visit our Victorian albums

Photo Dating Note: 

Cabinet Card, circa 1880-1890

mutton sleeves, square corners, gold scalloped edge. Photographer present with full ornate business stamp on back.

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The official term for the act of studying and collecting postcards is deltiology.
Photos Made Perfect has done the work for you of sifting through the tons of information found about postcards.  Wow! There are sites devoted to postcards collectors, describing conditions and glossary of terms for buying and selling.  Serious historical postcard site, explaining the origin details like "Most Postcards were printed in Germany, the world leader in lithographic processes."  Sentimental sites about postcards and memories attached to them. However, for our (genealogist) purposes all we want to know is what features tell us what date range were they taken in.  To help us identify an individual in them.  Besides the photograph itself, postcards offer clues to their dates by categorizing the backsides.

Photo dating features and samples of postcards:

Pre-Postcard Era, 1840 - 1869

Pioneer (1893-1898) Only the government and souvenir cards existed.  1 cent stamp imprinted on government printed cards and 2 cent stamp with adhesive need to be applied to the privately printed souvenir cards.  Law was, no writing permitted on the address side of the card. From 1899 on, the standard postcard was 4.75" x 3.5".  

Arrows show the line on the Divided Back

area and the Stamp Box to adhere stamp to on right hand corner behind the back scrapbook paper.

Image 01 backside

Image 01 Front

This postcard is from PMP's personal collection with a known date of 1915.

Image 01 Restored

We listed general information here for general photo dating purposes.  If you want more information try going to Postcard sites that we visited that include information about postcards from other countries or specific details of postcard manufactures, stamp boxes, or postal rates in the UK. 

AZO Boxes Time Line Table

Resource Links for Postcard Dating

http://www.yorktownmuseum.org/TaconicPostcard.htm

Postcard Traders Association

Shiloh Postcards