a c1870 sitting portrait cabinet card looking as crisp as when first made a century and a half ago
Toronto. In the summer of 2005, late editor Bob Lansdale was still busy researching the Chromotype and similar carbon process B&W prints that purported to eliminate the nefarious fading issue that plagued photographs in the mid 1800s.
Shown at left is a beautiful sitting portrait taken by the Lindop and Cooper studio around 1877. This cabinet card is courtesy of Les Jones. Here is Bob Lansdale as he introduces this cover shot for issue 31-1, “We continue our investigation into the carbon process that was hoped would bring an end to the fading of photographic images in the mid-nineteenth century. Samples of the Chromotype and Lambertype print are rarely seen when sleuthing through collections of old carte and cabinet prints despite wide ranging publicity in the photographic press.
“We have here a cabinet-sized Chromotype portrait by Canadian photographers Lindop & Cooper of St. Thomas, Ontario. Facial details and tones are retained over the century since the image is made of non-fading carbon (India Ink).
“See pages 8 to 16 for the full story and images.”
Members of the day read the latest saga of the process in hard copy. More recent members could read this and similar issues on our DVD sent to them via Canada Post. The DVD contains all volumes of Photographic Canadiana from 1 through 40. Not a member? It’s super simple! Follow the menu item above marked ‘MEMBERSHIP’ or follow the right hand sidebar to use a credit card or PayPal.
