Tag Archives: CDV

a pocket full of poses

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Robert

Toronto.  Around the time when the northern part of British North America established  itself as the Dominion of Canada (1867), a Toronto photographer, Robert Carswell, created these CdVs which became part of the late Robert Wilson’s collection. Twenty-five years ago, … Continue reading →

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stamp of approval

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Did you ever buy an old image and discover a stamp on its back? PHSC member, sports photographer, writer, etc., etc., Les Jones, offers one explanation in his article published in issue 24-3. In his article, “What Have CdVs … Continue reading →

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June 2025 PHSC Newsletter issue 25-6

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The sixth in a delightful, eye-appealing series of monthly PHSC News newsletters by our own  Patrick Gunn. Issue 6 is a delight to read as well as see – another impressive issue! Beautiful quality. Beautiful layout. PHSC is  an … Continue reading →

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A Photo Album from 1930

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Photo collectors frequently add photo albums to their collection. These are often Victorian in nature filled with CDVs, Cabinet cards and the like. But some albums are special, even post Victorian, and  intended to commemorate big events. Check out … Continue reading →

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a secret revealed …

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. A few days ago I did a post on a small press for photographs (issue 23-1). It was accompanied by the following from Robert  Wilson, “During the long period that cartes de visite and cabinet prints were in vogue … Continue reading →

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cheaper by the dozen

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Robert

Toronto.  From the earliest days of photography, a photographic portrait was a bit pricey for many. In the 1860s when albumen prints on CdVs came along, copies of a print became so cheap that photos could be shared. This introduced … Continue reading →

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out in the sticks

Posted on June 8, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. This cover photograph for issue 34-1 (summer, 2008) of the journal is courtesy of the late Dr Robert Wilson. The child’s portrait is taken while the baby sits precariously on a stick furniture high chair, To describe the photograph, … Continue reading →

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carbon without the tax

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Robert

Toronto.  Image collectors browsing the fairs and shows noticed many mid to late 1800s carded photos were faded and had poor contrast while the odd one was bright and crisp, seemingly printed just recently, belying its century plus age. Our … Continue reading →

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thanks, Helen

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The CDV is roughly a large size business card with a photo mounted on thick card stock. Studios produced them in the 1850s/1860s by the dozens. People sent them to friend and relatives but few identified the person and … Continue reading →

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feeling liverish?

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Well, in the late 1800s/early 1900s in Quebec City that likely meant you had an urge to have a likeness taken at the Livernois Studio. Many of the photographs taken by the Livernois family can be found at the … Continue reading →

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