Tag Archives: CDV

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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making it big, making it better – again

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Cartes des Visite or CDVs came along in the early 1850s with wet-plate technology and stayed popular for about 15 years. The actual photograph, on albumen paper, curled into a tight cylinder making a stiff backing necessary. Cards of … Continue reading →

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stick a cabinet in your pocket

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. With the advent of wet plate technology, the number of photographers increased once again. Albumen paper for positive prints became very popular in spite of the need to glue down the curl-prone medium to stiff cardboard. The so called … Continue reading →

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another auction just across the lake

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Here is another chance to augment your collection. On the 17th of this month American Heritage Auctions in Ohio are holding a photographic auction hosted by Live Auctioneers who have the lots listed in this online catalogue. If you want … Continue reading →

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picture me, picture you, picture auntie Sue

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. We all have family photos.  Once  photo prices fell in the mid 1800s, CDVs were all the rage. When the market became saturated, studios moved to larger cards like the Cabinet cards. Albums became the way to hold and … Continue reading →

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a great smoke

Posted on June 30, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Many of us are unaware that the U.S. civil war prompted Britain to establish our country in 1867. Ulysses  S Grant led the North in the fierce battle over slavery. This CdV is stored in the archive of the … Continue reading →

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