Dog Photo Types Explained
Different photography processes can help us date photographs. Below is a very brief outline about some of the most common formats you are likely to encounter when collecting dog photographs.
J. Paul Getty Museum: 1/6 plate Daguerreotype, hand-coloured dog sitting on table, c1854.
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DAGUERREOTYPE
The daguerreotype process was the first practical form of photography, its popularity hampered essentially by the lengthy exporsure time required to make a picture. It has no negative therefore no reproduction of the image was possible. The image was made on a copper plate coated with polished silver. Through a series of treatments with noxious gases such as hot mercury vapor and bromides, the plate's surface became light sensitive.
The daguerreotype had an exceptionally fragile surface and were presented most commonly in a small folding case. These were often ornate, lined in velvet or satin and the wooden case covered with delicate embossed leather. The image itself was contained by a brass matte which often bore the photographer's details.
One of the main problems with the early daguerreotype was the length of exposure time required. "Rests" were made for the sitters who often had to hold a pose for 15 minutres.
With the improvement of the process, exposure time was reduced to seconds but still required a patient and still sitter. For this reason, Daguerreotypes with dogs often show a blurr where the dog's head should be.
TINTYPE IMAGES
Tintype (ferrotype) of man with his dog.
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The Tintype (ferrotype) came about as an inexpensive alternative to the daguerreotype. It had three distinct advantages; being on an iron plate, it was more robust than the fragile daguerreotype; it was the first true instant photograph, ready in just minutes; and it was inexpensive, making photographic images accessible to all classes.
The tintype is made by coating an iron plate with light-sensitive colloidal silver giving it a similar appearance to the Ambroytpe (which puts the colloidal image on glass).
The tintype enjoyed one of the longest periods of use for an early photograph type, lasting from its inception in the mid 1850s through to the 1930s.
CARTE DE VISITE (CDV)
Notman Photographic Co Carte de Visite.
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Carte de visite simply means Calling Card, but these small images, mounted on card were not commonly used for this purpose. CDVs were albumen prints and it is said that in Britain, a half million eggs were delivered annually to on photograph studio alone.
The prints were then trimmed off a sheet and mounted on a purpose-produced backing card which usually carried a fancy border and often some magnificently lithographed backs.
The CDV was introduced in 1854 with the height of 'carte craze' during the early 1860s. Although superceded by the larger Cabinet Card, Cartes were produced into the early part of the 20th century, probably as a way to use up old card stock.
Typically mounted on a 2.5 x 4 inch card stock.
CABINET CARD
This was a cabinet card sent with a Christmas message. c1880s.
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The Cabinet Card is a larger version of the Carte de Visite, retaining the photographer's imprint and decorative artwork on the back of the mount. It was typically mounted on a 4 x 6 inch card stock.
Like the CDV, the majority of Cabinet Cards were albumen prints. It was introduced in 1866 it quite rapidly took over the CDV market as it sat well on a cabinet or table rather than needing to be mounted in an album.
Not only did the Cabinet Card supersede the Carte de Visite, its introduction was also responsible for the temporary demise of the photo album which had been used to house the CDVs.
Another advance in the photogaphy market caused by the Cabinet Card was the introduction and need for retouching images. This became necessary because of the defects suddenly evident in the larger images.
The public's demand for more outdoor photography, along with the invention of the hand-held camera saw the demise of the cabinet card in the first part of the 20th century.
REAL PHOTO POSTCARD (RPPC)
Real photo postcards were often very well captioned which is helpful for today's collectors.
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These were made possible by George Eastman's development of the hand held camera. Beginning in 1902, Kodak offered a preprinted card back that allowed postcards to be made directly from negatives.
They are fabulous snapshots of life in the early part of the 20th century and many examples of the family dog exist in this format.
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