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Basic Helpful Information on Collecting 
Cdv ~ Tintypes ~ Cabinet cards & Stereoviews 

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What is a
Tintype, CDV, Cabinet Card or Stereoview?

Tintypes:

The tintype, also known as a ferrotype, is a photo made by creating a direct positive on a thin iron plate.  Sizes will vary from 6 1/2  x 8 1/2 inch plate down to the smallest size of a gem size 1 x 1 inch plate.

Time Frame:  Introduced in the 1855 with the patent dates by Melainotype plate for neffs process pat19feb56 or Griswolds patented Oct 26 1856. With peak years 1861-1872 and waned 1873- early 1900.

Format Sizes:  There are 6 different sizes that a tintype photo came come in: 

Full plate: 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch 
Half plate: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch
Quarter or 4th plate: 3 1/4 x 4 1/2 inch
6 th plate: 2 3/4 x 3 1/4 inch
9 th plate: 2 x 2 1/4 inch
1/16 plate: 1.375 x 1.625 inch
gem size: 1 x 1 inch

Dating a Tintype:  There are several ways to date a tintype photograph. The most common way to figure out the time frame would be by the type of clothing the people are wearing. There are several useful books on subject of vintage clothing.  Here the weblink on 2 different wonderful books on 19th century fashion:
M Likeness Taken Daguerreian portraits in America 
by Joan L Severa

the Way They were dressed in 1860-1865 
by Donna J Abraham

Many tintypes were cased images well into the late c1860s.  Sometimes the case will have a photographer stamp either on the inner red felt or behind the image.  In the later part of the 19 th century tintypes were housed in a paper holder or just added into photo album. Sometime there will be a photographers stamp on the cover or backside of the paper frame.

* Beware that many novice or non-photo collectors sometime through no fault of there own.  Offer the image as a daguerreotype or even a ambrotype when it is not. 

Carte de Visite also know as CDV:

The Carte de Vistie, as known as CDV, is albumen photo which is a thin paper photograph mounted on a thin cardboard card stock mount.

Time Frame:  Introduced in 1859 with peak years from 1863-1878 and waned 1878-1882.

Format Size:  2 3/8 x 4 1/4 inch

Dating a CDV:  There are several ways to date a CDV photograph. The best way to date a CDV by using the photographer stamp in which many CDV do have either on the bottom edge on front side or on the backside.  Here is a weblink to a wonderful website :
Craigs Daguerreian registry website a resource alphabetical list of 19th century US Photographers.

The most common way to figure out the time frame would be by the type of clothing the people are wearing.  Another way would be by the subject matter : 
(ie Civil War soldiers, fashion, Actors/Actresses, unique items being held or used in the photo, furniture etc)

Another way to date the image is the type and style of the mount used.  The style of card boarders, the type of corners and the thickness of the cards mount.

1864-1866: During the US Civil war the US government added a revenue tax on photography, the tax was collected  to support the Union war effort.  The US revenue stamp was added to the backside once the image was sold and the tax was collected by the photographer.  Many of these tax stamps can be found either canceled with fountain pen writing or a cancel hand stamp by the photographer.  An interesting website on Civil war revenue stamps by Bruce Baryla, here is his weblink:
Civil war era photographer revenue stamp cancellations
Cabinet Cards:

The CDV was replaced by the larger format prints and mounts known as Cabinet cards.  CDV and Cabinet cards were essentially the same in process and design,  albumen prints mounted onto a card stock mount.  The major  difference being the cabinet card was a larger view in size.  The  Cabinet card format was initially used for landscape views before it became popular for portraits views. 

Time Frame:  Introduced in c1866 with peak years 1876-1895 and waned 1877- early 1900

Format Size:  6 1./2 x 4 1/2 inch standard size

Dating Cabinet Cards:  There are many ways that can be used to date a cabinet card.  The easiest way is when a cabinet card has a photographer stamp either along the bottom front edge or backside.  

Here is a wonderful book:  A biographical directory covering 15,000 photographers in 27 western states. Includes bibliography, guide to collecting photographers' imprints, dating guide, and glossary / by Carl Mautz here is the weblink: 
Biographies of Western Photographers 1840-1900 this book can be purchased directly from Carl.

Another way to figure out the time frame is by the subject matter such as fashion or items used as back drops.  Over the years style of clothing changes and gets more modern. Other factors that can be used is the color of the mount, the artwork or impressions used by photographer known as a photographer stamp and the different styles of borders and card edges. 
Stereoscopics also known as Stereoview:

 A technique for creating or enhancing the illusion of depth in a photo. Traditional stereoscopic photography consists of creating a 3-D illusion starting from a pair of 2-D images of the same subject.  The images are mounted onto a card mount so the image can be held  and viewed by using a stereoscope hand held unit.

Time Frame:  Introduced in 1851 with peak year span 1858-1905, waned 1910-1925

Format Sizes:  there are several size formats:
7 x 3 1/2 inch and mounts 7 x 4 1/2 inch

Here is a wonderful book to read by John S. Waldsmith, here is the link:
Stereo Views: An Illustrated History and Price Guide this book can be purchase directly from John.

Dating Stereoviews:  This can be a little tricky because  there are several ways to date the views.  The easy way is by using the photographer stamps either along the front edge bottom or backside.  Many stereoviews will have photographer stamps or manufacture logos.  Another way would be by the type of mount.  The early stereoviews dating in the c1860 and early 1870s are flat mounts meaning there is no curve to the mount.   In the mid c1870s -1920s the mounts became curved mounts.  Also the different color on the mounts such as orange and yellow color mounts are c1860s. While the light brown to darker mounts mid c1870s-1920.   The other ways are by subject matter and many of the stereoviews are identified by information along bottom edge on front side. 

Examples of 19th Century Photography

Interesting reference books on
"Photography Collecting"
* Select a book of interest for more information or you can view the complete list of these book by visiting our "interesting website link page". 
All of these books can be purchased.
Interesting Books on 19th Century
Photography & Photographers