An examination and explanation of clues to establish the
date of 19th century photographs.
This Weeks Photograph - July 25, 2011
Photo Facts
Photo Type:
Carte de visite
Image Size:
2.3/8" x4"
Card Color
Natural
Card Border
1 Thin, 1 thick line
Card Border Color
Green
Front Imprint:
None
Back Imprint:
None
Photo Technology:
Albumen Print
Special
Highly tinted
About the Case Studies
Every Monday a new case study of a picture typical of old family photographs will be published.
These examples can help genealogists learn the skills that will help date their own photos.
An estimated date (if one was not available) will be given with a +/- number of years it could be. Dating old photos is a science that provides answers usually within 2 - 6 years of when the photo was taken.
Past Cases
Front Side
Clues
Explanation
CDV Borders
Fringe Chair
Highly Tinted
Zouave Jacket
No tax stamp
This is a wonderful carte de visite with a lot of clues. The card thickness and border of 1 thin line and 1 thick line puts this CDV after 1863. The highly tinted (water colors) application is indicative of the mid 1860s.
The fringe chair was introduced around 1864 and was a popular fixture through the early 1870s.
The boy's zouave jacket was a popular woman's and children style during and after the Civil War.
This image has no tax stamp (and no evidence one was attached), indicating the picture was made after August 1866, when tax was not required for photographs. The taxes help pay for the Union efforts in the Civil War.
Est. Date: 1867 +/- 2 Years
Post Civil War carte de visite.
Borders are typical of 1864 - 1869
Fringe chair popular from 1864 - early 1870s.
Water color tinting widely used in mid 1860s
Zouave jacket was popular during mid 1860s
Federal tax stamps were required on all photographs from August 1864 through August 1866. This photo has NO tax stamp.
You can become an expert at analyzing photographs.
Much of the information used to analyze this photograph is covered in the Identification section of this web site. In addition, comparison to similar yet dated photographs in the Gallery section will help confirm the estimates. Even greater detail, organized for this type of research is available in PhotoTree.com's books. Learn More.