An examination and explanation of clues to establish the
date of 19th century photographs.
This Weeks Photograph - November 28, 2011
Photo Facts
Photo Type:
Carte de visite
Card Size:
2 3/8" x4"
Card Color
Natural
Card Border
None
Front Imprint:
None
Back Imprint:
None
Photo Technology:
Albumen
Special
Rounded corners
About the Case Studies
Each week 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.
This intriguing woman exhibits the finest fashion of the late 1870s. Curls and sculpted hair, usually a bun of some sort, are easily identified from the era.
Her neckline and front accessories are typical of the busy look of the 70s, though the fashion started becoming cleaner, less cluttered by the early 1880s.
The card mount is fairly thick, with rounded corners, indicative of the 1870s. The back is coated with a gray ink but, is blank of print.
Estimated Date: 1878
Hair style - late 1870s.
Busy neckline and front of the 70s.
Card style is from the 1870s, heavy stock, though much plainer than cards of the 80s.
Numerous examples of dated photographs, with similar hair and dress are available in the gallery
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.