Cabinet Cards

 

Cabinet cards are inexpensive photo cards that were very similar to carte de visites, though cabinets are larger in size and have more commercialized backings. They were popular in the early 1870s and were produced into the 1920s. Subjects include self portraits, family portraits, celebrities, dignitaries, landscapes, events, buildings, and more.

Like carte de visites, most cabinet cards are thin albumen prints (albumen is a clear liquid chemical binding found in egg whites) on paper or cardstock that are mounted on larger cards. Carte de vistes and cabinet cards are made from essentially the same process, the main differences being that cabinet cards were larger in size, and were more commercial, that is, the backmarks (the identifying writings on the back) contained more information about the gallery and the photographer. Cabinet prints measure 4 by 5 1/2 inches and are mounted on 4 1/4 by 6 1/2 inch mounting cards. Mathew Brady was known for his larger salted paper prints known as "Imperials". They measure anywhere from 14 by 17 inches to 17 by 20 inches and because they were out of the price range of most and were of Brady quality, they were considered exclusive by the upper classes, thus more valuable, and some went for as high as $700!

 

Like carte de visites, cabinet cards were for trading or keepsakes that could be self or family portraits, or portraits of famous figures such as politicians, royalty, clergymen, authors, or celebrities. Photographers gathered negatives and created cabinet galleries with portraits of Buffalo Bill, Kate Forsyth, Maurice Barrymore, etc. and could charge cheap prices of only $3-5 a dozen. Landscapes, buildings, events, travel destinations, and many other subjects were captured on cabinets, but most were portraits. Some photographic firms specialized in taking exterior shots of business owners and employess in front of their business.

 

While cabinet cards were introduced in 1866, it wasn't until the 1870's that they took over in popularity over the CDV. Photo album makers were now producing cabinet card albums with only a few back pages for the older CDVs. While both formats dominated the photographic scene, they began to wane in popularity in the late 1890s as snapshots, personal photography, scrapbooking, and unmounted photographs caught on. The advent of the Kodak Brownie camera in 1900 furthered the decline, and cabinet cards stopped being produced into the 1920's. Compared with the earlier forms of photography such as daguerreotypes and tintypes, cabinet cards had a pretty good run.

 

 

These are very general methods of identifying cabinet cards. They are not 100% accurate since they could be reprinted from an earlier date of the original or a photographer may have used remaining older mounts, among other factors. If your cabinet does not fit this description, don't worry. These are only general guidelines to go by.

 

Earlier albumen cabinet cards have a distinct sepia tone. Gelatin bromide papers were introduced in the 1870s and cabinets started to give off a more black and white image. A cabinet that is in full black and white, with no sepia tones, are generally made in the 1890s or after.

 

Cabinet cards 1880 and earlier generally are on a lightweight card stock mount. The borders will have red or gold single or double lines. The photographer will print his name and address neatly underneath the image or even on the back of the card with his studio name.

 

Cabinet cards from 1880 to 1890 will be mounted on slightly heavier stock and the front and back of the mount will be of different colors. The front will have wide gold borders and/or gold beveled edges. The back will have large studio name and in cursive writing the photographer's name and address. From the late 1880s to 1890s look for gold text on black card stock. Cabinet cards with rounded corners may be in the 1889-1896 date range.