Figure 1.--Here we see a portrit of Iowa boy Carl Schrader about 1885. The CDV mount is styled more like a cabinet card with a stylistic font for the studio name. Only if we have the dimensions of the card can we tell it is a CDV.

We continue to see cabinet cards throughout the late-19th century. But by the 1880s they begin to become much less common in the photographic record as Americans turned to the larger cabinet cards. The 1880s is the last decade we see any substabtial numbr of CDVs in the American photographic record. We take this to be a good reflection of actual prevalence. We are not sure why the CDV persisted into the 1880s. There are several possibilities. Perhaps they were less expensive. Or perhaps some parents wanted smaller sized photographs for scrapbooking. Perhaps they fit into a letter envelope better. We just are not sure. Maybe readers will know more. Interestingly, the CDV for some reason held its own in many European countries. We see sizeable numbrs of CDVs in Ebgland, France, and Germany. At any rate, we have found a few American exmples from the decade. Here we see a portrit of Iowa boy Carl Schrader about 1885. The CDV mount is styled more like a cabinet card with a stylistic font for the studio name. We see a CDV of the Knapp children in 1887 in the previous page. The CDV displays most of the characteristics of 1880s cabinet cards. Only the dimensions of the card reveal it is a CDV. We are not sure at this time how many Americn CDV mounts retined the 1870s styling and hiw many adopted more cabinet-card style mounts. Note the rounded corners and lack of ruling. Also the image covers most of the mount. And notice both the elavorate sets and the fancy font used for the studio and city.

Created: 4:16 AM 1/4/2016
Last updated: 4:16 AM 1/4/2016