Figure 1.--Cabinet cards were a very popular portrait type in the late-19th century. They quickly surpased the popularity of the CDV in America. Most cabinet cards were undated, but the clothing style, props, stahe setting, and mount characteristics can be used to date these portraits. The Fauntleroy suit here almost certinly dates this portrait after 1885. The whicker furniture dates it to the very late-1890s or early-1900s. While cabinet are generally not dated, they usually do indicate where they were taken.

There are substantial differences in the chronological pattern for caninent cards in the United States and Europe. The cabinet card was introduced for portraits in America during 1866. I assume this was the approximate time it was introduced in Europe, but have no details at this time. Caninent cards actually appeared before 1866, but mostly for landscape views. But the first portraits appear in 1866. Cabinet cards in America soon surpassed the smaller CDV format in popularity. CDVs continued to be popular in Europe, but their popularity declined sharply in America by the 1880s. I am bot sure why this difference developed. Note the 1866 date. This means that there were no Civil War cabinet cards. There were Civil War CDVs, but no Civil War cabinet cards. The CDV was the doiminant format during the 1860s. We note both cabinet cards and CDVs during the 1870s. The cabinet card had largely replaced the CDV in America by the 1880s. The cabinet cards in America were particularly popular from 1875-1895. Caninent cards began to decline in the late 1890s, but especially after 1900. We note a tendency for framed portraits (decorated paper frames) by the 1900s as well as the popularity of postcard portraits. In addition, the development of the Kodak Brownie and the popularity of amateur snapshots led to a decline in formal studio portrait. The popularity of cabinet cards persisted longer in Europe. Also after 1895 new forms of portraits appeared. Cabinet cards declined as a result after 1895 and become increasing rare in America during the 1900s. The time line is somewhat different in Europe where cabinet cards were still being made at the nset of World War I in 1914. A few were even still being made in the early 1920s. A related fevelopment was the decline of the card photograph album, replaced by the snapshot (an unmounted paper print) and the scrapbook album. A problem working with cabinet cards, as with other formats is that most are not dated. We are developing information on the chronology of these cards.

The 1860s

The cabinet card was introduced for portraits in America during 1866. I assume this was the approximate time it was introduced in Europe, but have no details at this time. Caninent cards actually appeared before 1866, but mostly for landscape views. But the first portraits appear in 1866. Note the 1866 date. This means that there were no Civil War cabinet cards. There were Civil War CDVs, but no Civil War cabinet cards. The CDV was the doiminant format during the 1860s. We notice stage settings with balustrades, columns and curtains.

The 1870s

Cabinet cards in America soon surpassed the smaller CDV format in popularity, but not in Europe. We are bot sure why this difference developed. We note both cabinet cards and CDVs during the 1870s. The cabinet card had largely replaced the CDV in America by the 1880s. The cabinet cards in America were particularly popular from 1875-95. We see rustic settings such as small bridge over a creek or a stile. A stile is usually steps (ladders or a narrow gap in a rural setting providing a passage through or over a fence or other boundary. It allows people but not livestock to pass.

The 1880s

CDVs continued to be popular in Europe, but their popularity declined sharply in America by the 1880s. We note settings with hammocks, swings and railway carriages. We also see clasical settings with walls that look old or overturned coloumns that suggest abtuquity. Ivy might be added. A good example is Esther Jakeman in 1881. We also continue to see rustic settings. These continued into the very early 1890s, but were much more common in the 80s. A good example is Walter Hoskins in 1890.

The 1890s

Caninent cards began to decline in the late 1890s, but especially after 1900. We note cardwith serrated edges and smooyth crnrs in the late-1880s and early 90s. We see a lot of light-colored mounts in the 1890s. After mid-decade we begin to see a lot of wicker furniture in the portraits. White wicker was espcially popular. A good exampleis an unidentifid Connecticut boy in 1898. We see both cabinet cards and CDVs in Germany during the 1890s. A good example of a German cabinet card is an unidentified Stargard family. We note major changes in the mounts during the 1890s. About mid-decade new style mounts appear, although they do not become very common until after the turn of the century. The old-style mounts are still the dominant style during the 1890s. We also begin to see embossing in the 1890s, especially the late-90s. We note settings with palm trees, cockatoos (usually stuffed specimens) and bicycles or similar conveyences.

The 1900s

Most photographic portraits since the 1860s were done as either CDVs of cabinet cards. This changed at the turn-of-the 20th century. We still see many cabinet cards in the 1900s, butb photographs began to be done in many different ways. We note a tendency for framed portraits (decorated paper frames) by the 1900s as well as the popularity of postcard-back portraits beginning about 1904. The family snapshots from the new Kodak Browies were often printed on post-card back paper. Tdevelopment of the Kodak Brownie and the popularity of amateur snapshots seems to have greatly expanded the numbdr of available images. It may have adversrly affected formal studio portraits go some extent, but westill see large numbers of cabinet cards. The popularity of cabinet cards and even CDVs persisted longer in Europe. Also after about 1895 new forms of cabinet cards appeared. This may have been in part a response to the greater competition from amateur photography. Studios may have thought that the new cabinet mounts would attract more interest. The old-style cabinet cards mounts did not disappear so we dee both the new styles and the old styles during the 1900s. Overall the popularity of cabinet cards declined during the 1900s. We see very few American CDVs during this decaded, but some CDVs were made in Europe.

The 1910s

The time line is somewhat different in Europe and America where cabinet cards were still being made at the onset of World War I (1914). In America we still see some cabinet cards as well, but the mounts changed. we no longer see the traditional albumen prints with the studio name and city as a banner and the bottom and a wider frame affect. Thed card mount was often a little larger than 19th century mounts, but not the actual photograph. A lot of the mounts were whire shades. We see both portraits and snapshots being done as postcards. Post cards in particulsr becsame very popuilar as they could be sent to friends. Many portraits were done with paper frames of various kinds. Most cabinent cards that we have found from the 1910s were done in the early 10s.

The 1920s

A few cabinet cards were even still being made in the early 1920s. A related fevelopment was the decline of the card photograph album, replaced by the snapshot (an unmounted paper print) and the scrapbook album.

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Created: 9:51 AM 7/9/2006
Last updated: 3:34 AM 4/23/2011