Figure 1.--This is a sample of the cabinet cards made in America during the 1910s. This one of the Lindsley children was made for Christmas in December 1910. Thevmount was a cream color. Note the embossed frame.

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 white shades. Some look like cream, but this may be in part an aging effect. Borders were done in various ways. Some seem emnossed or pessed. Others were printed. Caninet cards were no longer the most common type of portraits. We also We see both portraits and snapshots being done as postcards rather than cabinet cards by the 1910s. Post cards in particular becsame very popular 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.

Country Trends

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. We do not yet have infoirmation on other countries.

Chronology

Most cabinent cards that we have found from the 1910s were done in the early 10s. The popularity of these cards was bedclining by the early 1910s and declined even more during the decade.

Size

The card mount was often a little larger than 19th century mounts, but not the actual photographic image. Both the size of the mount abnd image varied. There were variations in the size of the actual photographic image. Some filled up most of the mount while others were smaller with the card stock taking up much of the space. We have always wonderdc about this. One would think the buyer would want a large image. What is the valie ifca greatbig cabinet mount and a small image. Perhaps price was a factor. Here we are not sure. The small images, however, were less common in the 1910s. We see many more in the 1900s.

Colors

A lot of the mounts seem to have been done in white shades. Some look like cream, but this may be in part an aging effect. We also notice vatious grey shades--mostly blue-green shades. The green mounts often have a kind of olive shade. Geyish shades were also common.

Borders

Borders were done in various ways. Some seem emnossed or pessed. Others were printed. Caninet cards were no longer the most common type of portraits.

Formats

Cabinent cards in the 1910s were also done in different formats. We see few of the old 19th century format cards. Most were the new 20th century forjmnstscthat appeared primarily in the 1900s. The two most common formats were rectangular and oval images. The cards themselves were usually rectangular. It was the actual photographic image placed on the nounts that varied. Both were fairly common. This is a little difficult to assess because so few of the cards are dated, but we are gradually expanding our archive. There were also squares, but we see more of those in the 1900s. The squares were often small cabinet cards. We also do not see many square cards.

Other Portrait Types

We also We see both portraits and snapshots being done as postcards rather than cabinet cards by the 1910s. Post cards in particular becsame very popular as they could be sent to friends. Many portraits were done with paper frames of various kinds.

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Created: 9:51 AM 7/9/2006
Last updated: 6:41 PM 8/28/2010