Figure 1.-- This new style mount has texture framing, wide margins, and studio information in a small, very plain font. The portrait shows Richard Lancaster Witzleben in 1899. Most 19th century mounts indicated the city and state. Here we only have the street address. And unfirtuntely there are many Lake Aveunes througout the United Srates. Many of the new style mounts did not have any studio information at all. And for some reason, unlike the old style monts, there are vert rarely any backs with elaborate printed informatin and designs.

Cabinet cards for several decades had the same size and styled mounts. Suddenly around the turn-of-the 20th century we see major changes in the mounts. Suddenly we see a great variety of shapes and sizes as well as changes in colors. While the major shift occurred at the turn-of-the century, we do see some of the new styled cards in the late-1890s decade beginning about 1895. This was quite starteling given how similar the cards were for over 30 years. And the studio logos changed. Some were smaller than traditional cabinet cards and some were larger. Many had much larger margins and card area than the classic style. We see some larger cards, but not with larger actual photographic images. There were also different shapes, such as squares. A good example is a portrait of Richard Lancaster Witzleben in 1899 (figure 1). It is a cream card with an indented frames and modeled surface texture. We do not see many before this. But we see large numbers with the turn-of-the-century. Also a greenish grey color for the mounts became popular, but these we do not note until after the turn-of-the century. The color of the new style mounts were mostly whitish or cream shades. There were some cards similar to the classic cards, but with the studio information done differently.

Sudden Change

Cabinet cards for several decades had the same size and styled mounts. Suddenly around the turn-of-the 20th century we see major changes in the mounts. We have no idea why this change occurred just at this time and so suddently. We suspect the increasing popularity of the family snapshot was a factor. What ever the reason, we suddenly see a great variety of shapes and sizes as well as changes in colors. While the major shift occurred at the turn-of-the century, we do see some of the new styled cards in the late-1890s decade beginning about 1895. The card here was dated 1899 (figure 1), but we see some of these new cards a few years earlier. We do not see all of the new styles and colors in he late 890s. In fact almost all of the early examples are white shades including cream, a color popular with the classic cabinet cards at the time. But we do notice changing styles. The most popular change was a slightly larger card with wider margins. The card here is a good example is also a good example of this. This was quite starteling give how similar the cards were for over 30 years.

Logos and Studio Information

And the studio logos changed. There were some cards similar to the classic cards, but with the studio information done differently. Basically we begin seeing less studio information presented. This was especially the case on the back of the cards. Fior three decades the back of the cards was used basically for studio advertising.

Size

Some were smaller than traditional cabinet cards and some were larger. We see some larger cards, but not with larger actual photographic images.

Margins

Many had much larger margins and card area than the classic style.

Shapes

There were also different shapes, such as squares.

Colors

The new styled cars in the late-1990s were almost all whir=te or white shades like cream. A good example is a portrait of Richard Lancaster Witzleben in 1899 (figure 1). It is a cream card with an indented frames and moddeled surface texture. We do not see many before this. But we see large numbers with the turn-of-the-century. Also a greenish grey color for the mounts became popular, but these we do not note until after the turn-of-the century.

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Created: 10:34 PM 2/24/2018
Last updated: 11:34 PM 11/19/2018