Figure 1.--This is 3 ½ year old Dudley McDaniel Diggs in 1890. Notice the studio describes this as 'Superior We have no idea what this meant, prbably just a way of giving the idea of a high-quality product. Itvhas the whitish look of a 'Ivoryette', but not the characteristic background lighting without a painted backdrop.

Quite a number of American cabinet cards were also marked 'Superior Finish'. The 1890 cabinet card here is a good example (figure 1). Although these various finish systems appeared about the same time and almost entitely are noted in the 1890s. We have found several exmoples from the 1890s. It is possible there were examples in the late-1880s or early-1900s, but so far all the examples we have foond are from the 1890s. Like 'Extra Finish', we do not know just what 'Superior Finish' meant. We think it might just be a little adverising hyperbole meant to give an idea of high quality, better than that of other photographic studios. We do not know of any extra steps differing from the standard albumen process. Perhaps readers will kmow more about this than we do. The only cards with 'Superior Finish' marked are ones we have noted are cards dated to the 1890s. And they also have only whitish mounts. Some of them have an artistlst palette as a kind of logo. We note quite a number of studios using this same logo, suggesting some kind of royalty system. We see palettes being used with other finishing processes. One source suggests that Superior Finish was another burnishing process like Extra Finish. [Phototree] We do not fully understand how this applies to photogrphy. Burnishing means polishing--usually metals. Some of these special like Ivoryettes create very destincive images. We notice nothing special with the Superior Finish cabinet cards that we have found.

Finish Types

Quite a number of American cabinet cards were done wih special finishes. 'Superior Finish' was one of the various types. The 1890 cabinet card here is a good example (figure 1).

Chronology

Although these various finish systems appeared about the same time and almost entitely are noted in the 1890s. We have found several examples from the 1890s. It is possible there were examples in the late-1880s or early-1900s, but so far all the examples we have foond are from the 1890s. The size and shape ocabinet cards began to change at the turn-of-the 20th century. There were also differencolors and other changes. Th old classic style was aklso seen but gradually became less prevalent. We have not found examples of Superior Finish in the new style cabinet cards.

Process

Like 'Extra Finish', we do not know just what 'Superior Finish' meant. We think it might just be a little adverising hyperbole meant to give an idea of high quality, better than that of other photographic studios. We do not know of any extra steps differing from the standard albumen process. Perhaps readers will kmow more about this than we do. The only cards with 'Superior Finish' marked are ones we have noted are cards dated to the 1890s. One source suggests that Superior Finish was another burnishing process like Extra Finish. [Phototree] We do not fully understand how this applies to photogrphy. Burnishing means polishing--usually metals. Some of these special like Ivoryettes create very destincive images. We notice nothing special with the Superior Finish cabinet cards that we have found.

Mounts

All of these special finishes had whiting or ceam mounts. ome of them have an artistlst palette as a kind of logo. We note quite a number of studios using this same logo, suggesting some kind of royalty system. We see palettes being used with other finishing processes.

Sources

Phototree, Gary. Personal communications (September 9, 2019). Gary has a fascinating website about cabinent cards, including a page on Extra Finish.

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Created: 2:15 AM 12/3/2021
Last updated: 2:15 AM 12/3/2021