Figure 1.-- The cabinet card became the dominant portrait format in America during the 1870s and became even less common in the 1880s. . We still see some CDVs in America during the 80s. A good example is Henry Gates Hayes in Dover, New Hampshire. Note the gold edging.

Major differences developed between photography in American and Europe concerning photographic portraits. The cabinet card became the dominant portrait format in America during the 1870s and became even less common in the 1880s. . We still see some CDVs in America during the 80s. A good example is Henry Gates Hayes in Dover, New Hampshire (figure 1). Quite a few of the CDVs we find cane from New England. Another example is Jesse Bell in 1884 on the previous page. CDVs although not rare in the American photographic record, were much less common than cabinet cards. Assessing prevalence, however, is complicated by the fact that so few CDVs are dated. While not very common in America, CDVs were still common in Europe. Cabinet cards did not largely replace the CDV as was the case in America. We are not sure why this very apparent disparity developed. Some possible reasons occur to us. Increasing American affluence may be a factor. Cabinet cards were a little more expensive. Perhaps more conservative European society was slower to change. But in fact we have no real idea concerning this difference. The poses on CDVs seem similar to those used for cabinet crds. The studio informstion t the bottom, however, tended to be done differently.

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Created: 7:26 AM 9/6/2011
Last updated: 7:27 AM 9/6/2011