Figure 1.-- Here we see a print from the 1933 World Scout Jamboree in Hungary during 1933.Notice the white margin and serated edges. We are not sure where the photograph was printed. It coukd have been in Hungaryor perhaps the boys had it printed when they got home. This coukld mean Scotland or whatever country from wgich the unidentified Scout came.

At first all snapshots were black and white. There were different many varied chracteristics for the new snapshots. . Assessing these characteristics can provide some useful information. Many of the early snapshots were done with postcard backs. This was at first very common. This facilitated sending them to friends and family. These postcard prints were generally done without borders, the image continuing to the edge of the print. As regular prints became more common, we begin to see white borders. Prints were usually done with white borders. This was not for the esthetics, but it had to do with the way snapshots were printed. The edges had to be held down and were thus not exposed. The sizes and aspect ratio of the prints varied. This was in part a reflection of the size and shape of the negatives which was affdected by the type of camera. The borders varied in size. There were also different ways of doing the edges. There were clean cut edges, jagged or serrated edges, and pinking. The pinking was more common with cabinet card portraits. And we begin to see serrated (scalloped or irregular) edges and not just straight (smooth) edges. There were also differences in the serration. We are just beginning to sort out the chronolohies. The serrated edge print here was from Europe and dated 1933 (figure 1). And I recall serrated edges in America during the 1950s. We also see prints without borders, but this was primarily when color photography became more common in the 1970s. There were also rounded corners as well as differet shaped prints. The first prints were mostly rectangular following the conventions of the CDVs and cabinet cards. We begin to see square prints in the inter-War era. These various chracteristics are of some practical importance. All these factors, including borders, margins, shapes, edges, and corners can be used to help date photographic snap shots, most of which are undated. Most of the images we have are American. The time line for these various characteristics may vary somewhat from country to country.

Size and Aspect Ratios

The sizes and shapes (aspect ratio) of the prints varied. The first prints were mostly rectangular following the conventions of the CDVs and cabinet cards. This was also in part a reflection of the size and shape of the negatives which was affected by the type of camera. Rectangular prints 3 x 5 inches became very common, almost standard. We begin to see square prints in the inter-War era. We also see very small prunts, primarily in Germany.

Fronts

As regular prints became more common, we begin to see white borders. Prints were usually done with white borders. This was not the case for the post-card-back snap shots and portraits that appeared in the early-1900s. We are not sure why the podt-card back prints and plain snapshot prints were done differently. Except for pot-card back snapshots, virtuaslly all blsck-andwhite snapshotrs were done with white borders. The borders wee so common, that people creating digital prograns with old images will add the borders to give the images an old time look. We even see some commercisl postcards done with hite bordrs. Hooefully readers will have some insights on these bordsers. We are not entirely sure why white borders were introduced. We see it both in the United States nd in Europe. The borders reduced the size of the image printed on the paper. We do not think it was done for aesthetics. It probably had to do with the way snapshots were printed. The paper had to be kept flat when it was exposed in the darkroom. This was done by holding down the edges while the image was exposed. The part of the paper had to be held down and thus was not exposed. The borders varied in size. We are still working on the chronology of these white borders. We see the borders in the 1910s through the 70s. During this period virtually all black-and-white prints were done with white borders. We also see prints without borders, but this was primarily when color photography became more common in the 1970s. There were also rounded corners.

Edges

There were also different ways of doing the edges. There were clean cut edges, jagged or serrated edges, and pinking. The most common approach was straight cut edges. We see strauh=ght cut edges from the earlist amateur pptints in the late 19th century and more commonly after the turn-of-the 20th century when amateur photographyt became commonplace and millions of images sudenly emerged. Serration was another option. We are not sure what the serration was about. We think it was condsidered to be a decortive. POerhps readers will have a better ideThe pinking was more common with cabinet card portraits. The straight cut shWe take it to be regular perforation iThe serrated and straight edges were available at the same time. The stright edges existed throughout the 20t century, And we begin to see serrated (scalloped or irregular) edges and not just straight (smooth) edges. There were also differences in the serrationn both heavy nf ligh serration. We are just beginning to sort out the chronolohies. The serrated edge print here was from Europe and was dated 1933 (figure 1). And I recall serrated edges in America during the 1950s. We note the serrated edges during the 1930s-50s. (this is just a prelimary assessment. They were probzbly available in the 1920s and 60s as well. This is in America and Germany. We are not yet sure about other countries.

Backs

Many of the early snapshots were done with postcard backs. This was at first very common. This facilitated sending them to friends and family. These postcard prints were generally done without borders, the image continuing to the edge of the print.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits] [Sailor hats] [Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Tunics] [T-shirts] [Jeans] [Sneakers]

Created: 10:50 AM 6/11/2012
Last updated: 10:50 AM 6/11/2012