Ambrotypes

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About Antique Ambrotype Photographs

Invented by Frederick Scott Archer as a cheaper alternative to the daguerreotype, the ambrotype was popular from the 1850’s to 1890’s. The image is made as a negative on a piece of glass, then placed against a black background to make it look like a positive. Ambrotypes were also popular due to their appearance: unlike the shiny, easy-to-tarnish daguerreotypes, they made for a cleaner looking finish.


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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With 19th Century Photograph and Americana Collector Wes Cowan

I’ve always been interested in antiques. As a kid, I collected a variety of stuff – fossils, rocks, minerals, natur… [more]

An Interview with Daile Kaplan of Swann Auction Galleries on Collecting 20th Century Photographs

Swann, which is New York City’s oldest specialty auction house, was founded in the late 1940s as an antiquarian boo… [more]

An Interview With Antique Photograph and Camera Collectors Jack and Beverly Wilgus

We both come from families that had collections and we both had collections as children. Jack lost his when his gra… [more]

An Interview With Metropolitan Museum Curator Jeff Rosenheim On The Postcard Collection Of Walker Evans

In 1994, I had the great pleasure of acquiring the complete archive of Walker Evans for the Metropolitan Museum. Th… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

The Daguerreian Society

The Daguerreian Society

Explore the history, art, and science of antique daguerreotypes. Includes extensive galleries browsable by subject … [read review or visit site]

Art of the Photogravure

Art of the Photogravure

Photographer Mark Katzman's comprehensive and beautiful reference site and collection of Photogravure. A must for p… [read review or visit site]

Collection of Collections

Collection of Collections

Jack and Beverly Wilgus' personal collection website, of which the most interesting areas are: strongmen and strong… [read review or visit site]

Square America

Square America

If you like vernacular photographs of everyday 20th century life, you'll love Square America, a collection of onlin… [read review or visit site]

Wisconsin Historical Images

Wisconsin Historical Images

The Wisconsin Historical Society has really outdone themselves with these excellent galleries focused on the 1880s-… [read review or visit site]

Cliff House Project

Cliff House Project

Gary Stark’s encyclopedic website is dedicated to photos and historical information on San Francisco’s legendar… [read review or visit site]

Time Tales

Time Tales

An amazing compilation of found photographs divided up by era (pre-1930, 1930-1950, 1950-1970, 1970-1990, and 1990-… [read review or visit site]


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Clubs & Associations: Photographs


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Ambrotype Street Scene Great Barrington Massachusetts$338.00 Ends Saturday 2 bids 8 watchers
Glaister Australian Antique Ambrotype Naval Wedding$185.23 Ends Monday 9 bids 21 watchers
Civil War Soldier Image , Double Armed Ambrotype $153.49 Ends Friday 3 bids 28 watchers
Civil War Soldier W/ Colt Revolver Photo Ambrotype$152.50 Ends Thursday 6 bids 39 watchers
6th Plate Ambrotype Photograph Civil War Soldier$127.50 Ends Friday 6 bids 24 watchers
Large Ambrotype Of Id'd Pennsylvania Fellow$100.00 Ends Saturday 7 bids 22 watchers
Vintage Ambrotype Photo, Confederate Uniformed Soldier$99.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 8 watchers
Rare Two 1/4 Plate Ambrotype C1870's $90.00 Ends Friday 1 bid 2 watchers
Pre Civil War Ambrotype Of Lafayette Curry Baker Rare$89.88 Ends Friday 5 bids 23 watchers
Civil War Confederate Id Lt. Col In Uniform Ambrotype $67.00 Ends Friday 5 bids 14 watchers
Civil War Soldier ? Ruby Ambrotype Man In Kepi 1/9th$57.36 Ends in 2 hours 9 bids 16 watchers
6th Plate Ambrotype Photograph Civil War Soldier$51.00 Ends Friday 2 bids 9 watchers
1860's Ambrotype Of Man In Orig. 4"$47.77 Ends in 2 hours 3 bids 2 watchers
116 Antique Brass Mats Tintype Daguerreotype Ambrotype Buy it Now$45.88 Ends Saturday 5 bids 14 watchers
Antique Photo Gentleman Ambrotype Frame/case 1850's$37.99 Ends in 4 hours 6 bids 11 watchers
Soldier- Civil War Period-ambrotype$36.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 15 watchers
Ruby Ambrotype Of Bearded Man And Girl In Full Case$32.00 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 5 watchers
1/2 Plate Tinted Ambrotype/man/wife/little Girl/beauty!$22.95 Ends Sunday 6 bids 11 watchers
Early Civil War Era Gentleman Ambrotype Photo 1/4$20.50 Ends in 4 hours 5 bids 8 watchers
1/9 Plate Tinted Ambrotype/handsome Male/w/chops$19.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 1 watcher
1860's Whole Plate Man & Horse Us Civil War Ambrotype $19.50 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 5 watchers
2 Antique Photos Ambrotype In Full Case Civil War Men$17.99 Ends in 23 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
1/16 Plate Ambrotype Of A Beautiful Woman$15.50 Ends Thursday 2 bids 5 watchers
Us Civil War Era Ruby Ambrotype Dated 1864: Demure Lass$14.42 Ends Saturday 5 bids 2 watchers
Wonderfully Tinted Ambrotype. Great Quality$13.00 Ends Sunday 3 bids 4 watchers
Two Antique Photos Ambrotype In Cases With Stands$12.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 3 watchers
Daguerreotype Ambrotype Tintype Photo Lot$12.38 Ends Sunday 2 bids 6 watchers
Ambrotype. Half Case. Beauty Girl Deformed Hand.tinting$11.61 Ends Saturday 2 bids 4 watchers
Antique Tinted Ambrotype Of A Young Girl W/ Case L@@k !$11.00 Ends Thursday 5 bids 14 watchers
1/9 Plate Ambrotype Pretty Young Girl In Dress Scared!$10.00 Ends Friday 4 bids 3 watchers
Ambrotype Of A Little Girl$9.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 3 watchers
Ambrotype Of Man & Boy & Woman & Girl$9.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 1 watcher
Ambrotype Of An Old Man$9.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 1 watcher
Double Sided Ambrotype Of A Woman & A Man$9.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 1 watcher
Ambrotype Of Two Little Girls$9.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 2 watchers
Ambrotype Of A Young Woman$9.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid
Ambrotype Of A Gentleman$9.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 1 watcher
Ambrotype Of A Little Girl$9.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 5 watchers
Tinted Ambrotype In Antique Gold Filled Locket$9.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 5 watchers
Curious 6th Plate Ambrotype Man & Woman Holding Items$9.95 Ends Thursday 1 bid 2 watchers
Vintage Large Hanging Ambrotype$9.95 Ends Saturday 1 bid 2 watchers
Ambrotype-1850's Man W/ Top Hat-image On Glass* Rare$6.50 Ends Friday 2 bids 8 watchers
1/9 Plate Ambrotype Pretty Girl Pig Tails In Black$6.16 Ends Friday 2 bids 6 watchers
Ambrotype: Serious Victorian Boy + Horse Toy On Chair$5.91 Ends Saturday 3 bids 1 watcher
1/9 Plate Ambrotype Handsome Young Man W/nice Hair$4.99 Ends Friday 1 bid 2 watchers
1/9 Plate Ambrotype Old Lady With Lace Dress$4.99 Ends Friday 1 bid 1 watcher
Victorian Ambrotype Nice Image Father And Daughter$3.89 Ends Sunday 2 bids 3 watchers
Antique Portrait Photo Ambrotype Woman Union Case$1.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 3 watchers

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