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From Mathew Brady's Civil War photos to Ansel Adams' landscapes to Irving Penn's magazine shots, antique and vintage photographs are highly collectible. Photography was introduced in the U.S. in 1839, and immediately became popular.
Daguerreotypes dominated the field of photography until the mid-1850s. A daguerreotype is a copper plate covered with a thin layer of polished silver that looks like a mirror when held at a certain angle. By the mid-1840s, they were affordable for the average person, and it is therefore relatively easy to find old daguerreotypes today. Most daguerreotypes were studio portraits, where the subject posed for the photograph at the photographer's studio. Daguerreotypes featuring outdoor or street scenes are far rarer.
In the mid-1850s, ambrotypes replaced the daguerreotype. An ambrotype is a negative that has been put on glass and placed against a black background to make it look like a positive. Ambrotypes were popular until the 1890s. Another example of a cased image like the daguerreotype or ambrotype is the tintype, which was patented in 1856 and was made using a thin sheet of iron...
Stereoviews, also known as stereographs, were also created in the late 1850s and reached a peak of popularity in the 1870s. Stereoviews were cheap photographs that simulated a 3D view. In the 1880s, various companies decided to mass-market stereoviews that featured pictures of foreign locations to homes and schools. Stereoviews remained popular throughout the early 1900s.
In 1859, the carte de visite, which had been created in France, was introduced to the U.S. The carte de visite, or CDV, was a 2.5 inch by 4 inch print made of paper. As it was more affordable than previous forms of photography, it was accessible to a wider group of people. Many Civil War soldiers had their photographs taken and printed as a CDV.
Real photo postcards are another popular form of photographic print. Real photo postcards were made by developing a photograph onto postcard-sized photo paper with a postcard backing. They are still made today.
The most popular paper photographic print is the gelatin silver print, or black and white photograph. Gelatin silver prints have a long lifespan if well-maintained. Most 20th century photographs were monochromatic, and it wasn't until the 1960s that color photography became commonplace.
Scarcity, condition, and the identity of the photographer and subject all play a role in determining the value of antique and vintage photographs. Some examples of popular (and collectible) photographers include Lewis Hine, Robert Frank, W. Eugene Smith, Danny Lyon, Paul Outerbridge, Jr., and the photographers associated with the Farm Security Administration, such as Ben Shahn, Dorothea Lange, and Walker Evans.
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by Interviews & Articles
Take That, Instagram: The Enduring Allure of Vintage Snapshots
In an essay for her 1977 series "On Photography," Susan Sontag wrote that "photography has become almost as widely practiced an am… [more]
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Photos From the Front: Veterans You Love
Today, America honors its military veterans, who have served our country in times of war and peace. If you want to delve in the hu… [more]
Found Photos: When Rock Lost Its Innocence
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The Woman Behind Bettie Page
From 1952 to 1957, a not-so-shy model and camera-club girl named Bettie Page worked for a New York City men’s magazine publisher n… [more]
The Day Johnny Cash Flipped Off Jim Marshall
Photographer Jim Marshall, who grew up in San Francisco’s Fillmore district in the 1940s and '50s, and passed away in March of 201… [more]
Total Immersion Collecting: Baptism Photos
Collecting anything is fun—somehow any group of objects always equals more than the sum of its parts. Personally, I prefer groups … [more]
19th-Century Photographs, from Daguerreotypes to Cartes de Visites
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Daile Kaplan of Swann Auction Galleries on Collecting 20th Century Photographs
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From Ambrotypes to Stereoviews, 150 Years of Photographs
We both come from families that had collections and we both had collections as children. Jack lost his when his grandmother threw … [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
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
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
The Wisconsin Historical Society has really outdone themselves with these excellent galleries focused on the 1880s-… [read review or visit site]
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
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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Top eBay Auctions
Bruce Lee Signed B/w Big Boss Photograph
Handsome Young Civil War Soldier 5 Pistols Revolvers Guns Sword Tinted Tintype
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Rare 1/4 Plate Daguerrotype Edw. C. Devoe On Mail Stage In Bedford 1866
Alfred Cheney Johnston Vintage Nude Erotica Photograph Art Deco Oversized Rare
Bert Stern Signed Original Famous Marilyn Monroe Crucifix 2 Listed By The Artist
Chios Greece- Kardamylla Photo Total Eclipse Of Sun At 1936 In Chios Island
The Beatles Original Photo Signed By Paul, Ringo, George & John January '67 Rare
C1890 Photo China Shanghai The Bund
Civil War Stereoview Photograph, # 234 Gardner's, Federal Soldiersgettysburg 
Complete 55 Stereoview Boxed Set St Louis Worlds Fair Underwood Map, Booklet 
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Autographed Photo Of Baseball's Greatest
Old Photograph China, Hong Kong. Street Scene With Tram Bus & Canal, 1940s
Marilyn Monroe Original Vintage 1940s Early Studio Publicity Photograph Skiing
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Hong Kong 1920's B/w Real Photo Causeway Bay Tramway Station
Rare 1900's Vintage Photo The Clam Digger American Indian By Edward S. Curtis
Antique Daguerreotype Photograph Of A Military Soldier Officer
Star Trek Ltd Ed Original Hand Autographed Framed Photo Of Cast With Coa 
Robert Trent Jones Autographed Photo
Avengers Full Cast Autographed Add Photo Rare!!! With Coa
Iconic 1972 Wire Photo "napalm Girl" Vietnam By Nick Ut
3 Early Real Photo Postcards Barkhamsted Conn Ct C1906 Old Bridge Post Office +
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Ww1 Photo Album Of Hms Hyancinth And Her Time In German East Africa Zanzibar 
Outlander Quote Signed By Diana Gabaldon Framed W/photo Urquhart Castle A. Hall
Photo Reagan Bush Nixon Ford Signed Inaugural Reagan Invitation Guarantee Certs.
Stereographic Library By Keystone View Co. 370 Picture
Camp Drake Korea, 1954-55 Photo Slide Journey Over 300 Slides, Well Indexed
Music Memorabilia - Signed Photograph Of Composer Jerome Kern
Ww1 Era Royal Flying Corps? Aviator's Certificate 1915 Pilot License + Photo
1931 Antique Goodyear Zeppelin Akron Dirigible Margaret Bourke-white Photograph
Josephine Baker Fantastic Vintage 1937 Signed Doubleweight Photograph Autograph
Great Real Photo Greeting Comic Topical Antique Postcard Lot 650 Pcs 
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George Reeves 1949 Authentic Original Signed Autograph Album Page + Photograph
Lt. James G Campbell 19th Illinois Infantry Civil War Cdv Photograph
1850's Dag - West Point Grad - Kentucky Confederate W/ Id
Russian Empress Maria Feodorovna
1948 Rarest Marilyn Monroe Vintage Photograph W/press Snipe Pin Up Adele Jergens
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Edward J Kelty Photograph Ringling Brothers And Barnum Bailey
Pablo Picasso - Modern Print Edward Quinn - Rare Limited Print - Sold Out
Persis Khambatta Signed Autographed Photo Star Trek The Motion Picture Ilia Auto
600+ View Master Reels With 3 Viewers & 1 Projector Ny Estate
Arapaho War Chief Indian Native-american Cdv*by Chamberlain Denver Colorado*exc
Cdv Photo Of Civil War Officer,john G. Strayer? Wright&prescott,terre Haute,ind.
1860s Cdv Photo Of Civil War Soldier, R.f. Cathman? Klauber Louisville, Indiana
Flute Dag! A Rare & Impressive Daguerreotype Of A Concert Flautist & His Flute!
Apollo 13 James Lovell Signed In-flight 8 X 10 Photograph
Bob Delmonteque Doubleweight Photo Of Mike Sill Male Nude Beefcake Bodybuilder
Antique Cdv Jules Leotard C1860 Circus Trapeze Artist
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Photo + Full History 1840's Antique British Army Sword Afghan + Sikh Wars India 
Recent News: Photographs
Source: Google News
Toronto Jewish Literary Festival set
Canadian Jewish News (blog), May 20thOnly Yesterday: Collected Pieces on the Jews of Toronto, by Ben Kayfetz and Stephen Speisman, and presents highlights from a recently surfaced photograph collection of old synagogues and other subjects taken by Speisman between 1966 and 1972...Read more
Cupertino Woman Wins Award For New Children's Book
Patch.com, May 19thThe illustrations are joined by vintage photographs from the company archives. The book fair and publishing seminar was held at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. For more information, please go to www.sanfranciscobookfestival.com. The book is available at...Read more
West Point railroad museum tracks area history
Jackson Clarion Ledger, May 18thAs Gray talked of vintage photographs on the walls and glass cases filled with memorabilia, it became obvious the railroad is in his blood. “There's about only one way I reckon they'll get it out of me, and that's formaldehyde.” Railways changed...Read more
Florida's Franklin County's secret coast, Alligator Point and Apalachicola ...
Philadelphia Sunday Sun, May 17thThe Apalachicola Maritime Museum interprets the history of Apalachicola through displays, artifacts and dioramas and of particular note are the vintage photographs of the cotton era. www.cityofapalachicola.com. Franciscan friars were the earliest settlers...Read more
List of Founder's Day exhibits and presentations
Vineland Daily Journal, May 17thHistory of Vineland featuring Dr. Frank DeMaio as Vineland founder Charles K. Landis, with vintage photographs. (Page 2 of 3). Clara Barton will be portrayed by Rosanne Hughes, who will share nursing history and the story of the Civil War nurse who...Read more
Tolbooth secrets out
Forres Gazette, May 17thTHE big green door will be unlocked on the Forres Tolbooth this week and an invitation extended to the public, to come in for a look around. The public are welcome to view a photograph collection featuring pictures of old Forres in the Tolbooth rent...Read more
Book sheds light on schooner era's sunset years
SouthCoastToday.com, May 16thEach event will begin with a 20-minute talk featuring stories and vintage photographs, followed by a book signing. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at $19.99. For further information, call Tucker at (508) 993-9667. HOME. Reader...Read more
Polish community featured in Wallington history book
NorthJersey.com, May 14thAs part of the "Images of America" series published by Arcadia, "Wallington's Polish Community" is a 128-page book filled with vintage photographs that illustrate community gatherings, celebrations and daily life at several local landmarks. It is the...Read more