About Antique Tintype Photographs

While most early photo processes involved paper or light metal plates, tintypes (aka ferrotypes) used a sheet of thin iron. Patented in 1856, tintypes are recognizable by their yellowish color and small sizes. The smallest plates are called gem tintypes, and are common in lockets or jewelry. Like daguerreotypes, they tend to tarnish easily. This medium was popular for many years, due to its higher developing speed and easy-to-clip material, making it ideal for framing.


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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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Military Soldier With Gun Tintype Photo Cival War?$184.50 Ends Thursday 8 bids 36 watchers
1870's Tintype Photograph Of 2 Armed Western Cowboys$158.49 Ends in 11 hours 9 bids 41 watchers
Three Civil War Union Soldiers-ambrotype & Tintype$152.50 Ends Friday 9 bids 9 watchers
12 Daguerreotype Ambro Tintype Family Cased Photo Lot$145.00 Ends in 11 hours 5 bids 27 watchers
Rare 1870's Tintype Photograph Of Armed Western Cowboy$119.00 Ends in 11 hours 9 bids 44 watchers
Civil War Photograph Tin Type Union Soldier W/ Riffle$99.99 Ends Saturday 1 bid 11 watchers
Tinted Mammoth Tintype Of Family Foursome$86.09 Ends in 10 hours 3 bids 3 watchers
Painted Tintype Of Boy In Original Walnut Frame$80.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 1 watcher
Baseball Sports Team Uniform Ball Tintype Must See!$76.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 6 watchers
Antique Photo Album Tintype Brown Leather & Gold $68.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 12 watchers
Antique Tintype Photograph Civil War Soldier In Uniform$67.66 Ends Thursday 10 bids 20 watchers
Tintype Occupational Harness Maker W/1860's Tax Stamp$67.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 28 watchers
Civil War Solider Tintype Pearl Inlay Book Frame Orig$64.36 Ends in 10 hours 13 bids 27 watchers
Tintype Black African American Young Man Winter Hat$56.00 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 4 watchers
1870s Leather Gem Tintype Album Rockland Maine 24 Pics$52.75 Ends Friday 3 bids 4 watchers
Tin Type Post Civil War Sailor Seated In Studio$49.99 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
Antique~victorian~photo~album~cdv~tin Type~leather~full$49.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 2 watchers
Great Walnut Shadow Box Frame Full Plate Tintype Of Boy$46.00 Ends in 11 hours 3 bids 22 watchers
Armed Civil War Soldier And Wife-tintype$41.00 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 13 watchers
Antique Tintype Mother/daughter In Gutta Percha Case$40.99 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 5 watchers
Black Woman In Plaid Dress & Gold Tintype High Contrast$36.77 Ends in 10 hours 6 bids 2 watchers
Handsome Civil War Soldier In Uniform Tintype$36.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 12 watchers
Nice Group Of 15 Old Tintype Photos Syracuse New York$35.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 1 watcher
Big Lot Antique Tintype Ambrotype Photo Baby Kids More$31.22 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 15 watchers
1872 Nice Little Girl Post Mortem Tintype Photograph$31.03 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 10 watchers
Nice Group Of 9 Old Tintype & Ambrotype Photos$31.00 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 2 watchers
1875 Diary Civil War Photo Mixed Paper Lot..tintype$27.99 Ends Thursday 4 bids 14 watchers
1860s Tintype Pair Of Ex Soldiers Virginia In Full Case$27.74 Ends in 10 hours 8 bids 6 watchers
Tintype Photo Occupational Chimney Sweep 1860's$27.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 11 watchers
Tintype Young Girl, Doll, Retriever Dog$26.44 Ends Thursday 3 bids 8 watchers
Antique Miniature Photo Album 1800's Tintypes$26.00 Ends Sunday 7 bids 22 watchers
Tintype Of A Good Looking Civil War Soldier$26.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 14 watchers
Clown Circus Performer Actor Tintype - No Reserve$26.00 Ends in 12 hours 3 bids 9 watchers
Civil War Gem Tintype Metal Frame Pair Of Young Girls$25.77 Ends in 9 hours 6 bids 14 watchers
Civil War Tintype Confederate?? Army Private W/weapons$24.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 9 watchers
1800's Photo Album-cdv's And Tintypes- Full$24.50 Ends in 4 hours 3 bids 10 watchers
Tinted Tintype Union Captain In St Louis With Full Case$24.49 Ends Thursday 6 bids 9 watchers
Tintype (melainotype) Young Girl With Doll, Date 1859$23.27 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 2 watchers
Civil War Soldier 1/6 Tintype F/c Brookfield, Illinois$20.72 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 2 watchers
Full Plate Hand Colored Tintype Photo Of Little Girl Nr$20.50 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 3 watchers
Civil War Era Tintype Soldier Or Sportsman With Sharps $20.50 Ends Friday 2 bids 29 watchers
Tintype Young Girl Holding Queen Anne Doll$20.49 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 10 watchers
Antique Full-plate Tintype Of Family Hand Tinted Cheeks$20.00 Ends in 10 hours 2 bids 2 watchers
Civil War Child Girl Tin Type Photo/ Daguerreotype Case$20.00 Ends in 5 hours 7 bids 11 watchers
Huge Lot 52 Tintypes Babies, Ladies Guys Outdoors ++$19.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 4 watchers
Tin-type Group Of 5 Men Lodge Or Firemen Hats Cane $19.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 2 watchers
Victorian Photo Album Pictures Tintype Pictures$19.99 Ends in 21 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
5 Tintype Portraits Of Men And Women$18.50 Ends in 11 hours 4 bids 4 watchers
Civil War Id Illinois Soldier Tintype-j Whallan;8th Vrc$17.86 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 10 watchers
2 Antique Tintypes - Young Girls, One With Doll Nice!$17.69 Ends Thursday 3 bids 8 watchers
Tintype Young Girl With Doll Buggy And Doll Tinted 1860$15.49 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 3 watchers

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