Went to Long Beach, think I did it wrong...

SiriusBlack · February 22, 2020 7:13PM

I went to a coin show and came back with a 19th century photograph!

So I don’t just collect coins, I’ve collected 19th century photographs for a lot longer. I actually dabble on and off in making Ambrotype and Tintype photographs using the 19th century wet plate collodion process. I’m not great at it, but I loved learning the process.

Anyway, as I’ve never been to a large coin show, @PCGSPhoto encouraged me to check it out. I didn’t expect to come home with cool little 1/6th plate Ambrotype. Judging by the brass mat and preserver design, it’s probably from the early 1860’s. With photos, as you’d guess, subject is everything. I’ve been hunting for a girl with sausage curls for a long time! Sorry for my terrible photos, believe it or not I don’t own a digital camera . If you look closely, you can see the photographer painted her rings gold which was a common practice to give the photos a little color and flash.

The case is in good shape except it’s missing the the cloth on the opposite side of the photo. It’s known as a union case, made of thermoplastic. The brass preserver was all bent and messed up so the dealer was kind enough to let me take it apart briefly to check it out. Once I got home I dismantled the thing and restored it as much as possible and caaaarefully reformed it all properly so it could go back into the case safely. Sadly no date on this one, sometimes the photographer left their mark or dated them.

Ok... So I did find a coin, but it’s from the dark side.... I took a chance on a Henry VI half groat. I know nothing about them but I’ve enjoyed shooting TrueView of the English coins and decided to pick one up as a learning experience! I like their little portraits! I’m going to submit it for grading etc. and I’ll report back how I did!

DNADave · February 22, 2020 7:20PM

I like that. The subject looks like she was well off.

I have a couple of those in my dining room shelf

Lakesammman · February 22, 2020 7:21PM

Very nice!

Hydrant · February 22, 2020 7:26PM

You did good. The little girl....so beautiful. Time means nothing. It's all the same. Today..tomorrow...yesterday. You did good my friend.

SiriusBlack · February 22, 2020 7:28PM

@DNADave Family members or so you just like the look too? I’m not sure how many cased images I have. Probably around 20, from daguerreotypes to cased tintypes. I’ve also got a ton of tintypes and cartes de visite.

SiriusBlack · February 22, 2020 7:32PM

@Hydrant Thank you, you’re right, I saw her and immediately was thinking to myself I hope he gives me a reasonable price because I have to have this!

ms70 · February 22, 2020 7:36PM

Neat photo. Did you ever see those 19th century "death" photos where they would prop up the decedent as if they were alive for final photos? Though they are creepy, I found those to be very interesting.

SiriusBlack · February 22, 2020 7:44PM

@ms70 I don’t own any, but yes I know what you’re referring to. I wouldn’t mind having a couple for my collection but unsurprisingly, or maybe not, they go for a lot of money usually as they’re highly collectible.

I do have a couple of what I suspect are hidden mother images. Because you had to stay still for seconds to minutes, children and infants were difficult to photograph. Often the mother would sit in a chair with a black cloth over her, holding the child, and the photographer would take a closer shot. You can usually make out the shape of the mothers arms or body in the image though!

They used head braces to keep people’s heads from moving. Sometimes you can see the edge of the leg from a brace on the ground behind a person!

DNADave · February 22, 2020 7:47PM

@SiriusBlack said:
@DNADave Family members or so you just like the look too? I’m not sure how many cased images I have. Probably around 20, from daguerreotypes to cased tintypes. I’ve also got a ton of tintypes and cartes de visite.

I buy estates and have a booth at an antique mall. I try to keep the good stuff. These two were together in an old box and were likely together for a long time. The family name was “Raider”. I see a lot of young people that have no will to keep their own family history and will sell it for a song or worse, just throw it away. These two I couldn’t break up.

I also have one of those old thick cabinet card albums full of tin types in the back. It’s dated as a Christmas present in 1888.

I think I was born in the wrong time as 1800s items have a lot of appeal to me.
Here’s another neat little album.

oih82w8 · February 22, 2020 7:50PM

Those are cool images!

ms70 · February 22, 2020 7:50PM

@SiriusBlack said:
@ms70 I don’t own any, but yes I know what you’re referring to. I wouldn’t mind having a couple for my collection but unsurprisingly, or maybe not, they go for a lot of money usually as they’re highly collectible.

I do have a couple of what I suspect are hidden mother images. Because you had to stay still for seconds to minutes, children and infants were difficult to photograph. Often the mother would sit in a chair with a black cloth over her, holding the child, and the photographer would take a closer shot. You can usually make out the shape of the mothers arms or body in the image though!

They used head braces to keep people’s heads from moving. Sometimes you can see the edge of the leg from a brace on the ground behind a person!

Yes! I've seen those. They are extremely interesting. I don't collect but I do enjoy looking at them.

DNADave · February 22, 2020 7:55PM

PCGSPhoto · February 22, 2020 7:59PM

I knew there’d be plenty of stuff up your alley at the Long Beach Expo. I’m glad you went.

Hydrant · February 22, 2020 8:14PM

@SiriusBlack said:
@Hydrant Thank you, you’re right, I saw her and immediately was thinking to myself I hope he gives me a reasonable price because I have to have this!

Yes, I understand.

SiriusBlack · February 22, 2020 8:27PM

@hydrant No kids of my own, but a lot of my cousins have kids now!

@DNADave Wow! That looks like gem album I’m guessing? I can’t quite tell the size but judging by your finger it looks small. I have a few gem tintypes and some bon ton’s as well! No albums like that though, that’s really nice!

Is that negative a glass plate I’m guessing?

BryceM · February 22, 2020 9:41PM

If you has a good time, you did it right!

Hydrant · February 22, 2020 10:59PM

@BryceM said:
If you has a good time, you did it right!

That's what it's all about!

ricko · February 23, 2020 5:27AM

That is an interesting old picture of a sweet little girl.... have not seen curls like that since I was a kid...I guess it is too much work for parents now....There are occasionally old photo folders like that in the antique shops around here...did not realize people collected them - I should have known, if something exists, someone, somewhere, collects it... Cheers, RickO

divecchia · February 23, 2020 5:50AM

Some cool looking stuff all around. Sometimes I see some of these photographs when I go to the larger sports card shows. I need to take a closer look next time I go.

Thanks for sharing, Donato

Paradisefound · February 23, 2020 7:53AM

@SiriusBlack I see you enjoy the show in many other ways.
Look at the details on the brass work ..... including the hinges just beautiful!

291fifth · February 23, 2020 8:05AM

Those early photos can often be dated fairly closely by looking at hairstyles, clothing styles and even jewelry items that are visible. Many years back I owned a book on the subject but don't recall the author or title. Can anyone help?

Went to Long Beach, think I did it wrong...

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