What Is a Cabinet Photograph?

History

• Cabinet cards are a larger version of smaller photographs on cardboard called cartes de visites (CDVs) produced during the 1860s and especially popular during the Civil War. Cabinet cards were made from approximately 1865 to 1900, with some still being made as late as 1924. Initially cabinet cards were designed to be used for landscape views, but they quickly became more popular for portraits because of their larger size. Cabinet cards almost always have very sharp details because they were made from larger negatives than CDVs. During the 1880s large, decorative photo albums were produced to accommodate cabinet cards, and were a popular form of entertainment in American homes. After the introduction of the KODAK Brownie camera in February of 1900, the cabinet card declined rapidly and the large photo albums were no longer made.

Types

• Unusual subjects or famous people from history are the most collectible cabinet cards. These include American presidents, politicians, Broadway singers, circus performers and celebrities. Some photo studios specialized in famous personalities, so finding a famous photographer's name like "Sarony" on a cabinet card will often mean the subject is famous. Military images with soldiers holding weapons such as guns or knives are very popular, as are cabinet cards with owners and their pets. Odd photos with "ghost images" or postmortem photos are highly prized. Street scenes or landscape views are also collectible.

Buying

• Cabinet cards are still found at antique stores and at flea markets. Over the years, many cabinet cards were removed from their albums and sold individually to customers. Antique sellers often display single cards in bins so they can be easily viewed and purchased. Some auction houses have yearly photography auctions which include unique cabinet cards.

Value

• Prices for cabinet cards in 2010 are usually $1 to $3 per card in antique shops, with specialty cards ranging from $5 to $50. Victorian cabinet card albums range from $50 to $200 depending on the number of cabinet cards and the subjects in the photos. An example of a higher-priced cabinet card is a Civil War-era cabinet card of a commemorative portrait of Abraham Lincoln discovered in Wisconsin in 1998, which sold at auction for $750.

Preservation

• Cabinet cards should be kept in a clean, dry storage box or album. More collectible cabinet cards should be kept in acid free plastic sleeves to prevent scratching or wear. If displayed in a room setting, cabinet photos should not be exposed to direct sunlight, so as to prevent fading of the image. Due to their historical value, cabinet cards should not be cut apart.