Bidspirit auction | Mid-to-Late 19th Century Collection of

Mid-to-Late 19th Century Collection of Cased Daguerreotype, Ambrotype, and Tintype Portraits - A group of Victorian-era cased and framed photographs comprising various early photographic processes including daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes. The collection features a diverse range of portraiture including individual men, women, infants, and children. Notable subjects include a hand-tinted miniature of a young child wearing a red suit with a white sash (photo 5) and a ”hidden mother” portrait where a child is supported by a visible hand draped in dark fabric (photo 8). The images are housed in period formats, including embossed thermoplastic Union cases, leather-bound cases with stamped decorative motifs, and loose brass mats. Several cases feature velvet-lined interiors in purple, red, and orange hues with embossed floral and geometric patterns. One portrait of a woman is presented in a 20th-century molded metal frame with floral corner motifs (photo 13). One octagonal case features a purple velvet lining with a central foliate design (photo 6). The collection includes several cases with double hinges and brass clasps. No maker's marks or signatures are legible on the visible surfaces of the mats or cases. Protective mylar dust jacket covers are included for preservation. The individual cases and frames vary in size. Based on the wooden ruler provided in photo 17: The seated child tintype in the red-lined case (bottom left) measures approximately 3.75 inches in height. The double portrait of the boy and woman (center) measures approximately 3.5 inches in height. The child in the red suit miniature (top right) measures approximately 2.5 inches in height. The oval velvet frame (center) measures approximately 6 inches in height. The collection exhibits varying states of preservation consistent with age. Several leather and paper-covered cases show significant wear, including detached covers (photos 3, 4, 8, and 10), broken or missing hinges, and frayed edges. The octagonal case shows a prominent diagonal crack across the cover glass (photo 6). Oxidation and tarnish are visible around the perimeters of several daguerreotypes, particularly evident in the portraits of the older man (photo 11) and the infants (photos 10 and 15). Surface dust and minor spotting are present on several image plates. The velvet linings show typical fading and pile wear, with some staining visible on the purple velvet interior in photo 7. Emulsion loss or flaking is visible on the edges of some tintypes. The metal frame in photo 13 shows surface oxidation and rust spots on the lower edge.