Collectors typically will pay between $35 to $350 for a good quality antique tintype in good condition. Tintypes are more common photographs of the Victorian era and thus, they are not as valuable as ambrotypes or daguerreotypes which are more rare.

What are the most valuable tintype photographs?

This tintype photo of Billy the Kid, created around 1880, was just sold for $2.3 million in June 2011.

How much are daguerreotype photos worth?

Record prices in excess of $30,000 have been paid for individual daguerreotypes at auction. At a 1988 Sotheby’s auction, a group of 11 daguerreotypes brought more than $50,000. A common portrait (many are found in hand-tinted color) of an unknown individual in clean condition generally fetches about $30.

How can I tell if my tintype is real?

Detecting the Fakes The easiest way to detect the fakes is with a 10X loupe. All original photographs (including tintypes) are continuous tone images. That is they go smoothly from white to various grays to black. Printing presses, however, cannot produce a continuous tone.

How do you date a tintype photo?

Identifying characteristics: The thickness of the card stock, the color of its borders and whether it has rounded corners (1870s to 1900) or square corners (after 1900) can often help determine the date of a photograph. Many prints also included the name and location of the photography studio on the bottom of the card.

How do you store tintypes?

Tintypes in good condition are best stored in a sturdy four-flap enclosure if loose or, if cased, wrapped in acid-free tissue and placed in a folding box to prevent breakage and abrasion. Store vertically with dividers between each slide. May also be stored horizontally (flat).

Are old tintype pictures worth anything?

Collectors typically will pay between $35 to $350 for a good quality antique tintype in good condition. Tintypes are more common photographs of the Victorian era and thus, they are not as valuable as ambrotypes or daguerreotypes which are more rare.

Are tintypes magnetic?

Tintypes are attracted to a magnet, while Ambrotypes and Daguerreotypes are not. The Daguerreotype image has a magical, mirror-like quality. The image can only be seen at certain angles. A piece of paper with writing will be reflected in the image, just as with a mirror.

How old are tin pictures?

Tintypes, originally known as or ferrotypes or melainotypes, were invented in the 1850s and continued to be produced into the 20th century. The photographic emulsion was applied directly to a thin sheet of iron coated with a dark lacquer or enamel, which produced a unique positive image.

Where can I sell daguerreotype?

But daguerreotypes can also sell for $5 or $10 on eBay and at flea markets.

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What is a sixth plate daguerreotype?

Sixth-plate daguerreotype. Philadelphia, ca. 1852. The sixth-plate, measuring 2 ¾ by 3 ¼″, was the most popular sized plate for customers since its size made it convenient to slip out of a pocket or purse and hold in one’s hand for easy viewing.

What was the first daguerreotype?

The first daguerreotypes in the United States were made on September 16, 1839, just four weeks after the announcement of the process. Exposures were at first of excessive length, sometimes up to an hour. At such lengthy exposures, moving objects could not be recorded, and portraiture was impractical.

How can you tell how old a photo is?

Fashion is usually the best indicator when it comes to noting down the time the picture was taken. For instance, if you have any pictures from the 19th century, use the sleeve length as an indicator of time. Sleeves changed length and shape through that time so it would be easy for you to notice a common trend.

How do you tell when a printed photo was taken?

Remember the date on the back is the date developed. Some photos taken with digital cameras and then printed may have date stamps on the front of the printed (or digital) photo. Take this date with a grain of salt.

Who invented tintypes?

Tintype photography was invented in France in the 1850s by a man named Adolphe-Alexandre Martin. Tintypes saw the rise and fall of the American Civil War, and have persisted through the 20th century and into modern times.

What does tintype mean?

A tintype, also known as a melainotype or ferrotype, is a photograph made by creating a direct positive on a thin sheet of metal coated with a dark lacquer or enamel and used as the support for the photographic emulsion.

Does anyone buy vintage photos?

Just Collect is just overflowing with love for photos right now. We’re paying top dollar for vintage photos of every type, shape, size, and subject matter. We’re buying single photos and small collections, as well as larger privately held collections and entire newspaper archives.

Do daguerreotypes fade?

Daguerreotypes are the earliest successful form of photography, dating from the mid 19th century. A light sensitive mercury-silver amalgam is formed on a silver-plated copper sheet. … The image layer remains light sensitive: it will fade completely in extreme cases.

How do you date a daguerreotype?

1. Cases. Daguerreotype images are very delicate and easily damaged. …
2. Plates. They were made on highly polished silver plates. …
3. Tarnish. If exposed to the air, the silver plate will tarnish. …
4. Size.

What makes a daguerreotype valuable?

Daguerreotypes are the unicorn of photography. Many people think that they have one and are surprised when they find out their piece is something else. What makes daguerreotypes rare is not the fact that people didn’t have them. In fact, they were fashionable, and many people had their portraits taken.

Are daguerreotypes expensive?

The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process (1839-1860) in the history of photography. … Daguerreotypes were very expensive, so only the wealthy could afford to have their portrait taken.

Can you scan a tintype?

Tintypes are pieces of metal coated with a photographic emulsion. … If you have a tintype, you should make a copy to display so the original can be kept safely stored. You can either scan a copy or take a photograph of the tintype.

How do you archive tintypes?

A tintype may be stored in an acid-free paper folder or envelope, or wrapped in acid-free tissue and placed in a storage box. It’s best to keep it lying flat.

Do tintypes rust?

Rusting. The most significant preservation risk to tintypes is exposure to water and high humidity, which will lead to oxidation and rusting. This, in turn, causes blistering, flaking, and total loss of the image emulsion layer.

Can tintypes be restored?

Tintype photographs are the easiest type of antique photograph to identify. Therefore, when making digital copies and restorations of tintypes, the most important step of the process is getting a good scan of the original. …

Are tintypes reverse images?

Because they are not produced from a negative, the images are reversed (as in a mirror). They are a very dark grey-black and the image quality is often poor.

How do I find old family photos?

1. Identify the type of photograph (e.g. daguerreotype or tintype).
2. Try to find the photographer’s mark or name.
3. Discover the location or setting of the picture.
4. Look for period detail such as hairstyle or clothing.

What is daguerreotype process?

The Process The daguerreotype is a direct-positive process, creating a highly detailed image on a sheet of copper plated with a thin coat of silver without the use of a negative. The process required great care. … After exposure to light, the plate was developed over hot mercury until an image appeared.

What is a gutta percha case?

While some reputable websites refer to these cases as “gutta-percha” the term preferred by collectors is “union case” or even “thermoplastic.” They were made from a mixture of wood and shellac that was pressed into a mold. The result was a plastic-like product that still looks good one hundred and fifty years later.

What is a ninth plate daguerreotype?

These plate sizes became standardized and were subsequently used for the photographic formats which followed on the daguerreotype. Plate sizes are still the standard method for referring to the dimensions of these 19th century images. … Sixth Plate: 2.75 x 3.25 inches (7 x 8 cm) Ninth Plate: 2 x 2.5 inches (5 x 6 cm)

What is the size of full plate?

Traditionally, a standard dinner plate has always had a diameter of 10.5 inches. In recent years, however, increasing numbers of restaurants have chosen to use larger 11 or 12 inch plates.