In the Eye of the Camera, 1840-1867
Unidentified woman, about 1860
About 1860, 19th century
7.5 x 6 cm
© McCord Museum
Keywords: female (19035) , Photograph (77678) , portrait (53878)
Keys to History
Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and occasionally ferrotypes are sometimes called "cased photographs", because they are usually in leather or thermoplastic cases. A package consisting of the plate and its black background, a metal mat, a cover glass and a band of soft metal crimping everything together was pressed into a ready-made case. Daguerreotypes were sealed with a piece of paper tape to help keep the air out.