Historical Indulgences

"Until the handkerchief of history covers us with its Times New Roman black and white post script..." This blog is a collection of vernacular photography and ephemera focused mainly within the curious and often misunderstood realm of 19th century America. I have a soft spot for all things silly, antiquated, macabre, and grotesque. The content is from a variety of collections; public, academic, and private. In addition, there's an occasional emphasis on Ulysses S Grant and the Civil War, as well. About - Archive - F.A.Q. - Inquiries - Content Sourcing - Photo Guide Browse by Photograph Type: Tintypes, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Carte de visites, Albumen prints, Cabinet cards, Silver prints Popular Tags: Black history, Medicine, Emotive, Post Mortem, Occupational, Civil War, The Original Hipsters, Spirit photography, Circus, Sideshow Additional Tags: Children, Pets, Dogs, Painted backdrop, Photo-manipulation, Cross-dressing, Hidden mother, Couples, Women, Advertising, Hand-tinted, Erotic, Studio, Firemen, Science, Facial hair, Eyes, Religion, Beard, Fashion, Music, Trick photography, Photographic History, Guns, Weapons, Beer, Wine, Instruments, Lookout Mountain, Ulysses S. Grant My Other Blogs & Websites: Heck Yes, Americana - Fuck Yeah, American Art - Architectural Indulgences - Decorative Indulgences - Instagram

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1880-1900s, [cabinet card, photomontage of a man in wearing a bowler hat demonstrating how to properly light a pipe], Place.

via Capitol Gallery, Cabinet Cards

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1880s-1910s, [hand tinted ambrotype, post mortem portrait of a child in a coffin, clutching a rosary and crucifix]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics, Ambrotypes

[tuesday-johnson]

Hey guys! I’ve returned from another hiatus, and am hoping to find you in good holiday spirits, with enough zeal to compete with this fine lady’s.

ca. 1900, [young lady dressed as a Christmas Tree], Carl Kuskop

via Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs, Catalogue #40

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1860s, [composite carte de visite of a young man peering up from his tuba], M.C. Ragsdale

via the A.S. Williams III Americana Collection, University Libraries Division of Special Collections, The University of Alabama

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1860-70s, [tintype portrait of a man fanning some paper currency with a pile of gold coins]

via Invaluable Auctions, Holabird Western Americana

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1870-90s, [tintype portrait of two women sporting some delicious doughnut spectacles]

From the Dutch “olykoeks,” to a sea captain’s doting mother, and WWI-era mechanization, the Smithsonian Magazine does a fantastic job tracing the doughnut’s storied past.

via the National Museum of American History in the Kenneth E. Behring Center at the Smithsonian Institution

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1860-70s, [carte de visite portrait of two child acrobat performers]

via Heritage Auctions

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1860s, [set of ambrotype portraits of a young lady; on the left with paper and paste, on the right, in a more traditional pose cradling something in her lap]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics, Ambrotype Collection

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1850-60s, [daguerreotype portrait of a gent with a book]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics, Daguerreotype Collection

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1860-80s, [hand tinted, postmortem tintype of a young woman]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics, Tintype Collection

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1870s, [carte de visite portrait of the beautiful albino performer Aggie Zolidra], J. Wood

via Heritage Auctions

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1875, [tintype portrait of four men enjoying the view in front of Taghanic (Taughannock) Falls near Ithaca, N.Y.], C.M. Marsh

via the Daniel Willard Fiske Papers, the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1860-1880s, [tintype portrait of a man on crutches]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics, Tintype Collection

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1870-1900s, [candid tintype portrait of a young woman with one arm]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics, Tintype Collection

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1870-90s, [cabinet card of a strongwoman], Kern Brothers

via Cowan’s Auctions

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1870-90s, [tintype portrait of an actor in costume]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics, Tintype Collection

[tuesday-johnson]

ca. 1880-1900s, [tintype portrait of a young lady with an adorable smile]

via Jeffrey Kraus Antique Photographics, Tintype Collection