... the beauty of the past.

and happy to be surrounded !!!

Measurements for plate sizes referenced in the inventory are as follows:

 Imperial or Mammoth Plate - Larger than 6 ½" x 8 ½" 

 Whole Plate - 6 ½" x 8 ½" 

 Half Plate - 4 ¼" x 5 ½" 

 Quarter Plate - 3 ¼" x 4 ¼" 

 Sixth Plate - 2 ¾" x 3 ¼" 

 Ninth Plate - 2"x 2 ½" 

 Sixteenth Plate - 1 ½" x 1 ¾"

Silver-based, one-of-a-kind image on silver/copper plate 


...small reality check
A silver-plated copper plate is polished on the silver side to a mirror-like sheen and exposed to iodine vapor, creating a layer of light sensitive silver iodide. A latent image forms after exposure to light in the camera, and the image is developed with heated mercury vapor, fixed in hypo (sodium thiosulfate) and rinsed. Several subsequent developments improved this process, including the addition of bromine fumes and gilding with gold chloride solution.
A daguerreotype is one-of-a-kind photograph, meaning that the process produces only a single image. It can appear as a negative or a positive view of the subject depending on the viewing angle and the lighting conditions. A daguerreotype is subject to tarnish and usually is encased to protect the image.


American daguerreotypes 

Freemason John Higgins Gunn

Perfect tinted American quarter plate Daguerreotype of John Higgis Gunn in his full Freemason regalia.
 Late 1840's. This is a a very special image with good tinting. 

Original seal and case. 

In a untouched condition.

French daguerreotypes  

A nice collection of french daguerreotypes in the typical passe partout mounts. 
 The mounts are without frames unless otherwise mentioned.

Red velvet

A tinted French 4th plate oval daguerreotype in a black leather case with a rich red velvet liner.
A jewel of a combination of image, mat and case.
All that French elegance. 

Dandy in purple velvet

An oversized French 4th plate daguerreotype of a dandy. 

The daguerreotype comes in a black leather case with a beatifull purple liner. 

The image can be taken ook of the case and put upright. 

Good quality image in a 

grand case. Very pretty.


English daguerreotypes 

Girl with golden chain

A 9th plate English daguerreotype of a young girl with a long golden chain.
In a full case.

Scotish couple

Two 6th plate Scotish daguerreotypes of a couple. 
Wonderful pose and lighting. 
 Both are in a good condition full case with the makers mark in gold on the back. Ross and Thomson, Edinburgh. 
These are top quality makers as can be seen from the images but also their appointment to the queen. 

Ambrotypes 

A weekend in the country

An English quarter plate ambrotype of a family.
 Nice early ambrotype, probably 1850's, taken in front of their house.
 These early outdoor ambrotypes are getting harder to find all the time. 
Housed in a good quality full case.