An examination and explanation of clues to establish the
date of 19th century photographs.
This Week's Photograph - August 20, 2012
Photo Facts
Photo Type
Tintype
Plate Size
1/6 Plate
Plate Size (In.)
2.5" x 3.5"
Case Size
None
Preserver
None
Technology
Tintype
About the Case Studies
Each week a new case study of a picture typical of old family photographs will be published.
These examples can help genealogists learn the skills that will help date their own photos.
An estimated date (if one was not available) will be given with a +/- number of years it could be. Dating old photos is a science that provides answers usually within 2 - 6 years of when the photo was taken.
This is a very interesting tintype. When I first saw it, I was amazed at the quality since it was taken outdoors. Tintypes of everyday people were usually not take outside the studio.
Also, this photograph was probably made in the early 1800s. Her dress, upon close inspection, sports the single row of many buttons down the front. This Victorian era style began in the early 1880s and continued through the decade.
The bow, or some other decorative piece on the front is a leftover style from the late 1870s. By the mid-1880s, the look was very clean with no extra adornment on the front of the dress. She is wearing the stylish neck clasp of the 80s along with the high neckline of the early 1880s
There is little else to go on when analyzing this picture. However, her dress is pretty solid evidence of the timeframe. Plus the fact that she is a young girl, it is doubtful she is wearing or would even wear an old, out-of-style dress.
This happy young woman is probably wearing the latest fashion, if not a new dress. One of the tricks in dating old photographs is to try and date the youngest person (in a group). Their clothes (most likely) will be newer and in the latest style. Considering the youth of this girl, one would expect her to be fashionable.
You can become an expert at analyzing photographs.
Much of the information used to analyze this photograph is covered in the Identification section of this web site. In addition, comparison to similar yet dated photographs in the Gallery section will help confirm the estimates. Even greater detail, organized for this type of research is available in PhotoTree.com's books. Learn More.