Cabinet Card
The bigger sibling of the CDV — large albumen portraits on heavy ornamental mounts.
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Cute Children in Outfits Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Baby in Fancy Dress Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Garvin Old Lady In Glasses Pottsville Pa
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s E.D. Jeanes Cute Baby In Gown Allentown PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s F.S. Cope Gorgeous Lady In Dress Hamburg PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Miller Gorgeous Lady In Dress Ashland PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Gaugler Cute Child In Dress Carlisle PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s J.A. Brush Handsome Man In Suit Minneapolis
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s R. Thiele Cute Child In Suit Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Choate Cute Baby In Dress Carlisle PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Davies Cute Baby In Dress Ashland Nebraska
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s N.A. Stone Cute Baby In Dress Danbury Conn
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Lustig Young Man in Suit Cleveland OH
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Bairstow Old Lady In Dress Warren PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Choate Cute Baby In Gown Carlisle UK
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Two Girls In Dresses With Curly Hair Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s J.N. Choate Cute Baby In Gown Carlisle PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s W.T. D'Ole Cute Baby In Dress Kansas City MO
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Shadle & Busser Gorgeous Lady In Dress York PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s C.H. Reeder Young Lady In Dress Buffalo NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s R.J. Slench Young Lady In Dress Tonawanda NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s J.R. Collier Handsome Man In Suit Lansingburgh NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Shadle & Busser Handsome Man In Suit York PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Unknown Older Lady In Dress Unmarked
Cabinet cards are larger albumen photographs mounted on thicker, often decorated card stock. First offered in London in 1863 and reaching American studios by 1866, they were dominant from the 1880s through the early 1900s — the ‘Golden Age’ of the cabinet card runs roughly 1870 to 1895 — and continued in declining numbers into the 1920s.
HistoryOrigin & era
Cabinet cards offered the same albumen process as CDVs but at a size more flattering to detailed studio work. By the 1880s mounts grew elaborate — gold edges, embossed studio logos, chromolithographed backs. The format faded sharply after Eastman Kodak's 1900 Brownie put cameras in everyone's hands; few cabinet cards date after 1906, and the last were produced in the early 1920s.
IdentificationHow to spot a Cabinet Card
- Mount roughly 4¼ × 6½ inches.
- Heavier card stock than a CDV, often with rounded corners and gold or beveled edges.
- Photographer's imprint usually on the front below the photo, with elaborate logos on the back.
- Plain pale mounts are earlier (1870s); dark green, black, and gilt mounts are 1880s–1890s.
Cabinet Card sizes
Standard cabinet cards are remarkably consistent, but several larger "deluxe" formats were sold by the same studios.
| Format | Inches | Millimeters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard cabinet card | 4¼ × 6½ in | 108 × 165 mm | Universal mount size. |
| Cabinet print on mount | ≈ 3¾ × 5½ in | ≈ 95 × 140 mm | Photo trimmed to fit with a narrow border. |
| Promenade | 4 × 7 in | 102 × 178 mm | Taller variant, popular 1875–1900. |
| Boudoir | 5¼ × 8½ in | 133 × 216 mm | Larger format for full-length portraits. |
| Imperial | 6⅞ × 9⅞ in | 175 × 251 mm | Largest of the cabinet-family mounts. |
| Panel | 4 × 8 in | 102 × 203 mm | Narrow, full-length portrait format. |
Common questions
What is a cabinet card?
A cabinet card is a Victorian-era portrait photograph — an albumen print mounted on a heavy card roughly 4¼ × 6½ inches. First offered in London in 1863 and arriving in American studios by 1866, cabinet cards were the standard portrait format from about 1880 through the early 1900s and continued in declining numbers into the 1920s.
How do I date a cabinet card?
Mount color and decoration are the best clues: pale buff or cream stock with a simple imprint is 1870s; dark gray or maroon with gold edges is mid-1880s; deep green, black, or chocolate brown with ornate gilt lettering is 1890s. Beveled edges with gold appear around 1885.
What are cabinet cards worth?
Generic studio portraits typically run $5–$20. Cards depicting identified subjects, occupational scenes, ethnographic subjects, post-mortem photography, or well-known photographers can range from $50 to several hundred dollars. Condition, sharpness of the print, and subject interest matter more than age.
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