Cabinet Card
The bigger sibling of the CDV — large albumen portraits on heavy ornamental mounts.
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Sarony Lady In Dress New York
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s G.A. Dean Handsome Bearded Man In Suit Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Jones Young Man In Suit Columbia City IN
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s H.W. Biffar Gorgeous Lady In Fancy Dress Brooklyn
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Albee Young Man In Suit Athol Massachusetts
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s A.B. Paxton Old Lady Albany Oregon
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Selover & Schutt Cute Boy In Outfit Cortland NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Chamberlain Gorgeous Lady Fancy Dress Webster MA
C. 1890s CABINET CARD GRAVER SOLDIER IN UNIFORM HOLDING TROMBONE QUAKERTOWN PA.
CIRCA 1880s CABINET CARD PAUL TRALLES CUTE GIRL HOLDING BALL WASHINGTON D.C.
CIRCA 1880s CABINET CARD LARGE FAMILY OF SIX READING BOOK WITH THEIR DOG
1887 CABINET CARD G.W. FLORENCE CUTE BOY ON ROCKING HORSE SIOUX CITY IOWA
CIRCA 1890s CABINET CARD J. JOHNSON HUSBAND & WIFE WEDDING WAKONDA SOUTH DAKOTA
CIRCA 1890s CABINET CARD HANNA OLDER LADY IN FANCY DRESS AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND
CIRCA 1890s CABINET CARD DAYTON CUTRE GIRL NEST TO CRANK DESK CLINTON MA.
CIRCA 1890s CABINET CARD YOUNG LADY IN DRESS WEARING PHOTO BROCH PIN UNMARKED
CIRCA 1890s CABINET CARD FAMILY OF FOUR OLD MAN OUTSIDE FANCY CLOTHING UNMARKED
CIRCA 1880s CABINET CARD KENEFICK PASTOR PRIEST IN ROBES CHRISTIAN LAWRENCE MA.
CIRCA 1870s CABINET CARD J.E. CANFIELD OLD EBARDED MAN IN SUIT NEW MIFLORD CONN.
CIRCA 1890s CABINET CARD ALFRED COE OLD LADY WEARING SHAWL OUTSIDE BRADFORD UK
CIRCA 1890s CABINET CARD IDENTICAL TWIN GIRLS AND THEIR BROTHER CHILDREN
C. 1890s CABINET CARD B. ETTER HANDSOME OLD BEARDED MAN IN SUIT GREAT FALLS N.H.
CIRCA 1880s CABINET CARD E.D. NOCK MAN WITH MUSTACHE SIDE-PROFILE CLEVELAND OHIO
CIRCA 1880s CABINET CARD BROWNELL HANDSOME OLD MAN WITH MUSTACHE PROV R.I.
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.
Have Cabinet Cards to sell?
We buy cabinet card singly or by the lot. Send a few photos and we'll have an offer back in 24–48 hours.
Get an offer →