Cabinet Card
The bigger sibling of the CDV — large albumen portraits on heavy ornamental mounts.
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Bousley Old Bearded Man In Suit Salem MA
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Straws Children Holding Flowers Northport
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Joseph Hall Old Lady In Dress Brooklyn NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s A. Rohde Husband and Wife Chicago Illinois
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Ballard Young Boy In Suit Waterloo Wisconsin
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s J. Wentz Gorgeous Lady In Dress Boston
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s J.V. Brown Cute Baby In Dress Milwaukee WI
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Baby In Dress Cute Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Cute Girl Fancy Dress Unknown Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s J.S. Fritz Young Lady In Dress Reading PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Husband and Wife Romantic Couple Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Shane Gorgeous Lady In Dress Philadelphia
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Edsall Handsome Man In Suit New York NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s W.S. Griffin Handsome Young Man In Suit
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s LeRoy & Terrill Cute Baby In Dress Youngstown OH
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Cute Child White Dress on Chair Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s J. Fraser Bryce Lady In Dress Toronto
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s E.M. Berry Old Man in Suit Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Steele Old Lady In Dress Jackson
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Meade Woman Elegant Attire Rockford Illinois
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Mills Handsome Young Man In Suit New York NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Goodman Gorgeous Lady In Embroidered Dress WI
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s (Unknown) Old Bearded Man in Suit Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s F.A. Bowman Lady In Dress New Haven CT
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 →