Cabinet Card
The bigger sibling of the CDV — large albumen portraits on heavy ornamental mounts.
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Robinson Young Lady In Dress New York
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Houston Gorgeous Lady In Dress San Francisco
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Hodson Handsome Bearded Man In Suit Sacramento CA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Howland Bearded Man In Suit San Francisco
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Tasker Handsome Man with Mustache NH
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s L. Hagendorff Handsome Man with Mustache Milwaukee
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Winsor & Whipple Old Lady In Striped Dress Olean NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Godwin Old Bearded Man Butler PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Harry A. Webb Handsome Man with Mustache In Suit
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Gissinger Handsome Man with Mustache Philadelphia PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s J.A. Hurst Handsome Man with Mustache Philadelphia
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s J.A. Hurst Handsome Man with Mustache In Suit
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Townsend Old Man with Mustache In Suit Conn
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Sutton Man with Mustache Hornellsville NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s M. Wolfe Handsome Man with Mustache Dayton OH
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Baker's Handsome Man with Mustache Columbus OH
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Mudge Bearded Man Family Akron Ohio
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Edw. L. Allen Old Man With Hat Boston MA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Hardy Handsome Man with Mustache Boston MA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s North & Oswald Handsome Man with Mustache OH
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Semple & Stein Gorgeous Lady In Elegant Gown Albany NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Beal Young Lady In Wrap Minneapolis MN
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Vaughan Bearded Man In Suit San Francisco
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Wm. F. Morthorst Handsome Man Rochester NY
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 →