Cabinet Card
The bigger sibling of the CDV — large albumen portraits on heavy ornamental mounts.
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s J.H. Reed Gorgeous Lady In Dress Clinton Iowa
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Metcalf & Welldon Old Lady Fancy Dress Boston
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Ferguson Old Lady In Dress Clinton Iowa
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Foley Cute Boy Boston Massachusetts
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Th. C. Handel Cute Boy In Suit With Hat Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s F.S. Bell Old Couple In Dress Bellefonte PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s H. Holland Gorgeous Lady Boston MA
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Man with Mustache In Suit Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s N.W. Walsh Cute Child In Outfit Mt. Carmel PA
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s J. Laurie Smith Gorgeous Lady In Dress Newark NJ
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Elliott Old Lady In Lace Collar Columbus OH
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Elliott & Armstead Gorgeous Lady Columbus Ohio
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Geo. H. Hastings Lady In Dress Boston Massachusetts
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s M. Fadden Young Handsome Man In Suit Boston
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Astrom Gorgeous Lady In Dress Boston MA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Pearsall Young Girl In Lace Brooklyn NY
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Prater Gorgeous Lady In Dress Paw Paw
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Young Handsome Man in Suit Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Reed Cute Baby In Gown Pasadena CA
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s A.P. Drew Gorgeous Lady In Dress Dover NH
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Unknown Young Lady With Bow Unknown
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s M.C. Nelson Old Lady In Dress Malden Mass
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Mills Gorgeous Lady with Floral Peoria Illinois
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Maenab Young Handsome Man in Suit New York 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.
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