Cabinet Card
The bigger sibling of the CDV — large albumen portraits on heavy ornamental mounts.
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Man & Woman In Spectacles New Lexington Ohio
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Ward Two Women Theatrical Costumes Mozart Taunton Mass
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Bradley & Rulofson Dr. Weber San Francisco, California
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Bradley & Rulofson Mr. Grey Man Goatee San Francisco CA
Cabinet Card Snow Effect J. Ludovici Seated Woman W/ Fur Muff Coat Newport Ri
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Giles Bishop Bearded Man In Suit New London Connecticut
Cabinet Card Circa 1880s Moloney Four Dapper Men In Suits Bowler Hats Boston MA
Cabinet Card Snow Effect Niles Florence Erickson Girl Plaid Dress Cobleskill Ny
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s M. S. Lamprey Young Woman High Collar Dress Penacook Nh
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Elmer Chickering Young Woman Lace Jabot Boston Ma
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Louis Hess Woman In Dark Dress Collar Cobleskill Ny
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Lamson Young Man In Suit High Collar Tie Portland Me
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Starbird Mature Woman Victorian Dress Waterville Maine
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s A. H. Selane Young Woman High Collar St Regis Falls Ny
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Hardy Victorian Woman High Collar Dress Boston Ma
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Notman & Campbell Young Woman In Bustle Dress Boston Ma
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Young Woman 20s Portrait High Collar Dress Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Nast Infant In White Christening Gown Denver Colorado
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Young Girl Lace Collar Dress Wicker Chair Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Nast Infant In Lace Christening Gown On Fur Denver Co
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Reynolds Portrait Bust Mature Woman With Bow Dover Nh
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s W.j. Turner Young Woman Puffed Sleeve Dress Reading Ma
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Handsome Young Man In Suit Striped Cravat Modesto Ca
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Eagle Baby In White Lace Christening Gown Brooklyn 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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