Cabinet Card
The bigger sibling of the CDV — large albumen portraits on heavy ornamental mounts.
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s C.w. Pontius Young Girl In Lace Collar Swayzee In
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s W. N. Sweet Couple Woman In Polka Dress Chicago Il
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Victorian Women & Baby In Christening Gown Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s J.w. Powell Young Man Mustache Bow Tie Kankakee Ill.
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Ward & Munsey Victorian Women & Children Lakeport N.h.
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s G. Dahms Bearded Man Adult Suit & Bow Tie Davenport Ia
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Father Seated With Infant & Two Women Lexington Ne
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Robertson 4 Person Family Portrait Victorian Quincy Il
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s J. Kloss Family Portrait Parents & 3 Children Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Kail Young Man In Dark Suit W/ Hat East Liverpool Oh
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Gustav Dahms Young Boy In Suit & Vest Davenport Iowa
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Victorian Couple Young Woman & Man London England
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Green Two Young Women In Victorian Dresses Boston Ma
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s W. Shaw Warren Elderly Woman W/ Glasses Boston Ma
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Pavilion Photo Co. Young Dapper Man In Suit Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Aug. Nolte Man & Girl Dress Candle Bow & Book Hannover
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Copeland Glass 2 Boys Sailor Suits Steps Chicago Il
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Hamilton Adolescent Boy In Formal Suit Bozeman Montana
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Smiling Young Girl In White Lace Dress Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Hartley Father & Two Children Victorian Chicago Il
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s J. Glass Middle Aged Couple Formal Dress Londonderry
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Young Boy Cap & Buttoned Coat Hands In Pockets Unmarked
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s G. & Co. Young Couple Victorian Dress Seated Chicago Il
Cabinet Card Circa 1890s Motchkiss Seated Victorian Couple Period Norwich 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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