Civil War Photograph Types?

[Customx_12]

An auction house near me has these Civil War photographs for sale. Is there a way to tell by looking at them if they’re tintypes, ambrotype, or daguerreotype? Any guesses on value?

 

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[villagenut]

If they are authentic they are highly collectable and worth some bucks.

 

[Customx_12]

Any tips on how to check if they’re authentic or not? They’re framed and behind glass. I have a hunch I’ll have to take them out of the frame to really check but they won’t let me do that until I buy them.

 

[Customx_12]

They’re fake. I emailed an expert and he said he actually sold the original images and knows these aren’t them. Such a shame.

 

[A2coins]

thats not good

 

[goldnsilver]

A little information for the next time.

Tintypes are cut from a metal sheet and are not tin. They were the cheapest method and date from the Civil War period to about 1900. Very easy to tell from a glass ambrotype and a polished silver coated copper
sheet used for daguerreotypes. Daguerreotypes came first. In the United States the prime period was from the mid 1840's to about 1860. The glass ambrotype replaced the daguerreotypes in the late 1850's
and lasted about 12 to 15 years. The tintype also came in around the late 1850's and was the cheapest method. They also didn't need the expensive Union cases as they didn't need the protection that the
daguerreotypes and ambrotypes needed.

Daguerreotype - Copper plate & should be cased. You can remove it from case to see if something was store behind the photo. Sometimes a good luck coin or written information about the photograph. Do not
remove the photo from sealed glass & mat. Leave that for a professional, that can also restore some photos with problems. You can flex the photo and look for a mirror finish.

Ambrotypes - Some were on ruby glass and others were on clear glass with a coated back to bring out the picture. You can remove them from the case, but do not take them apart.

Tintypes - Civil war photos are always available. Photographers traveled with the units and set up their photo tents. The soldiers could mail a tintype home in a letter to family and friends.

Reproduction civil war tintypes (and others) are always available on ebay so go there and see what the reproductions look like.