Posted 8 years ago
PostCardCo…
(437 items)
Very nice shape--Unusual hat the man wears--Does it distinguish him as to profession, place of origin, or is he just the kind of fellow who plops his old hat on for a photograph? ALSO, his upper coat buttons up in an odd way--why? I paid $9.00 because maybe I don't know if have one but not going to scratch the backs of my tintypes to find out!
It looks like a tin, but there is a scratch on the back that you see silver color shine thro(photo3-)-So that is the identification of "ferrotype"??
"Tintype" is actually a misnomer-- they are on thin sheets of iron. Some period advertisements will call them ferrotype.
Today tintype is almost exclusively used (and often used for ambrotypes and daguerreotypes).
scott
Thanks Scott. I fell for the "hype" surrounding this buy. The seller must have been related to P.T. Barnum!! The saving grace is, I like the photo. The face and the hat make me like the man too. Is he in some kind of uniform? The jacket closure is very different, angled like that, and the big buttons, the hat sort of navy-ish..Could mean something in another country? He looks like a Dutchman. There I go, --off in fantasyland again! Ha ha!
Seller contacted me saying he has" lots more to sell". I will be interested--but better informed thanks to Scottvez!
I don't see a uniform. Looks to be an 1870- 80s loose tintype.
Seller's hype indeed-- but there may be a treasure in his other offerings!
scott
The hope of things to come keeps us going.... Thanks Scott your opinions are a treasure to me.
The seller says he is going to offer some of his "gem tins"--I suppose he is implying these"gems" are going to be his best.
"Gem" is a term used to describe a small format image such as a tintype. There is no exact standard of measure of a gem format image ... just that it is small. Gem images are made on multiplying cameras ... cameras with have shifting backs and/or multiple lenses. The idea is to make lots of small images on a tintype plate that are later cut apart. Nearly all small tintypes that are smaller than 1/4-plate (3.25 x 4.25 inches) come from multiple image plates. Refer to this post to see an example of uncut tintypes with gem images: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/82219-rare-uncut-tintypes-of-husband-and-wife
"Nearly all small tintypes that are smaller than 1/4-plate (3.25 x 4.25 inches) come from multiple image plates."
I never thought of that before, but makes sense. I would add one qualifier: "UNCASED tintypes". In the early tintype period (thru about 1870) smaller plate images were often made in a single form and are found cased. During the Civil War, there was much more of an interest in exchanging images and multiple copies (both gem tintypes often on cdv mounts and cdv cards) became more prevalent.
scott
OH! Thanks guys! You can see I thought he was sooo proud of what he had to sell, he referred to them as "gems". I do have some, but didn't know they had a particular title. I am now enlightened. Much appreciated.