1866 Large TINTYPE Photograph of FAMILY GROUP in Odd PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO with Two 5 CENT STAMPS

Item Details

Tintype photograph (oversized, just over 4” by 5 ½”) of a family group at an odd photographic studio, likely in New England, circa 1865 to 1866, with two five cent revenue stamps. The view shows two men, six women, and one girl posing together for their likeness in a small alcove by a window. I think the two men may be brothers and the others members of their family. The woman at center could be a sister, and a few of the younger women could be daughters. The girl at left with her hat in her lap does not look very happy. I have never seen a photographic studio like this. It’s a very small room, and the source of light is not clear. The open window looks a bit dark, while the white cloth hanging at right—perhaps a doorway—seems very bright. I suspect the group might be under a skylight. I was surprised to find the two tax stamps on the reverse. They effectively date the image before August of 1866 and show that these folks paid $2 or more for this photograph. I have had large albumen photographs with tax stamps totaling five cents—half the expense of this tintype. I’m not sure why this photograph cost so much. There is an oval shadow around the image, so it was framed at one time. That may have been part of the cost. The tintype is in good or better condition overall with a few light bends toward the bottom edge and another at the top left corner. The photograph exhibits very good tonal range and shows very good detail. There is light cracking in the surface emulsion. Note the small spots of loss just above the group at center. A very rare and unusual Civil War era tintype!