Popular Photographic Print Processes: Daguerreotypes

Abraham Bogardus, photographer. [Occupational portrait of a tinworker (?)]. Daguerreotype, between 1851 and 1860. LC-USZC4-3945

Description: The daguerreotype image is formed directly on a silver plated copper plate which was made light sensitive with a surface coating of iodine vapors. It is a direct-positive process, made without a negative. It has a highly reflective surface that sometimes makes it difficult to see the image. The image is reversed - letters will appear backwards unless a special lens or prism is used to take the picture. Daguerreotypes are commonly found in leather or thermoplastic cases. Typical dimensions range from the sixteenth plate (1-3/8 x 1-5/8 inches) to whole plate (6-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches). Portraits are the most common subject matter

Further information and examples

• Prints & Photographs Online Catalog:
  • view online examples
  • Thesaurus for Graphic Materials term: Daguerreotypes [view term - includes related terms]
• About the Daguerreotypes in the Prints and Photographs Division (includes selected bibliography):
  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/dag/medium.html
• Graphics Atlas, Image Permanence Institute
  http://www.graphicsatlas.org/identification/?process_id=366
• The Daguerreian Society:
  http://www.daguerre.org/?page=DagFAQ

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