This is an antique set of 3 original Daguerreotype images, framed in airtight cases, of an early American family.

These original dageurreotypes represent the father, the mother, and the baby. The dageurreotypes are mirror images, as there is no transfer plate for this type of photography. Daguerreotypes were created using a silver halide and mercury mixture, which had to be immediately fixed with common salts and placed inside an airtight case. This is the first type of photography to have been invented, and was invented in France.

The daguerreotype image is formed after three to fifteen minutes of exposure of the plate, which is enclosed in a special camera like device. This device contained a special window through which the exposure could be viewed, so that the person creating the daguerreotype was able to know when to stop exposure. Immediately after exposure, the unexposed silver salts had to be removed, and the daguerreotype was sometimes treated with gold chlorides to strengthen and color the image. The image was very fragile, and needed to be placed within a special airtight frame, such as the ones into which these daguerreotypes have been placed.

These black and white daguerreotypes have a slight sepia or gold tone. They are in excellent condition.

This set of daguerreotypes measure 3 1/2" by 4" (man and woman portrait) and 2 1/2" by 3" (baby portrait).

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*This item is listed at $220.00*