📚 19th-Century Victorian Photograph Album with Original Family Portraits | c. 1865–1885
A beautifully preserved Victorian photograph album, circa 1865–1885, richly bound in embossed leather with gilt decoration, mother-of-pearl studs, and its original ornate brass clasps. This is a true heirloom-quality example — heavy, decorative, and filled from front to back with original studio portraits.
Inside are dozens of 19th-century photographs, primarily CDVs (carte-de-visite) and cabinet portraits, featuring men and women across multiple generations. Several images include handwritten identifications such as Joseph Walker, Ephraim Moulton, and Maria, offering a glimpse into the genealogical thread of the family who once treasured this volume. The portraits span the Civil War era through the 1880s, capturing changing fashions, hairstyles, and photographic techniques.
Albums of this caliber — with original hardware, thick gilt-edged pages, and consistent family provenance — rarely survive intact. The craftsmanship of the binding alone is extraordinary, with raised leatherwork, tooled gilt scrolls, and beautifully functioning brass clasps.
Highlights
- Date: c. 1865–1885
- Binding: Deep brown embossed leather with gilt tooling and mother-of-pearl studs
- Hardware: Original double brass clasps with Victorian floral motifs
- Contents: Filled with original portraits — men, women, and several identified sitters
- Photography Types: CDVs and cabinet cards, professionally studio-produced
- Pages: Thick gilt-edged card stock with decorative portrait windows
- Condition: Beautiful antique condition; age-appropriate wear to leather, photos well-preserved
- Provenance: Private New England family album
This is a rare, museum-worthy example of a complete 19th-century family photo archive, perfect for collectors of early photography, genealogists, or those who love the emotional storytelling of Victorian-era portraiture.
A striking display piece — and an irreplaceable piece of American social history.
📚 19th-Century Victorian Photograph Album with Original Family Portraits | c. 1865–1885
A beautifully preserved Victorian photograph album, circa 1865–1885, richly bound in embossed leather with gilt decoration, mother-of-pearl studs, and its original ornate brass clasps. This is a true heirloom-quality example — heavy, decorative, and filled from front to back with original studio portraits.
Inside are dozens of 19th-century photographs, primarily CDVs (carte-de-visite) and cabinet portraits, featuring men and women across multiple generations. Several images include handwritten identifications such as Joseph Walker, Ephraim Moulton, and Maria, offering a glimpse into the genealogical thread of the family who once treasured this volume. The portraits span the Civil War era through the 1880s, capturing changing fashions, hairstyles, and photographic techniques.
Albums of this caliber — with original hardware, thick gilt-edged pages, and consistent family provenance — rarely survive intact. The craftsmanship of the binding alone is extraordinary, with raised leatherwork, tooled gilt scrolls, and beautifully functioning brass clasps.
Highlights
- Date: c. 1865–1885
- Binding: Deep brown embossed leather with gilt tooling and mother-of-pearl studs
- Hardware: Original double brass clasps with Victorian floral motifs
- Contents: Filled with original portraits — men, women, and several identified sitters
- Photography Types: CDVs and cabinet cards, professionally studio-produced
- Pages: Thick gilt-edged card stock with decorative portrait windows
- Condition: Beautiful antique condition; age-appropriate wear to leather, photos well-preserved
- Provenance: Private New England family album
This is a rare, museum-worthy example of a complete 19th-century family photo archive, perfect for collectors of early photography, genealogists, or those who love the emotional storytelling of Victorian-era portraiture.
A striking display piece — and an irreplaceable piece of American social history.