First introduced in the 1860s, cabinet card photographs were similar to cartes-de-visite, only larger. Measuring approximately four inches by six inches and mounted on cardstock (similar to cardboard), cabinet card photos got their name from their size—they were just the right size to be displayed on a cabinet.
Although some cabinet cards depicting landscapes can be found, most featured Victorian-era portraits of individuals or families—it was popular to mail cabinet cards to friends and family living abroad. Early cabinet cards were sepia-toned; in later years, the majority of them were printed in black-and-white.
Although some cabinet cards depicting landscapes can be found, most featured Victorian-era portraits of individuals or families—it was popular to mail cabinet cards to friends and family living abroad. Early cabinet cards were sepia-toned; in later years, the majority of them were printed in black-and-white.
