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Daguerreotype * or photograph representing the portrait of a Union soldier during the American Civil War (Civil War, 1861-1865), in its ebonite ** frame, from the second half of the 19th century.
This daguerreotype is in good condition.
A note: the photo is slightly worn, scratches and wear of time, see photos.
We are putting other daguerreotypes from this period for sale on this site.
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* The term daguerreotype comes from the name of its inventor, the French artist and decorator Daguerre, who discovered this process in 1835. After years of refinement, he presented his discovery to the French Academy of Sciences on January 9, 1839. The daguerreotype is a purely positive process that does not allow any reproduction of the image. It consists of a plate, usually copper, covered with a layer of silver. This plate is sensitized to light by exposing it to iodine vapors which, when combining with silver, produce photosensitive silver iodide. When exposed to light, the plate records an invisible image, called a “latent image”. Image development is performed by placing the exposed plate on top of a lightly heated (75 ° C) mercury vessel. The mercury vapor condenses on the plate and combines with the silver iodide, forming an amalgam only where the light has acted in proportion to the intensity of the latter. The image thus produced is very fragile and can be removed by heating the plate, which causes the mercury to evaporate from the amalgam.
Charles Goodyear obtained ebonite in 1839 by subjecting natural rubber to a prolonged (and extreme) process of vulcanization. Its color close to that of ebony is at the origin of its name. His brother Nelson Goodyear patented it and marketed it in 1851.
