Daguerreotypes

The daguerreotype is one of the earliest forms of photography ever produced. It was patented by French artist Louis Daguerre in 1839. The daguerreotype process was very complicated, but very simply, a daguerreotype is a thin silver or silver coated piece of copper that is prepared with chemicals and fit into a box-like camera. The plate is then exposed to light for a predetermined amount of time and the image "burns" itself onto the plate. The photo is then covered and brought over to a dark room, where it's then "fixed" with a sodium-like solution. It's then treated with gold chloride and fit into a case to seal and protect it. Whew, that's as simple as I could make it!

Now I am by no means a daguerreotype expert, but here are some answers I dug out to some frequently asked questions about "dags" (or at least questions that I frequently asked myself about dags). If any of these answers are incorrect, please feel free to correct me. There are some really smart researchers and photographers out there who know early photography history in and out.

What are the differences between daguerreotypes and all of the other forms of photos (tintypes, ambrotypes, etc.)?

Daguerreotypes came first, but they didn't stay popular very long. In 1850, the collodion process was invented. The collodion process, also called the wet plate process, used different chemicals and the plate no longer had to be on expensive silver or copper. Tintypes, ambrotypes and later forms of photography could be made now on glass and iron. Daguerreotypes also took longer to expose and could not be reproduced as easily as the later photographic methods.

How can I tell the difference between daguerreotypes and all of the other forms of photographs?

The easiest way to tell if it's a daguerreotype is by its shiny mirror-like reflection. If it's shiny, it's a daguerreotype. Watch the video below. Also, they should always be in a "Union Case" or another type of hard plastic case (yes they had plastic back then) to preserve them from the air. I'm assuming by what I've read that a daguerreotype will not last long outside of its sealed case.

Are the images that are usually seen in books daguerreotypes or are they tintypes or another form of photograph?

Honestly I'm having a hard time coming up with a simple answer to this one. I think it depends largely on the date of the photo, the photographer, and the quality of the image itself. For example, if the caption in the book tells you the photo was from 1853, it's fairly safe to assume it was an image of a daguerreotype. Personally I find it a little frustrating when they're not captioned in books. Maybe that means they don't know. To add to the identification confusion, many of the famous photos you've seen are also stereoviews, which were two almost identical photos side by side that go together to form a 3D image (they're actually really cool). Sorry to be so vague, it looks like I'll have to hit the books some more.

How much are daguerreotypes worth?

That depends on who you ask. I'm sure many historians will tell you that they're priceless (and I happen to agree). But you probably want a dollar sign. Well, the annoying answer is, just like anything else, it's worth what somebody else is willing to pay for it. What people are willing to pay for daguerreotypes usually depends on how rare the image is, the condition of the dag, the photographer, if there is identification of the people in the photo, and other factors. Generally, daguerreotypes that will cost more are post mortem photos, identified and unidentified Civil War soldier photos, Matthew Brady or other famous photographer photos, photos in lots, daguerreotype albums, 1850s and earlier dags in good shape, nudes, family portraits, sports photos, celebrity photos, uniquely dressed subjects, black soldiers slaves servants or civilian photos, interesting occupational photos, animal photos (which are rare), the list goes on.

Here you can buy daguerreotypes and compare the prices with other similar early photos. You can get a portrait dag in decent shape for as little as $20 and sometimes less. Many daguerreotypes are in the $30-$50 price range but can climb into the hundreds and even thousands when something really rare comes along. Private dealers also sell daguerreotypes but they're in the business so you'll probably spend more. The upside is if you find a knowledgable and reputable dealer you can trust, you'll be more comfortable knowing you can get a quality daguerreotype.

What are good books about daguerreotypes?

Please see the Daguerreotype Books section below.

If there are any questions you have about daguerreotypes please post them in the comment sections. If I find the answer or somebody else can answer it, I'll post it here.

Photo credit: Earliest known photo of Abe Lincoln quarter plate daguerreotype, part of daguerreotype collection-Library of Congress 1846-1847