Tintypes

The tintype is a photograph on an iron plate that was very popular in the mid 1860s. It was patented in 1856 by professor Hamilton Smith but it was introduced by Adolphe-Alexandre Martin in 1853. The process was very similar to that of the daguerreotype, but the tintype was much faster and cheaper to produce because of the cheaper metal plates being used and tintypes were photo negatives.

Here are some answers to questions I had about tintypes. If there are any knowledgeable people very familiar with the tintype process who see errors here or can clarify certain points please feel free to correct them in the comment section.

What is the difference between a tintype and a daguerreotype?

The tintype, like the ambrotype, was part of the newer collodion wet plate process. The best I can tell, the only differences between the collodion process and the daguerreotype process were the chemicals being used and the end image. Now according to Wikipedia, the collodion process did not need a silver nitrate bath, but Quinn uses one in the video below, so I'm not sure there. It also says much of the fuming and polishing equipment used in dags were no longer needed. Also dags were positive images that were difficult to reproduce. The newer wet plate process were negatives that were easy to produce on other plates or ablumen (paper) prints.

How can I tell a tintype from other forms of earlier photographs such as daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, or albumen prints?

First off, ambrotypes, while done with the same wet plate process as tintypes, are images on glass. Tintypes are metal. Albumen prints are mostly on cardstock or paper (and were made with egg whites!). The daguerreotype is also metal, but it is silver or silver coated copper. The mirror reflection a dag gives off cannot be mistaken for a tintype. A simple way to test if your photo is a tintype is that it will attract a magnet, while the others won't.

How much are tintypes worth?

To me, they're priceless. As time goes on, more and more are destroyed and are lost to history. Their value will only increase in time. Through this link, you can compare, browse, and buy tintypes. People generally will pay more for tintypes that are identified, that are in good shape, are in a case, or are of a rare subject. A tintype of an identified 4th Virginia Infantry soldier will go for more than an unidentified portait with scratches and smudges. The prices vary a lot. I've seen many for $5 or less and multiple tintypes sell for $10. Some are in the hundreds of dollars or higher. The more valuable tintypes are tintypes of celebrities, politicians, soldiers, animal tintypes, or anything just really unusually.

If you have any questions you'd like to ask about tintypes please leave them in the comment section and I'll try the best I can to get you the right answer.

Photo credits: Half length studio portrait tintype of unidentified man (left) and Ruben Farwell (right) from Library of Congress