| There are many types of photographs that you | | | | extended periods of time, or miss handled, so |
| can collect, but the daguerreotype really stands | | | | treat them with care. The best way to store any |
| apart from the pack. Not only is every single | | | | photograph including a daguerreotype is to keep it |
| daguerreotype a rare image, they all have a | | | | in a metal box, and in a cool dry place. |
| distinctive look as well. Let's start with a short | | | | Daguerreotypes come in the following sizes; |
| history lesson on the characteristics, and process | | | | Whole plate - 6 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches, Half plate - 4 |
| of making a daguerreotype. | | | | 1/4 by 5 1/2 inches, Quarter plate - 3 1/4 by 4 1 |
| Although the daguerreotype was not the first | | | | 4 inches, Sixth plate - 2 3/4 by 3 1/4 inches, |
| method of producing an image, it was the first to | | | | Ninth plate - 2 by 2 1/2 inches, Sixteenth plate - 1 |
| make photography a commercially viable product. | | | | 3/8 by 1 5/8 inches, and cover all kinds of |
| Although not the sole inventor, the daguerreotype | | | | subjects including slightly rarer outdoor scenes, |
| is named after one of its most famous inventors, | | | | fairly uncommon post mortem, rare personality |
| Louis Daguerre. Daguerre announced the | | | | portraits, hand tinted, and common folk portraits, |
| perfection of the process in 1839. | | | | with common folk portraits being the most |
| The daguerreotype was a type of photograph | | | | common. Although all types of daguerreotypes |
| that had no negative which resulted in a single | | | | are collected, there are certain genera that |
| copy of any given image. Daguerreotypes were | | | | collectors gravitate to. |
| produced by adding a layer of silver halide to the | | | | Outdoor Scenes; because of the equipment |
| plate, the plate was in turn exposed to a scene | | | | needed to produce a daguerreotype, outdoor |
| through a lens, and then the plate was developed | | | | images are fairly rare. Outdoor daguerreotypes |
| by holding it over a container of heated mercury. | | | | cover every subject from occupational scenes to |
| Next, the image had to be permanently affixed to | | | | images of a photographer's back yard. If you |
| the plate by dipping it in a bath of hyposulphite of | | | | decide to collect outdoor images, you can expect |
| soda. The resulting image was so prone to | | | | to pay anywhere from a couple of hundred |
| damage by the slightest handling, that most | | | | dollars, up to a few hundred dollars. |
| daguerreotypes were protected by covering | | | | Post Mortem; it was sometimes a practice back in |
| them with a piece of glass and sealing them with | | | | the 1800s to have photographs taken of loved |
| tape, then placing them in a case. | | | | ones on their death beds, after death. |
| Daguerreotypes are also very prone to oxidation | | | | Photographs of deceased people are called post |
| if exposed to air, so if the sealing tape has been | | | | mortem, and are highly prized by some collectors. |
| removed or has become damaged, the image is | | | | If you decide to collect post mortem |
| likely to turn black or even spotted. Unfortunately | | | | daguerreotypes, you can expect to pay |
| there is nothing that can be done to bring back a | | | | anywhere from fifty dollars, up to a few hundred |
| heavily tarnished or spotted daguerreotype. Do | | | | dollars for an outstanding example. |
| not try to polish a heavily tarnished | | | | Personality; among the rarer of daguerreotype |
| daguerreotype, you will only end up destroying | | | | images are the ones that have a personality, or |
| the image altogether. Slightly tarnished | | | | personalities. If you decide to collect images of |
| daguerreotypes can be prevented from getting | | | | personalities, you can expect to pay upwards of a |
| worse by resealing them with special tape sold by | | | | thousand dollars or more for an unusual image. |
| archival supply houses. You can easily find the | | | | Hand Tinted; some of the most spectacular |
| tape online, just Google "archival photo supplies". | | | | daguerreotypes were hand tinted. Colors were |
| The glass produced back in the early 1800s was | | | | usually red, gold, and/or light blue, but other colors |
| also prone to have lots of impurities, and as a | | | | exist. Collectors really like these types of images |
| result many of the daguerreotypes you will find | | | | and will gladly pay upwards of a thousand dollars |
| now may have what looks like white mold spots | | | | or more for a fine example. |
| on the image. The white spots are more likely in | | | | Common Folk Portraits; although common folk |
| the glass and will in most cases disappear if the | | | | portraits are the most common daguerreotype |
| glass is replaced, and the daguerreotype resealed. | | | | you will find, they are nevertheless quite worth |
| It is best to have any repairs to your | | | | collecting. Common folk portraits cover everyone |
| daguerreotype done by a professional restorer, | | | | from babies to grandparents, and if well |
| but if you do decide to make any repairs, | | | | composed, they can go as high as a few hundred |
| remember to never touch the image plate. All it | | | | dollars. |
| will take to ruin the image is a slight brush of your | | | | I hope this article has given you a good overview |
| finger on the plate, or to have a speck of dust | | | | on collecting daguerreotypes, and no matter what |
| get sealed in. | | | | genera you decide to collect, you can be sure |
| The most noticeable thing that makes a | | | | that you have the only copy of that particular |
| daguerreotype stand apart from other cased | | | | image. If you decide to start collecting |
| images such as ambrotypes, is that | | | | daguerreotypes, or any photographic medium, the |
| daguerreotypes have a mirror surface. You have | | | | most important thing to keep in mind is to collect |
| to hold them at just the right angle to see the | | | | for the love of collecting images, not just as an |
| image clearly. Daguerreotypes are also prone to | | | | investment opportunity. |
| damage if dropped, exposed to sunlight for | | | | |