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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 19 2007, 11:38 AM EDT (current) | kjacobso | |
| Jun 19 2007, 11:17 AM EDT | kjacobso | 299 words added |
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After the advent of photography in the early 1800s, scientists, artists, and amateurs around the world set about trying to create the perfect print on the perfect medium. The world’s first known photograph, made in 1826, required eight hours of exposure in the sun.
In 1839, the invention of the daguerreotype shortened exposure time to a little more than two minutes. At about the same time, paper negatives appeared. For the first time, it was possible to make multiple prints from one negative, but some detail was lost due to the coarseness of the paper.
Glass-plate negatives were introduced in 1847 and were popular because they could produce photographs with sharper, clearer images than paper negatives. In the 1870s, George Eastman (of Eastman-Kodak fame) began to put light-sensitive emulsions on rolls of paper (later on celluloid), but glass negatives continued to be used through the early 1900s. Many of them have survived, and they can be found at flea markets, tag sales, antiques shops, and online.
Glass negatives came in many of the standard sizes we use today, including 4 by 5 inches, 5 by 7 inches, and 8 by 10 inches; larger sizes are hard to find. Value of the negatives varies greatly depending on the image, sharpness, quality, age, photographer (if known), and composition. Negatives depicting rare or historic scenes, the Civil War, or famous people are worth more.
The plates tend to break and flake easily, so handle only the edges. As with all antiques, it’s best to display them away from direct sunlight and moisture. Avoid buying broken, scratched, or chipped plates unless the image is very rare. If you have glass negatives with particular monetary or sentimental value, you can preserve them by storing them upright in individual acid-free envelopes, preferably in archival boxes.
In 1839, the invention of the daguerreotype shortened exposure time to a little more than two minutes. At about the same time, paper negatives appeared. For the first time, it was possible to make multiple prints from one negative, but some detail was lost due to the coarseness of the paper.
Glass-plate negatives were introduced in 1847 and were popular because they could produce photographs with sharper, clearer images than paper negatives. In the 1870s, George Eastman (of Eastman-Kodak fame) began to put light-sensitive emulsions on rolls of paper (later on celluloid), but glass negatives continued to be used through the early 1900s. Many of them have survived, and they can be found at flea markets, tag sales, antiques shops, and online.
Glass negatives came in many of the standard sizes we use today, including 4 by 5 inches, 5 by 7 inches, and 8 by 10 inches; larger sizes are hard to find. Value of the negatives varies greatly depending on the image, sharpness, quality, age, photographer (if known), and composition. Negatives depicting rare or historic scenes, the Civil War, or famous people are worth more.
The plates tend to break and flake easily, so handle only the edges. As with all antiques, it’s best to display them away from direct sunlight and moisture. Avoid buying broken, scratched, or chipped plates unless the image is very rare. If you have glass negatives with particular monetary or sentimental value, you can preserve them by storing them upright in individual acid-free envelopes, preferably in archival boxes.
