Featured in this lot are four late 1800s portrait style Daguerreotypes & Ambrotypes. The lot contains two ambrotypes in identical frames and one small daguerreotype. Ambrotypes arose in the mid-1850s as a more economical alternative to daguerreotypes. Like Daguerreotypes, they are a positive image that is typically housed within a protective case. However, where daguerreotypes are printed on a polished silver plate, Ambrotypes are printed on a translucent glass plate. Ambrotypes were the cheaper alternatives to the more expensive Daguerreotypes. Developed by Frenchman Louis-Jacques-Mand? Daguerre in the 1830s and made public in 1839, the Daguerreotype method was a turning point in photography history. It required several crucial actions. The light-sensitive medium was a highly polished copper plate coated with silver. Iodine fumes were used to sensitize this plate, coating the surface with a layer of silver iodide, then the camera lens is focused and the image is 'burned' onto the sensitized plate. Depending on the lighting, the exposure time could range from seconds to minutes. The latent image was made visible after the plate had been exposed using mercury vapor development. It was then fixed with sodium thiosulfate solution, removing any hidden silver iodide. After the process, the daguerreotypes produced a highly detailed and sharp image, becoming the popular choice for portraiture in the mid-19th century. The first ambrotype is housed in a thick paper frame and single matted showing nice geometric designs throughout. In the center is the ambrotype showing an older man with a straight face looking directly towards the viewer. The second ambrotype is smaller and set in a circular metal frame showing a woman and her baby looking towards the viewer. It appears that her jewelry has been hand-tinted with gold gilt. The third ambrotype is set in the same frame as the first ambrotype and shows a husband and wife posing for a photo. The man is sitting while the woman is standing. The fourth photo, the daguerreotype, shows a more reflective surface typical of a daguerreotype. A younger man is featured in this photo with longer hair and he is looking directly towards the viewer. It is set in a circular, metal frame. Also included in this lot is the Rochester History Vol. LXII No. 1 booklet of "The Daguerreian Years in Rochester 1840 to 1860" by Jospeh R. Struble and edited by Ruth Rosenburg-Naparsteck in 2000. This booklet gives a brief history on how daguerreotypes were made, old advertisements and a the first to start daguerreotypes in Rochester. The photos show fair condition overall with wear present from their age and use over the years. The booklet is in good condition. The large photo measures 6 1/4" L x 4 3/4" W, the two smaller ones measure 1 1/4" in diameter and the booklet measures 9" L x 6" W.

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