Antique Ninth Plate Tintype Circa 1870s Handsome Man In Suit

A tintype is a photographic process introduced around 1856 that creates a positive image on a thin sheet of metal, typically iron, coated with a dark lacquer or enamel. The image provided is an example of a tintype photograph.

Key characteristics of tintypes include:


Medium:

The image is directly imprinted onto a thin sheet of metal, usually iron, which is then coated.


Durability:

The metal base makes tintypes more durable than paper-based photographs of the era.


Process:

It was a relatively inexpensive and quick photographic process, which made it popular during the mid-to-late 19th century, including during the American Civil War for portraits of soldiers.


Appearance:

Tintypes often have a distinct dark, slightly reflective appearance due to the coated metal base, and they are typically monochromatic or sepia-toned.