Cartes de Visite

Cartes de visite were popular from the 1850s until around 1900.  They were photos measuring about 3.5"x2.25" mounted on trade cards measuring about 4" x 2.5".

The photographer's name and address usually appeared on the back of the card.

Specimen Card

©  Peter Stubbs:  please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

©  Peter Stubbs:  please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

Carte de Visite

The back of the card

Above is a specimen card, onto which carte de visite photos would be mounted.  This card is offered at 6s 8d per 1,000 (i.e. 3,000 cards for £1).  It seems a little thicker than would be normal for the 1860s and is described as "Quality 101".  Surprisingly, no manufacturer's name and address is given.

The front of the card

Cartes de visite were normally used for studio portraits, but here is a landscape.

The photograph is dated 22 August 1862.  The photographer is not named, but the view is identified as Queen Mary's Castle, Loch Leven, Kinross - the castle, on an island in the loch where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned  for a year in 1567.

Loch Leven is in the County of Fife, to the North of Edinburgh, about half way to Perth.