Cabinet Photo - What is it?

[Exhibitman]

The 19th century and early 20th century photos on backings are all are mounted photos but the most popular designations are:

Carte-de-visite 4 1/4" x 2 1/2"
Cabinet card 6 1/2" x 4 1/2"
Victoria 5" x 3 1/4"
Promenade 7" x 4"
Boudoir 8 1/2" x 5 1/4"
Imperial 9 7/8" x 6 7/8"
Panel 8 1/4" x 4"
Stereograph 3" x 7" [2 images side by side]

[drc]

The general name for these photos is mounted photographs or card photographs. As long as you give the dimensions at sale, you don't have to worry about the specific names. Few people in the world have them memorized.

As long as you list the dimension, you don't have to worry too much about using the wrong name. If you say a 12" x 10" cabinet card, people will know what you are talking about, even though it's technically not a cabinet card.

You can also say cabinet card-style for different sizes.

It just happens that the cabinet card was one of the most popular and plentiful sizes, which is why you hear cabinet card so often and to the point that some people assume it's the name for all mounted photographs, and why it's used generically.

But, as I said, if you give the correct size in inches, that will usually make up using the incorrect name or if you aren't sure what name to use. Listing the size covers your butt.

Technically speaking, the T3 cabinets aren't cabinet cards, in part because they're too big. But the T5 Pinkerton cabinet cards and N173 Old Judges cabinet cards are genuine cabinet cards.