1850 Tintype Photography

Tintype photography, introduced in the 1850s, was a popular and affordable photographic process that used a thin sheet of iron coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. Unlike earlier methods such as daguerreotypes, tintypes were more durable and did not require fragile glass plates. The process produced direct positive images, meaning each photograph was unique, and it was widely used for portraiture, especially during the American Civil War. Tintypes were often created in makeshift studios or by traveling photographers, making photography accessible to a broader audience.