Antique 1840s 6th Plate Daguerreotype Portrait Man Cravat Solarization Half Case

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Antique 1840s 6th Plate Daguerreotype Portrait Man Cravat Solarization Half Case:
$1195.00

Up for sale is a beautiful, authentic 1/6 plate daguerreotype dating to the early-to-mid 1840s (circa 1842–1846).The portrait features an anonymous gentleman dressed in the distinct style of the era, sporting a high, stiff shirt collar and a wide, prominent cravat.

A wonderful addition to any Civil War era or early photography collection!

Key Features & Condition:

True Daguerreotype: Features a highly reflective, mirror-like finish on a silver-plated copper sheet.
Solarization Border: Beautiful, iridescent blue-green solarization ring around the perimeter, highly sought after by early photography collectors.
Early Variant: Constructed without a brass preserver rim, confirming its early 1840s origin.
Housing: Housed in its original paper/thin leather-wrapped wood frame. The interior features a deep red plush velvet pinch-frame.
Condition Notes: This is a half-case only; the front cover and hinge are missing. The outer edges of the wood frame show standard flaking, chipping, and wear consistent with age, as shown in the photos. The image itself remains bright with fantastic contrast. The case remains completely sealed to preserve the plate; the plate does shift within the frame, it has not been opened or altered.

Please review all photos closely for exact condition details.
Curator's Note:Please note that this image is a true, authentic silver-plate daguerreotype, not a later ambrotype. It has a highly reflective, mirror-like finish that cleanly shifts to a negative view when tilted under light. The prominent iridescent blue-green ring around the edge is natural lens solarization on the silver plate, which is highly sought after by collectors. This daguerreotype has survived for approximately 180 years. The missing front cover, natural tarnish, edge wear, and age-related movement of the image package are part of its history and have been intentionally left untouched. No attempt has been made to clean, restore, or disassemble the case, allowing the next steward to preserve or conserve it according to their own collecting philosophy.

To protect this antique treasure, it will be packed with care and shipped bubble wrapped, double boxed, USPS Priority, insured and signature required.