I meant a daguerreotype that has been removed from its case. I don't know why.
>> The surface is so delecate
>>that you cannot touch it with anything.
This I am aware of, hence my need to protect it.
>> Daguerreotypes are
>>sealed between two pieces of glass ith a matt (usually metal)
>>that keeps the front glass from touching the image.
This was one of the pieces of information I was looking for. Was the metal
usually a piece of copper?
>> Those who
>>collect and make Daguerreotypes use an archival tape to seal
>>them (available from Light Impressions). The sealed package is
>>then placed in some kind of case. Perhaps yours is just been
>>taken out of its case.
That's it exactly, and it needs a new case. Does Light Impressions make the
cases as well? I'll have to dig out my catalog.
>> In any case, make no attempt to clean
>>your Daguerreotype.
I understand.
>> Maybe you don't have a
>>Daguerreotype. Does the background of the image look like a
>>mirror? Is the image itself silvery-white? Some folks mistake
>>Ambrotypes for Daguerreotypes. Tell us more.
I have a collection of Ambrotypes, and this looks quite different. Yes the
image background looks like a mirror, and you get a negative image or a positive
image depending on the way you look at it. The base plate is clearly copper,
and on the front surface where the "matte" used to be is a bluish black tarnish.
Ambrotypes are done on glass plates, so I think this rules out that possibility.
I'd guess a combination of oxides from the copper base plate, and the silver
plating. There are a few reddish brown spots in the image as well (Daguerrian
measles?). I wouldn't say that this a spectacular specimen, but I thought for
$5 I could certainly give it a home. To the best of my knowledge this is just a
Daguerreotype that has been removed from its case.
Thanks for the information.
- Wayde Allen