Dating CDV photographs from the designs on the Front

by Roger F. Vaughan 2003

The 1900s

All of these cards have square corners and plain backs (1890s have rounded corners but a few survived as old stock as late as 1903). The first card from Smith, Stroud, is from about 1900, the border has a pressed leaf design and the ship and roses design tissue protector is still with it. The Russell & Sons is dated on the back as given June 27th 1900, and has a leaf and flowerhead pressed design. The A& G Taylor, is ink stamped 25 JUL 1900. The girl 'Annie' in the Kerslake gave this for Xmas and New Year 1901. The last photo is by Webber of Lancaster and dated March 1902.

I hope you have found all this useful and that I have not made any huge errors - this has never been attempted before by anyone that I know of!

Most of the Information has come from my own collection, aided with some dating references from 'A Directory of London Photographers 1841 - 1908' by Michael Pritchard and the Trade Directory lists on various websites. Dates taken mostly from ladies fashion changes and those written on the backs of the cards and from five years of collecting!
© Roger F.Vaughan
31.12.2002
New Years Eve





Start again with the 1860s Backs

Date a Carte de Visite Photograph