Portraits of America
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Cartes de Visite

Carte de visite portraits, the small albumen card photographs traded and collected from the 1860s onward. Source archive and rights statement on every image.

101 portraits · free to download

The carte de visite was patented in Paris by Andre Disderi in 1854 and reached the United States around 1859. A print roughly 6 by 9 cm was mounted on a card the size of a visiting card, cheap enough to order by the dozen and trade with family and friends. The format drove a collecting craze through the 1860s, filling purpose-made albums, and was largely superseded by the larger cabinet card during the 1870s.

[James Holding, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[James Holding, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

1880

[Amos Hoffman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Amos Hoffman, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right]

1880

[William Fox, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[William Fox, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right]

1880

[Henry Fletcher, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right], 1881 (Library of Congress)

[Henry Fletcher, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right]

1881

[John Davis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[John Davis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

1880

[James Graham, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[James Graham, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left]

1880

[Abraham Abulaphia, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1881 (Library of Congress)

[Abraham Abulaphia, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1881

[Farcesse Fanian, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1882 (Library of Congress)

[Farcesse Fanian, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1882

[John Emerich, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1882 (Library of Congress)

[John Emerich, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1882

[Henry Katt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Henry Katt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1880

[James Adams, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1882 (Library of Congress)

[James Adams, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1882

[Charles Campbell, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1882 (Library of Congress)

[Charles Campbell, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1882

[Horace Stevens, half-length portrait, facing slightly left], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Horace Stevens, half-length portrait, facing slightly left]

1880

[Nancy Conner, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1881 (Library of Congress)

[Nancy Conner, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1881

[John Gill, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[John Gill, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1880

[Lyman Mead, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Lyman Mead, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1878

[Casimir Lerhrer, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Casimir Lerhrer, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Michael Kresge, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Michael Kresge, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1879

[Allen Adams, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Allen Adams, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Victor Acinas, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Victor Acinas, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1878

[William Burgorn, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[William Burgorn, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Patrick Nealey, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Patrick Nealey, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[Napoleon French, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Napoleon French, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[Ruben Faulkner, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Ruben Faulkner, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[John Erland, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[John Erland, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[John Dunbaugh, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1877 (Library of Congress)

[John Dunbaugh, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1877

[Joseph Hargate, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Joseph Hargate, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[William Gayhart, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[William Gayhart, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Emanuel Kresge, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Emanuel Kresge, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[Levi Fralich, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Levi Fralich, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Luke Keefe, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Luke Keefe, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[Jacob Cohen, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1877 (Library of Congress)

[Jacob Cohen, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1877

[Charles Case, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Charles Case, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Thomas Carrington, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Thomas Carrington, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[Daniel Howe, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Daniel Howe, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Frank Faulkner, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Frank Faulkner, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[Jonathan Davis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Jonathan Davis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[Jonathan Davis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Jonathan Davis, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1879

[Michael Dalton, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1877 (Library of Congress)

[Michael Dalton, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1877

[Hugh Curry, half-length portrait, facing slightly left], 1879 (Library of Congress)

[Hugh Curry, half-length portrait, facing slightly left]

1879

[Patrick Gleeson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Patrick Gleeson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Robert Blackburn, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Robert Blackburn, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[William Bailey, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[William Bailey, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1878

[Samuel Cohen, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1877 (Library of Congress)

[Samuel Cohen, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1877

[Lorenzo Diez, half-length portrait, facing slightly right], 1878 (Library of Congress)

[Lorenzo Diez, half-length portrait, facing slightly right]

1878

[Portrait of Carrie Lining], 1875 (Library of Congress)

[Portrait of Carrie Lining]

1875

[John Henley, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[John Henley, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[John Hendricks, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[John Hendricks, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[John Hendricks, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[John Hendricks, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[Benjamin Harrison, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Benjamin Harrison, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[Nate Foster, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Nate Foster, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[Patrick Denny, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Patrick Denny, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[Michael Cunningham, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Michael Cunningham, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[Thomas Harris, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Thomas Harris, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[John Haines, half-length portrait, seated, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[John Haines, half-length portrait, seated, facing front]

1865

[John Gleeson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[John Gleeson, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[Joseph Githens, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Joseph Githens, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[Michael Dunne, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Michael Dunne, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1865

[John Phillibaum, half-length portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[John Phillibaum, half-length portrait, facing front]

1865

[Henry Dittman, half-length portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Henry Dittman, half-length portrait, facing front]

1865

[Portrait of Miss Thiele], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Portrait of Miss Thiele]

1865

[Jones, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Jones, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1865

[Dan Dailey, half-length portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Dan Dailey, half-length portrait, facing front]

1865

[Robert Cusick, half-length portrait, facing front], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Robert Cusick, half-length portrait, facing front]

1865

[Portrait of an infant], 1866 (Library of Congress)

[Portrait of an infant]

1866

[Portrait of an unidentfied bearded man], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Portrait of an unidentfied bearded man]

1865

[Portrait of Susie Bruce], 1861 (Library of Congress)

[Portrait of Susie Bruce]

1861

[Portrait of Wendell Phillips], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Portrait of Wendell Phillips]

1865

[Woman in bonnet, 1860 (Library of Congress)

[Woman in bonnet

1860

Copy photograph of ninetennth-century carte de visite of woman labeled Brady, New York, 1920 (Library of Congress)

Copy photograph of ninetennth-century carte de visite of woman labeled Brady, New York

1920

The passing of the picturesque, 1901 (Library of Congress)

The passing of the picturesque

1901

[Civil War veteran First Lieutenant Charles P. Lord of Co. C, 6th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and Co. F, 8th Maine Infantry Regiment with G.A.R. hat and badge], 1890 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran First Lieutenant Charles P. Lord of Co. C, 6th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and Co. F, 8th Maine Infantry Regiment with G.A.R. hat and badge]

1890

[Civil War veteran John Wilson and Sarah Bowman Wilson], 1885 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran John Wilson and Sarah Bowman Wilson]

1885

[Civil War veteran John Wilson], 1885 (Library of Congress)

[Civil War veteran John Wilson]

1885

[Ornithologist Leonhard Stejneger], 1887 (Library of Congress)

[Ornithologist Leonhard Stejneger]

1887

[Full-length portrait of an African American man standing among some props, facing front], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Full-length portrait of an African American man standing among some props, facing front]

1880

[Tennessee Claflin, Lady Cook, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right], 1880 (Library of Congress)

[Tennessee Claflin, Lady Cook, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right]

1880

[Henry Peterson, half-length portrait, facing front], 1884 (Library of Congress)

[Henry Peterson, half-length portrait, facing front]

1884

[Three-quarter-length portrait of an African American woman facing front], 1870 (Library of Congress)

[Three-quarter-length portrait of an African American woman facing front]

1870

[Three-quarter-length portrait of an African-American woman seated, facing front, holding book], 1870 (Library of Congress)

[Three-quarter-length portrait of an African-American woman seated, facing front, holding book]

1870

[Three-quarter-length portrait of an African American woman seated, facing front], 1870 (Library of Congress)

[Three-quarter-length portrait of an African American woman seated, facing front]

1870

[Half-length portrait of an African American man facing right], 1870 (Library of Congress)

[Half-length portrait of an African American man facing right]

1870

[African American man in suit, head-and-shoulders-portrait, facing front], 1870 (Library of Congress)

[African American man in suit, head-and-shoulders-portrait, facing front]

1870

[William C. Kimball, Quartermaster, 7th West Virginia Cavalry, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left], 1870 (Library of Congress)

[William C. Kimball, Quartermaster, 7th West Virginia Cavalry, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left]

1870

[Carte de visite portrait of John L. Burns affixed to bayonet in still life with cane, cap, drum, cartridge box, and rifle], 1872 (Library of Congress)

[Carte de visite portrait of John L. Burns affixed to bayonet in still life with cane, cap, drum, cartridge box, and rifle]

1872

[John Hoyland, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front], 1877 (Library of Congress)

[John Hoyland, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

1877

[Texas General Land Office on hill, Austin, Texas], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[Texas General Land Office on hill, Austin, Texas]

1860

[Street corner, with church on hill in background, Austin, Texas], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[Street corner, with church on hill in background, Austin, Texas]

1860

[Old Capitol building, Austin, Texas], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[Old Capitol building, Austin, Texas]

1860

Stacy's Photographic Carte de Visite, 691 Broadway., 1861 (Library of Congress)

Stacy's Photographic Carte de Visite, 691 Broadway.

1861

[Color print of a branch with three leaves on carte de visite mount], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[Color print of a branch with three leaves on carte de visite mount]

1860

[Color drawing of a branch with three leaves on carte de visite mount], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[Color drawing of a branch with three leaves on carte de visite mount]

1860

[David Flavel Jamison, president of the Secession Convention and South Carolina Secretary of War], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[David Flavel Jamison, president of the Secession Convention and South Carolina Secretary of War]

1860

[David Flavel Jamison, president of the Secession Convention and South Carolina Secretary of War], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[David Flavel Jamison, president of the Secession Convention and South Carolina Secretary of War]

1860

[Secretary of State William Henry Seward], 1865 (Library of Congress)

[Secretary of State William Henry Seward]

1865

[William H. Seward, Secretary of State during the Civil War with top hat and cane], 1860 (Library of Congress)

[William H. Seward, Secretary of State during the Civil War with top hat and cane]

1860

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