Tintype

Tintype photos, also known as ferrotypes, are a type of early photographic process that was popular in the mid-to-late 19th century.

They were photos made on thin sheets of iron, not tin, that were coated with a dark enamel and were widely used from the 1850s through the early 1900s, especially in portrait studios, fairs, and by street photographers due to their quick development time.

Because of their durability and affordability, tintypes became a significant part of photographic history, preserving countless images from the 19th century and many old family photos were tintypes.

The following are some examples of tintypes found in family albums.