Card mounted photographs from the 19th and early 20th century, such as cartes-de-visites, cabinet cards and stereographs can be generally dated by their format and mount type. Printed mount notations such as photographer's identification and title are fairly reliable, but can still provide false information.

Dating by mount type and style provides a rough indicator for identifying images. The caveat is that many photographers, particularly in more remote areas, failed to keep up to photographic fashion and used old mounts until their stocks were exhausted. Also, photographers reprinted historically or commercially important images long after they were originally taken. Also negatives were often sold or copied and the mount information may not accurately reflect the history of the images. For example, D. P. Flanders views of Prescott taken in the Spring of 1874 appear on Williscraft mounts in the late 1870s and Continent mounts into the mid 1880s

Notations on the mounts can occasionally provide additional information about the image, but should always be verified by other sources before being relied on. Handwritten notations are the most suspect, often being added long after the image was made by persons with only secondary knowledge.

The following information is provided to assist in verifying possible image dates using information based on the type and style of the photographic mount.

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Card mounted photo designation by size (all sizes in inches)

* Courtesy of Gary Saretzky

Stereograph dating (3 1/2 X 7)

Cartes-de-visites (2 1/2 X 4)

Revenue stamps were used on card mounted photographs produced between

September 1, 1864 and August 1, 1866, most frequently on cartes-de-visites

* Courtesy of Gary Saretzsky

Cabinet cards (6 1/2 X 4 1/2)

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Photographic Postcards - Stamp Box identification (based on Southwestern U.S. Images)
Additional information at http://www.playle.com/realphoto/