Detachment U.S. Engineers, Petersburg, Virginia, April, 1865

No. 434.

Gift; Col. Godwin Ordway; 1948.

The albumen silver print is a photographic printing process that was widely used in the 19th century. It involves coating paper support with a mixture of egg whites and salt, which creates a glossy surface to hold light-sensitive silver salts. The paper is then sensitized in a solution of silver nitrate, and exposed in a camera or under a negative. After exposure, the print is developed in a solution of gallic acid and silver nitrate, which reduces the silver salts to metallic silver and creates the final image. The albumen print process was widely used for commercial and fine art photography in the 19th century and produced high-quality, detailed images with a distinctive glossy finish.

history civil war virginia petersburg albumen prints group portraits portrait photographs detachment detachment u engineers historical photos 1865 19th century lot 4190 civil war glass negatives and related prints photo print ultra high resolution high resolution american civil war united states history library of congress

01/01/1865

Library of Congress

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