Many ambrotypes were made by unknown photographers, such as this American example of a small girl holding a flower, circa 1860. Because of their fragility, almost all ambrotypes were held in folding cases much like those used for daguerreotypes
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The ambrotype process (from Greek ambrotos, "immortal") is a photographic process invented in the mid-1850s by Frederick Scott Archer. The process creates a glass negative, which appears as a positive when placed against a black background.

One side of a very clean glass plate is covered with a thin layer of collodion, then dipped in a silver nitrate solution. The plate is exposed to the subject while still wet. (Exposure times vary from five to sixty seconds or more depending on the amount of available light.) The plate is then developed and fixed. The resulting negative, when viewed by reflected light against a black background, appears to be a positive image: the clear areas look black, and the exposed, opaque areas appear light. This effect is achieved by coating one side of the glass negative with black varnish. Either the emulsion side or the blank side can be covered with the varnish: when the blank side is blackened, the thickness of the glass adds a sense of depth to the image. In either case, another plate of glass is put over the fragile emulsion side to protect it, and the whole is mounted in a metal frame and kept in a protective case.

The ambrotype was much less expensive to produce than the daguerreotype, and it lacked the daguerreotype's shiny metallic surface, which some found unappealing. By the late 1850s, the ambrotype was overtaking the daguerreotype in popularity; by the mid-1860s, the ambrotype itself was supplanted by the tintype and other processes.

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No Reserve! Double Sixth Plate Ambrotype Husband Wife Flower Girl Union Case?No Reserve! Double Sixth Plate Ambrotype Husband Wife Flower Girl Union Case? $76.01 Habana Havana Cuba Gutta Percha Case 1/6 Plate Ambrotype 1860 Young Woman W/BabyHabana Havana Cuba Gutta Percha Case 1/6 Plate Ambrotype 1860 Young Woman W/Baby $100.00
men wearing political ribbons and rosetts ambrotype photographmen wearing political ribbons and rosetts ambrotype photograph $49.99 Ambrotype - Exotic Woman - Romani perhaps?Ambrotype - Exotic Woman - Romani perhaps? $25.00
Vintage Ambrotype Photo Sixth 1/6 Plate Young GirlVintage Ambrotype Photo Sixth 1/6 Plate Young Girl $75.00 Vintage Ambrotype Photo ninth 1/9 Plate ManVintage Ambrotype Photo ninth 1/9 Plate Man $75.00
Wonderful Pre Civil War Glass plate photograph Ambrotype photoWonderful Pre Civil War Glass plate photograph Ambrotype photo Full Plate Glass Ambrotype Original Frame With Case Butler Portrait PhotographFull Plate Glass Ambrotype Original Frame With Case Butler Portrait Photograph $117.50
Beautiful Ambrotype Victorian Dress Lady Antique Photograph Civil War Era 1800'sBeautiful Ambrotype Victorian Dress Lady Antique Photograph Civil War Era 1800's $19.99 19th C. Ambrotype Tintype Woman w/Broach Photographic Image Picture in Case 19th C. Ambrotype Tintype Woman w/Broach Photographic Image Picture in Case $9.99
Ambrotype of Southern Belle in Great Hoop Dress - StandingAmbrotype of Southern Belle in Great Hoop Dress - Standing 1850's Gutta Percha Daguerreotype Wall Frame w/ 1/4 Plate Ambrotype Photo1850's Gutta Percha Daguerreotype Wall Frame w/ 1/4 Plate Ambrotype Photo $40.00
1/6 Plate Ambrotype Half Case Baby Portrait Photograph Batavia Ny 1853 Rochester1/6 Plate Ambrotype Half Case Baby Portrait Photograph Batavia Ny 1853 Rochester $29.99 Antique Civil War Littlefield Union Case & Ambrotype Family Portrait 1/4 PlateAntique Civil War Littlefield Union Case & Ambrotype Family Portrait 1/4 Plate $32.51
Antique Ambrotype Whaling Captain Whales Mural Nautical Ships Harpoon PhotographAntique Ambrotype Whaling Captain Whales Mural Nautical Ships Harpoon Photograph Antique Ambrotype Photo Man with Beard Original Case Signed Rehn 1854Antique Ambrotype Photo Man with Beard Original Case Signed Rehn 1854 $9.99
Vintage Ambrotype Bearded Gentleman In Leather Case Vintage Ambrotype Bearded Gentleman In Leather Case $51.00 Vintage Ambrotype Photo Sixth 1/6 Plate Amber GlassVintage Ambrotype Photo Sixth 1/6 Plate Amber Glass $125.00
Japanese Ambrotype Photograph Topknot Hairstyle Boy circa1870sJapanese Ambrotype Photograph Topknot Hairstyle Boy circa1870s $49.99 Thermoplastic Ninth Plate Union Case With Ambrotype Of LadyThermoplastic Ninth Plate Union Case With Ambrotype Of Lady $45.00
Antique Tintype Photo With Case Pretty Little Girl With Tinted Cheeks 1870-80sAntique Tintype Photo With Case Pretty Little Girl With Tinted Cheeks 1870-80s $4.99 Thermoplastic Octagonal Ninth Plate Scroll/Flower Double Image Union Case Thermoplastic Octagonal Ninth Plate Scroll/Flower Double Image Union Case $45.00
antique ambrotype photo.antique ambrotype photo. $6.95 Ruby Ambro Handsome Man with Civil War MatRuby Ambro Handsome Man with Civil War Mat
man & wife ruby glass ambrotype with unusual coverman & wife ruby glass ambrotype with unusual cover $29.99 Ambrotype Of A Fireman Id'D With Memorial Behind Image Possibly died in fireAmbrotype Of A Fireman Id'D With Memorial Behind Image Possibly died in fire $79.00
Thermoplastic Ninth Plate Union Case Basket Of Fruit With Tintype Of Young ChildThermoplastic Ninth Plate Union Case Basket Of Fruit With Tintype Of Young Child $55.00 Antique Daguerreotype/A​Mro type Young Girl 1860Antique Daguerreotype/A​Mro type Young Girl 1860 $35.51
Antique 1880 Cowboy Photo Hand Tinted Ambrotype American Flag Banner Bowtie Antique 1880 Cowboy Photo Hand Tinted Ambrotype American Flag Banner Bowtie $45.00 French 1/2 plat ambrotype c1855 not casedFrench 1/2 plat ambrotype c1855 not cased $149.00
No Reserve! Post Mortem Ambrotype Deceased Posed Child Girl Flowers Rare ImageNo Reserve! Post Mortem Ambrotype Deceased Posed Child Girl Flowers Rare Image $37.87 Cute Little Girl Tinted Pink Dress Gold Necklace Sixth Plate AmbrotypeCute Little Girl Tinted Pink Dress Gold Necklace Sixth Plate Ambrotype $24.99
1/9 Plate Ambrotype Full Case Woman Bonnet Fashion Dress Gloves Photograph1/9 Plate Ambrotype Full Case Woman Bonnet Fashion Dress Gloves Photograph $19.99 Japanese Ambrotype Photograph Geisha Woman kimono circa1870sJapanese Ambrotype Photograph Geisha Woman kimono circa1870s $49.99
beautifull milk glass ambrotype in blue casebeautifull milk glass ambrotype in blue case $9.99 Dapper Gent Great Hair Sideburns Top Hat Fashion Sixth Plate AmbrotypeDapper Gent Great Hair Sideburns Top Hat Fashion Sixth Plate Ambrotype $9.99
Ambrotype of Woman Holding Dag CaseAmbrotype of Woman Holding Dag Case Signed Id'd Ruby Ambrotype Fully Tinted, Great Backdrop, Gorgeous Lady, Unique!Signed Id'd Ruby Ambrotype Fully Tinted, Great Backdrop, Gorgeous Lady, Unique! $34.00
1/2 Plate Ambrotype Of Family - Uncased - J. Gurney Mat Included 1/2 Plate Ambrotype Of Family - Uncased - J. Gurney Mat Included $36.00 tinted 1/4 plate mother & daughter ambrotype photographtinted 1/4 plate mother & daughter ambrotype photograph $39.99
Ambrotype of 2 Ladies in Print Dresses, Full CaseAmbrotype of 2 Ladies in Print Dresses, Full Case $35.00 Edwin & Windsor Smith 1/4 plate tintype & caseEdwin & Windsor Smith 1/4 plate tintype & case $39.99
Postmortem Tintype - Precious Little Baby - Great CollectiblePostmortem Tintype - Precious Little Baby - Great Collectible $41.00 lot of 2 photo images goldtone frame behind glass*no reservelot of 2 photo images goldtone frame behind glass*no reserve $24.90
Antique Tintype Photo Half Case Of Mother And Daughter Tinted Cheeks 1870-80sAntique Tintype Photo Half Case Of Mother And Daughter Tinted Cheeks 1870-80s $6.49 1/6 Plate Civil War era Ruby Glass Ambrotype of Man Wearing Stove Pipe Top Hat1/6 Plate Civil War era Ruby Glass Ambrotype of Man Wearing Stove Pipe Top Hat $26.00
Fantastic: Four 1/6 th plate Ambrotypes in full Union CaseFantastic: Four 1/6 th plate Ambrotypes in full Union Case (2) Antique Case Cases with Original Ambrotype Tintype or Daguerreotype of Girl(2) Antique Case Cases with Original Ambrotype Tintype or Daguerreotype of Girl $16.50
 1850's-60's Laura Drake ambrotype photograph 1850's-60's Laura Drake ambrotype photograph $29.99
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