2001.196

Carte de visite, Blind woman wearing dark eyeglasses

unknown

between 1865 and 1890

Sepia-toned photo is mounted on card stock. It shows a blind woman wearing dark eyeglasses. Her hair is worn up. Only the bodice of her outfit is visible. It is fitted, has lapels, and a high collar that shows part of a collar band. A brooch is fastened at the base of the collar. The carte is in a loose, cardboard album sleeve that has gilt edges and a opening trimmed with two gold lines. A piece of red cloth tape, that once held the sleeve in the album, is attached to the left side. The back of the card is covered with pink paper that is visible through the opening on the backside of the album sleeve. Handwritten in ink at top front of album sleeve is "[L?]issie Fidler Williams, John Fidler[']s half sister." On the top back, handwritten in pencil, is "John Andrew Fidler, B. Dec 15, 1855, D April 18 1929, Age about 20?" The carte de visite (CdV) was popular in the United States during the Civil War era as a photographic calling card.

Cardboard, paper, cloth tape

4 1/8 x 2 1/2 in. carte ; 5 1/2 x 4