An Interesting Accident

Double-exposure French quarter plate daguerreotype circa 1850 in which portions of a different, husband-and-wife image are visible in dark areas of the sitter's clothing. While probably created by a mistake of the daguerreotypist, the plate was not discarded but housed in an oval leather case and preserved through many generations. Evidently 19th century viewers found the effect as interesting as we do today.   (Ref# cd36)

Images and text copyright © 2014 by Christopher Wahren Fine Photographs