DATE: c. 1860'sPHOTOGRAPHER: Rockwood & Co. (see bio below)PROCESS: Albumen mountedSIZE: Business card measures2.5" x 4", mounted photo measures 1.375" x 1.75"CONDITION: Large stain. See photosSHIPPING: Shipping cost is non-negotiable, please consider it when offerding/buying.COMBINED SHIPPING: Yes, I do combine shipping. Additional shipping per item is 20% of the lower shipping cost [For example, if 2 items are purchased that have a $30 and $10 shipping cost each, the combined shipping cost becomes $32 for the 2 items]. If offerding/buying more than 1 item, please wait for an invoice with combined shipping before & Co. was a prominent American photography studio founded by Samuel A. Rockwood in the mid-19th century. The studio became well-known for its portrait photography, particularly for its work in New York City. Rockwood, who had trained as a photographer, established the business in the 1850s. His studio quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality photographs, often working with notable figures and celebrities of the time.The studio's most famous work was its albumen prints—a process that was widely used during the 19th century for making photographic prints on paper. These prints were known for their rich tonal quality and fine detail. Samuel Rockwood’s photography focused on a variety of subjects, including portraits, landscape photography, and photographic reproductions of artwork. In particular, his studio became well-regarded for daguerreotypes and ambrotypes, early photographic techniques, and for large format studio portraits, often associated with wealthy clients, socialites, and those in the theater and entertainment industries.The studio also gained fame for its work with stereoscopic photography, which was a popular form of entertainment in the mid-19th century. This involved creating two slightly offset images that, when viewed through a stereoscope, would appear three-dimensional. The studio became one of the leading producers of stereoscopic images, and their work was sold in viewers and as part of photographic sets that were collected by households across the United States.During its height, Rockwood & Co. expanded into producing photographic postcards, a relatively new medium at the time. These cards featured photographic images on the front with a space for writing on the back, often sent as souvenirs or personal correspondence. Many of the studio’s photos were taken at public events, including expositions, civic gatherings, and world fairs, which were significant in the late 19th century.The studio’s influence extended beyond just photography; Rockwood’s work captured an essential slice of American life during the Civil War and into the Gilded Age. His portraits helped define the era’s social and cultural landscape. Throughout the years, the studio maintained a loyal following, thanks to its skilled photographers and the high quality of work. Even after Samuel Rockwood’s death, his business continued to operate under the name Rockwood & Co., though it eventually faded with the rise of new photographic techniques and competitors.By the early 20th century, the studio was overshadowed by other photography studios and the advent of new technology, including color photography and the introduction of more accessible consumer cameras. Despite this, Rockwood & Co. remains an important part of the history of American photography, particularly in the context of 19th-century portraiture, stereoscopy, and documenting historical events.
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