Cartomania: A photographic phenomenon that captured the public imagination from the early 1860s. The small portraits, known as cartes de visite, were eagerly exchanged among friends and family, gaining the reputation of "social communication currency." Collected in albums and prominently displayed in homes to be sought out, appraised, and discussed, this first explosion of commercial portraiture proved to be a wildly popular craze, especially once celebrities embraced the new format.

Paul Frecker's richly illustrated book offers fresh insights into the careers of the entrepreneurial men and women who established studios, as well as the lives of those who passed in front of their cameras. With unparalleled research depth and lively writing, it brings to life the photographers and many of their subjects. From reigning queens and visiting sultans to grieving mothers and young criminals, all of life is on display. Whether dressed in their finest or in fancy attire, the followers of cartomania and their often extraordinary stories are revealed in this fascinating view of mid-19th-century society.

Pages: 488, Dimensions: 19.6x19.6cm