
I'd heard this expression, but didn't know what it meant. Finally googled it and found a helpful article: cabinet cards on Ancestorville.com.
Grandmother's portrait (my profile picture) is a "Victorian cabinet card." It's the only surviving picture of her as a child, and the one of her parents, taken at the same time, is the only remaining picture of them. All I can say is Thank Goodness for these sturdy cards that have withstood 125 years!
My great-grandparents:
Click on "Family Portraits, circa 1886" for Grandmother's description of the Muir's very cold trip to the photographer.
