Warner Gothard Early Production

Carte De Visits:
The Carte De Visit was patented by Paris photographer Andre Disderi in 1854. This was a small paper photograph mounted on thicker card which was 2 ½ X 4 inches. These were the size of a modern day business card and they could be utilized for the same purpose though the majority of the CDV photography was for family portraiture which could be given to close friends and relations as mementoes.

Carte De Visits became extremely popular and soon production spread to all parts of Europe and the rest of the World. The CDV would prove to be good business for Warner Gothard in their early years of production and free publicity by advertising their business details on the front and the back would no doubt generate future business.

Typical Early Carte De Visit
From the Wakefield Studios

A Later Carte De Visit
Now Listing the Barnsley Studios

Cabinet Cards:
Cabinet cards replaced the CDV in 1870 and were the choice for photographic portraiture though their early use was for landscape views. The cabinet cards were larger in size (4 ½ X 6 ½ inches) so they could accommodate a group photograph which was displayed in a glass cabinet, hence the name. Again the photographer would advertise their services on the front and extensively on the back to generate more business.

As the postcard era started to take hold during the Edwardian period the popularity of cabinet cards started to decline until they stopped in the 1920's.

A Typical Portrait Cabinet Card Produced at The Barnsley Studios

A Typical Cabinet Card Produced at The Dewsbury Studios
This particular example has an interesting message on the back

COPIES OF THIS PHOTO CAN BE HAD
ALSO DUPLICATE COPIES FROM THE NEGATIVES TAKEN BY
Mr J. GARRATT LATE OF WESTOWN, DEWSBURY
THE STOCK OF THE NEGATIVES HAVING BEEN PURCHASED BY ME

According to the 1881 trade directory of West Riding, John Garratt was indexed as a photographer at Huddersfield Road, Dewsbury. Maybe he was using the facilities of the Warner Gothard studio for his photographic business at the time and added the note to the bottom of the reverse of the cabinet card to ensure he received the future business as the negative holder.

Postcards:
Postcards became popular in Great Britain in 1894 with the divided back postcard making an appearance in 1902. The postcard was ideal for portrait photography. It was large enough (3 ½ X 5 ½ inches) to accommodate group and family photographs and was light enough to send through the post. The only problem was they lost the advertising space on the back which would now be used for the address and message.

Production of postcards was much cheaper and quicker due to the lower grade of card. Although Warner Gothard started with postcard portrait production they soon expanded into publishing postcards of topographical and social history.

A Social History Postcard of the local Royston Subscription Prize Band.
W. Gothard, Photographer, Eldon Street, Barnsley