Cartes de Visite

Some 20 years ago, Paul Frecker first discovered an album of cartes de visite - small Victorian photographs that were a phenomenon of their time. Today, he has a collection of over 10,000 cards

- KATIE PIKE

Cartes de visite are small-format photographs-usually portraits, but not always that were introduced into the UK market in the closing days of 1859 and quickly became wildly popular. They're called cartes de visite because they were similar in size to visiting cards of the period.

People sat for their portraits, ordered one or two dozen copies, and then exchanged them with their friends and extended family. Once compiled into albums, they were prominently displayed in the home for visitors to peruse, assess and discuss.

They caught on quickly, particularly once Queen Victoria had herself and her family photographed in the new format and made the portraits available for public consumption. A market for celebrity portraits quickly developed and people could collect their heroes, whether that be authors, actresses, politicians, courtesans, trapeze artists, or simply the local vicar.

The initial frenzy only lasted about five years, but the format remained available until the end of the century, and even a bit later in some countries. In Germany, I don't think they entirely disappeared until the 1920s.

When I lived in London, my flat was just behind Alfies Antique Market. One day in 2001, while I was mooching around in there, I came across a small album of photographs. I knew a little about the history of photography, but I'd never heard of cartes de visite.

I had no frame of reference, but I thought the album was expensive and didn't buy it. I then went away on holiday and, while I was away, I found myself thinking about one of the portraits in the album. When I arrived back home, I went into Alfies and bought the album.