[S. Michael Simms]

From top: A dead man from 1845.

Second from the top: A daguerreotype of a little girl in her coffin from "early 1840" according the eBay seller who has it listed at around $400. I'm taking this one with a grain of salt, considering the source. I would think such a photo would be worth far more considering photography was only invented less than a year earlier.

Third: Death photo of a child from 1848. It's interesting to note how much the quality improved in three years compared to the top photo.

Fourth and Fifth: A deceased woman from 1841, and a skull listed as 1841-1842.



If anyone can find an older death photo than "early 1840", please contribute. Most of these images were obtained from The Library of Congress website.

[v1r]

Great post. Had not seen those photos before. Do share more old photos if you have them!

[S. Michael Simms]

Originally Posted by v1r ↗

Great post. Had not seen those photos before. Do share more old photos if you have them!

I was able to find a dead woman and a skull from 1841 (just added them) - I will keep digging until I find an older photo, which I am almost certain must exist.

UPDATE: Found it - MAYBE. Dead infant "early 1840". Sketchy source.

[Faline]

Always found it intriguing that people would have pictures with their dead loved ones.

[BSNERRN]

Originally Posted by Faline ↗

Always found it intriguing that people would have pictures with their dead loved ones.

The internet is rife with misinformation regarding Victorian post mortem photos. The Victorians did take post mortem photos, but they were rare and quite obvious with the decedent lying in repose in a bed or coffin. They did not pose a corpse to appear alive; no standing, sitting upright or painted eyes on eyelids. When a loved one died, family bathed and dressed the decedent, then laid them in repose, THEN the photographer came to the home and took a photo, as they were, lying in repose.

[William May]

Well, I have seen MANY where the mother was draped in a black cloth, holding her child upright as if it was still alive. I have also seen examples of the "painted on eyes" which are mentioned in many post mortem photographs.
People wanted mementos of their loved ones. Sometimes the only picture they might have had of them, is the one taken right after they died.

[BSNERRN]

Originally Posted by Faline ↗

Always found it intriguing that people would have pictures with their dead loved ones.

Photography was new, and with such high mortality rates, if someone died before having the opportunity to have photos taken, a post mortem photo was better than no photo.

[BSNERRN]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

Well, I have seen MANY where the mother was draped in a black cloth, holding her child upright as if it was still alive. I have also seen examples of the "painted on eyes" which are mentioned in many post mortem photographs.
People wanted mementos of their loved ones. Sometimes the only picture they might have had of them, is the one taken right after they died.

Hidden mothers were NEVER used for post mortem photos. Hidden mothers held the small child to calm them so a photo could be taken. Photography was new and with such high mortality rates, if someone died before having the opportunity to have photos taken, a post mortem photo was better than no photo. Family bathed and dressed the decedent, then laid them in repose in a bed or coffin, THEN a photographer came to the
home and took a photo, as they were, lying in repose.

[S. Michael Simms]

Still have yet to find a photo of a dead human older than 1841. The search continues. There are several years between the earliest known photo and the earliest death photo during which it is highly probable that someone photographed a dead person.