There are only a few books specifically on the topic.

1. Darrah, William C., "CARTES DE VISITE IN NINETEENTH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY", W. C. Darrah, Gettysburg, 1981

This is a fairly essential purchase for all collectors.  It is now out of print.

2. McCulloch, Lou W., "CARD PHOTOGRAPHS, A Guide To Their History And Value", Schiffer, Pennsylvania, 1981

This is an excellent resource on collecting card photographs written by an Ohio based collector and author.  It is now out of print.

3. McCauley, Elizabeth Anne, "A. A. DISDERI AND THE CARTE DE VISITE PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPH", Yale University Press, New Haven, 1985

An essential history of the inventor of the cdv.  Thoroughly researched.

4. James, H. A., "PRICE GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPHIC CARDS", Bishopgate Press,  London, 1982

A small book (132pp.) but a reasonable introduction to the hobby.  Mainly devoted to stereo cards but has a cdv and cabinet section (28pp.) with a listing of cdv photographers.  Prices are too old be be very relevant.

5. Lansdell, Avril, "FASHION A LA CARTE 1860-1900.  A Study of Fashion Through Cartes de Visite", Shire Publication, UK, reprint 1992.

Another small book (96pp.) in the History In Camera series but very well presented and includes an overview of cdvs.

6. Reeder, Warwick, 'THE DEMOCRATIC IMAGE: THE CARTE-DE-VISITE PHOTOGRAPH IN AUSTRALIA 1859-1874", thesis A.N.U. Canberra 1995

This masters thesis gives a history of the carte de visite in Australia and may be published at some stage.

These more general works include useful information on card photography:

Gilbert, George, "PHOTOGRAPHY THE EARLY YEARS. A HISTORICAL GUIDE FOR COLLECTORS", Harper & Row, New York, 1980

Heyert, Elizabeth.  "THE GLASS-HOUSE YEARS: VICTORIAN PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY 1839-1870."  Montclair: Allanheld & Schram, 1979.  4to., viii,158pp., 91 photo plates interspersed with text.

Howarth-Loomes, B.E.C., "VICTORIAN PHOTOGRAPHY, A COLLECTORS GUIDE", Ward Lock, London, 1974

Langford, Michael, "THE STORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY", Focal Press, London, 1980

Linkman, Audrey, "THE VICTORIANS.  PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS", Taurus Parke Books, London, 1994
Excellent work which gives an English perspective of photographic portraiture.  Examples dominate from the Manchester area

McCauley, Elizabeth Anne, "INDUSTRIAL MADNESS. COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN PARIS 1848-1871", Yale University Press, Mew Haven, 1994

McDonald, Gus, "CAMERA. VICTORIAN EYEWITNESS. A HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY:1826-1913", The Viking Press, New York, 1980

Permutt, Cyril, "COLLECTING PHOTOGRAPHIC ANTIQUES", Patrick Stephens, Wellingborough, England 1986.

Reilly, James M., "CARE AND IDENTIFICATION OF 19TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS", Kodak, New York, 1986

Rosenblum, Naomi, "A WORLD HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY", Abbeyville Press, New York, 1989

Thomas, Alan, "THE EXPANDING EYE. PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE NINETEENTH CENTURY MIND", Croom Helm, London, 1978

Wills, Camfield & Deidre, "HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY", Hamlyn, London, 1980
Another excellent work giving an English perspective.  Examples dominate from the Birmingham area

GENERAL

Cato, Jack, "THE STORY OF THE CAMERA IN AUSTRALIA", Georgian House, Melbourne, 1955.  2nd and 3rd editions publ. by Institute of Australian Photography, Melbourne, 1977 and 1979

Cannon, Michael, "AN AUSTRALIAN CAMERA. 1854-1914", Thomas Nelson, South Melbourne, 1973

Davies, Alan & Peter Stanbury, "THE MECHANICAL EYE IN AUSTRALIA", O.U.P., Melbourne 1985, Reprinted 1986.

Frost, Lenore, "DATING FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS 1850-1920"

Tanre, Con, Allan Davies & Peter Stanbury, "THE MECHANICAL EYE", Sydney, 1977.

MONOGRAPHS

Bolton, G. C., RICHARD DAINTREE. A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMOIR, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane, 1965.

Jones, Shar, J. W. LINDT, MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER, Currey O'Neil Ross, South Yarra, 1985

Millar, David P., CHARLES KERRY'S FEDERATION AUSTRALIA, David Ell Press, Sydney, 1981

Peirce, Augustus Baker, "KNOCKING ABOUT, Being Some Adventures of Augustus Baker Peirce in Australia" Shoestring Press, Wangaratta, Australia, 1984 (facsimile of original autobiographical work published by Yale University Press, New Haven, 1924)

Pitkethly, Anne and Don, N. J. CAIRE.  LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER, publ. Anne and Don Pitkethly, Victoria, 1988

Sanker, Ian G., QUEENSLAND IN THE 1860's.  THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF RICHARD DAINTREE, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 1977

Thompson, John, "FACES OF MANDURAMA", National Library of Australia, 1977. (featuring the photographs of E.A. J. Lumme)

Butcher, Mike and Collins, Yolande, "AN AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER ON THE GOLDFIELDS", National Trust of Bendigo, Bendigo, VIC, 2001. (reproduces the 1861 views of Sandhurst/Bendigo taken by Benjamin Pierce Batchelder)

QUEENSLAND

Stringer, Richard & Marguerite, "A SHIFTING TOWN. GLASS PLATE IMAGES OF CLERMONT AND IT'S PEOPLE, University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, 1986

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sierp, Allan, "COLONIAL LIFE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. FIFTY YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 1855-1905", Rigby, Melbourne, 1972.

"VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN SYDNEY FROM OLD PHOTOGRAPHS", John Ferguson, Sydney,

Groom, Barry & Warren Wickham, "SYDNEY - THE 1850s. THE LOST COLLECTIONS. EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS AND EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS OF SYDNEY", Macleay Museum, University of Sydney, 1982. (mainly featuring the work of Prof. John Smith)

VICTORIA

Smith, Patsy Adam, "VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN MELBOURNE FROM OLD PHOTOGRAPHS", John Ferguson, Sydney, 1979.

Mentions Perez Batchelder, Charles Nettleton, Nicolas Caire and T.F. Chuck.

Bennetts, Don, "MELBOURNE'S YESTERDAYS.  A PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD 1851-1901", Souvenir Press, South Australia, 1976.

Shows a number of studios in street scenes, such as Vita Studios in Swanston St  (p. 17), Nicolas Caire's studio in South Yarra (p. 45), Elliot & Co.'s studio in Prahran (p. 46) and J. W. Lindt's studio in Collins St (p. 85).

Sierp, Allan, "COLONIAL LIFE IN VICTORIA. FIFTY YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 1855-1905", Rigby, Melbourne, 1972.

Mentions Perez Batchelder, Townsend Duryea, Antoine Fauchery, Charles Nettleton, Henry Johnstone, Thomas Chuck, John Lindt, Nicolas Caire, Henry Barnett and Andrew Barrie.  Shows street views of studios of Johnstone & O'Shannessy (p. 105) and Yeomans in Bourke St (p. 192)

TASMANIA

Sierp, Allan, "COLONIAL LIFE IN TASMANIA. FIFTY YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 1855-1905", Rigby, Melbourne, 1972.

"VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN HOBART FROM OLD PHOTOGRAPHS", John Ferguson, Sydney,

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Sierp, Allan, "COLONIAL LIFE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.  FIFTY YEARS OF PHOTOGRAPHY 1855-1905", Rigby, Melbourne, 1972.

"VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN ADELAIDE FROM OLD PHOTOGRAPHS", John Ferguson, Sydney,

Photohistory South Australia - this website contains extensive information on South Australian photographers

NEW ZEALAND

Knight, Hardwicke, NEW ZEALAND PHOTOGRAPHERS: A SELECTION, Allied Press, Dunedin, 1981

Knight, Hardwicke, PHOTOGRAPHY IN NEW ZEALAND, A SOCIAL AND TECHNICAL HISTORY,  John McIndoe, Dunedin, 1971

Main, William, WELLINGTON THROUGH A VICTORIAN LENS, Millwood, Wellington, 1972 (Reprinted 1980)

Main, William, AUCKLAND THROUGH A VICTORIAN LENS, Millwood, Wellington, 1977

Main, William & Turner, John B., NEW ZEALAND PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE 1840s TO THE PRESENT, PhotoForum, Auckland, 1993

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