Ruins of railroad bridge at Blackburn's Ford, Bull Run, Virginia

Gift; Col. Godwin Ordway; 1948.

The albumen silver print is a photographic printing process that was widely used in the 19th century. It involves coating paper support with a mixture of egg whites and salt, which creates a glossy surface to hold light-sensitive silver salts. The paper is then sensitized in a solution of silver nitrate, and exposed in a camera or under a negative. After exposure, the print is developed in a solution of gallic acid and silver nitrate, which reduces the silver salts to metallic silver and creates the final image. The albumen print process was widely used for commercial and fine art photography in the 19th century and produced high-quality, detailed images with a distinctive glossy finish.

history civil war virginia bull run loudoun county fairfax county and prince william county albumen prints ruins railroad bridge railroad bridge blackburn ford bull run bull run 1861 19th century american civil war lot 4167 civil war glass negatives and related prints photo blackburn ford ultra high resolution high resolution military colonel united states history library of congress

01/01/1861

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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