The original portrait I photographed was very small, slightly larger than a postage stamp, thus leading to its grainy appearance. In 2025, I discovered why. There was a photographic period called the “Photographic Gem Period” which occurred between approximately 1863 and 1890. “This period was known for the popularization of tiny portraits, often measuring around 7/8″ by 1″, or about the size of a small postage stamp”. “The availability of these small portraits was made possible by the invention of Wing multiplying cameras, which could produce multiple small images at once”. The tiny portraits were sold at very affordable prices and with low prices it would be easy to send or give to friends. “Gem portraits were commonly stored in special albums. Some were also cut and used in jewelry like lockets, cufflinks, tie pins, and rings”.
Dave Jordan took this photograph at Dick Denker's 1988 Vanderkloot Reunion in Crystal Lake, Illinois from a photo brought by Robert Vanderkloot of Michigan. If you would like to add information about this picture, please contact Dave Jordan, a great-grandson of Adrianus and Martha Vanderkloot. The Picture Reference Number is: 140-11.
