The easiest way to detect the fakes is with a 10X loupe. All original photographs (including tintypes) are continuous tone images. That is they go smoothly from white to various grays to black. Printing presses, however, cannot produce a continuous tone.

Are tintypes magnetic?

Tintypes are attracted to a magnet, while Ambrotypes and Daguerreotypes are not. The Daguerreotype image has a magical, mirror-like quality. The image can only be seen at certain angles. A piece of paper with writing will be reflected in the image, just as with a mirror.

Are old photos worth money?

Generally, the older a photo is and the better its condition, the more it will be worth. If it depicts any notable events or people from history, it will likely be worth more as well. Purchasing your photos as a lot rather than individually can help you to save money.

What does a tintype look like?

They are a very dark grey-black and the image quality is often poor. Ferrotypes were sometimes put into cheap papier-mâché cases or cardboard mounts, but today they are frequently found loose. Most ferrotypes are fairly small, about 2×3 inches.