Last Updated on September 15, 2025 by Matt Staff
The 1840s were a decade caught between old traditions and a rapidly changing world. It was a time when photography was still in its infancy, yet already capturing glimpses of everyday life that had never been seen before. From quiet rural scenes to the early rumblings of industry and migration, these rare images offer a raw, unfiltered look at what life actually looked like nearly two centuries ago.
In this collection of 20 photographs, we get more than just a history lesson. We see the people, places, and moments that defined the era. You’ll catch early signs of modern life starting to take shape, while also witnessing how deeply people were still rooted in older ways of living. These photos reveal a world in transition, full of contrast and quiet complexity, and offer a rare chance to step into the 1840s as it really was.
1. A wedding portrait from 1840
2. A daguerreotype photograph from 1840 of James Forten, one of the wealthiest Philadelphians at the time
3. The oldest surviving photo of a woman, Dorothy Catherine Draper, taken in 1840
4. The earliest mugshot taken of a criminal in Brussels, 1840s
5. A daguerreotype portrait of a happy couple, 1840
6. “My Great-Great-Grandfather in a goat-driven wheelchair, 1840s”
7. The first known photos of people hanging out at a pub, 1840
8. A daguerreotype of Andrew Jackson, 1844
9. President John Quincy Adams, 1843
10. Wife of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Constanze Weber, 1840
11. A group of schoolchildren standing together for a photograph, late 1840s
12. Frederick Douglass, 1841
13. The only French king to ever be photographed, Louis-Phillipe I, 1842
14. Eugène Delacroix, 1842
15. A Daguerrotype of Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg, husband of Queen Victoria, 1842
16. This very well may be the first actual selfie, taken on a daguerreotype, 1844
17. An opera singer after performing, 1844
18. The oldest photo ever taken of Niagara Falls, 1840
19. Edgar Allan Poe in a medical room, mid-1840s
20. The composer Frédéric Chopin, 1849
Want to see more content from the 1800s?
Check out 19 Vintage Photos of the Early to Mid-1880s, or take a look at 20 Colorized Photos From the Civil War That Bring it to Life. Finally, if you want to see what adulthood looked like in the 1800s, check out 20 Vintage Photos That Capture Adulthood in the Late 1800s.