If I Had My Own Blue Box:

This mid-day, after dropping a box at FedEx, I wandered next door to the suburban “antique mall.” As I perused the brightly lit aisles of numbered display cases hoping to find a piece of Victorian fancy work, I saw a little bin labeled “tintypes $12.” This little bin was one of only two items I was curious enough to have the clerk unlock the cabinet for a closer look. (The other was a mother of pearl inlayed workbox that was disappointingly “improved” with 1960-80 satin, thumbtacks, & poly-felt.)

I found 3 hat filled tintypes and rescued 1 other.

Carefully flipping through the stack of tintypes for hats, my fingers said “not tin” about halfway through the pile. A single glass plate was tucked inside the tintypes. Holding the entire stack in the palm of one hand, I tried not to cringe as I tried to carefully slide the glass out with the other hand. Seeing tintypes stacked together makes me envision scratches spawning. Add in delicate glass, I just could leave the glass image behind.

Confession: I have absolutely no idea how to properly care or store for this glass with it not having a case. I don’t know if I can even scan it.