yeah, thats why I posted that particular sepia version of the Willie photograph.
Unfortunately thats someone's idea of a vintage photo.
Many people think "old" photos are automatically sepia tone.
My point is "sepia" toning is not a requirement of a vintage photo.
In fact, the earliest photographs were clearly black and white and grayscale
and many were extremely detailed and clear.
they were often taken on tripods with long exposures guarantying good resolution.
Not to mention, large format plates and film.
If you haven't looked through National Archives Photo Galleries...do so.
The US Archives are pretty amazing.
But the UK has various sites too.
I went through a ton of Abraham Lincoln photos once...didn't realize just how many photos there were of Lincoln.
Isn't this a cool photo?
Ruins of the Confederate enginehouse at Atlanta, Ga., September 1864, showing the engines "Telegraph" and "O.A. Bull." 111-B-4748. National Archives Identifier: 528865
https://www.archives.gov/files/resea...il-war-082.jpg
The engine "Firefly" on a trestle of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. 111-B-185. National Archives Identifier: 524604
https://www.archives.gov/files/resea...il-war-086.jpg