Most 19th
century photographers placed a message on the back of their cartes de
visite, telling "Copies may be had at
any time" or similar.
Many
also added a number to the back of each carte de visite so that the sitter
knew which card to order
The two cartes de visite below are prints from
the same negative, presumably one was a reprint. One has faded
badly; the other is still in good condition.
The two cartes de visite have different backs,
but it is not clear which one came first. See the studio dates
below.