Post-mortem book

31/05/2022

11/03/2022

The VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT- Check out our next book!

A facsimile Collector's limited edition of the ancient most famous UNDECIPHERED CODEX.

Only for Post-mortem Book followers: special pre-sale code INMEMORIAM for an extra 10% discount. https://theneverdecipheredstory.com/

It is said that Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg, a lover of palmistry, obscure sciences and the eccentric, acquired the strange manual in exchange for 600 gold ducats in 1580. John Dee, a magician who claimed to be in constant communication with the angels by means of magic stones, and Edward Kelley,....

26/02/2022

Limited edition, get a copy before it's too late!! Pay on 3 installments choosing PayPal whether you have an account or not. At checkout, click on the icon choose Credit Card then "Pay in 3"

www.postmortembook.com

An exclusive edition of 1,839 copies numbered and signed by the author, Virginia de la Cruz, and the collector and co-publisher, Carlos Areces. Post Mortem. Collectio Carlos Areces allows us to delve into another era through photographs that capture a unique and inimitable moment in the lives of the...

25/02/2022

Within post-mortem photographs, group portraits, especially portraits where the living —family members and friends— appear in the image, should also be mentioned. This detail was an acknowledgment of the fact that this would be the last family portrait with the deceased

Gelatin DOP, 1930-40. Postcard. H. Prenclau, Latvia

www.postmortembook.com

An exclusive edition of 1,839 copies numbered and signed by the author, Virginia de la Cruz, and the collector and co-publisher, Carlos Areces. Post Mortem. Collectio Carlos Areces allows us to delve into another era through photographs that capture a unique and inimitable moment in the lives of the...

03/01/2022

When we speak of post-mortem portraits, it is possible that every reader understands that this term relates to a photograph that has been taken of a person after their death. Essentially, this is the first meaning of a post-mortem portrait. However, there are many other terms which can help define it and, above all, many nuances when talking about this type of portrait. The question would be, then: how can we name on one hand, pictures of dead people in newspapers, and on the other hand, the photograph of a co**se taken during a wake? What are the differences? Do they deal with the same thing?

Gelatin DOP, 1900-33. 13,6 x 18 cm. Possibly Italy.

28/12/2021

Since the 1840s, with the first daguerreotypes, post-mortem photographs were made. And between 1850 and approximately 1880, just like Jay Ruby says,35 post-mortem photographs tried to emulate the same poses, decoration and staging of the painting world.

Daguerreotype, 1840-60. 1/6 plate.

20/12/2021

When the coffin and the floral elements appeared, the photographer had to solve this type of inconvenience and look for new proposals of representation. The greatest difficulty lay in the distance he had to take in order to take a general shot of the scene as a whole, and this distanced him from the idea of the portrait as a genre that was different from others (such as still life or landscape). However, the most commonly used option was quickly to take a frontal shot of the whole.

To do this, and in order not to lose the idea of portraiture, one of the solutions was to raise the coffin -sometimes it was placed almost vertically-. The way to achieve this was either by resting it on a somewhat improvised construction made from different types of furniture, such as columns, cupboards, beds, etc., or by having the relatives hold it upright for a group portrait, which was less commonly used.

30/11/2021

Since the birth of photography in 1839 and well into the 20th century, post-mortem photography became a widespread practice to give a meaningful goodbye to a loved one. 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 is a Limited Edition of only 1839 copies, bringing together one of the world's largest collections in this field.

A luxury collector's edition for those who want to delve into the history of post mortem portraiture.

Get a copy at www.postmortembook.com and have it delivered before Christmas

15/10/2021

In many incidents, photographers covered seats with thick fabric so that a small co**se could be better held in place, which in turn allowed the photographer to compose the scene by imitating the curtains of the Baroque period and that closed the composition on one side.

Coloured tintype, 1850-99. 8,1 x 10,7 cm

06/10/2021

The backs of the photographs ─included in this work because of their special interest─ could have two types of writings: messages that the family wrote to make that feeling of farewell last, the stamp of the studio or photographer, or in some cases, both.

02/10/2021

Painstaking, subtle and precise. That's Post Mortem Collectio Carlos Areces creation at the workshop. Over the next few days we'll share some of the techniques and details implemented in this Collector's Limited Edition of only 1839 cps.


1 día

30/08/2021

An exquisite mourning picture, c. 1810, showing a tomb and weeping willow, which is made of hair.
The inscription on the tomb reads “Triste Souvenir d’une Soeur Cherie” (“Sad Memory of a Cherished Sister.” The miniature is framed in black velvet and the inside of the locket is also black velvet, to protect the glass covering.
https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18416831/

29/08/2021

Victorian mourning medallion ′′My dear sister" seen at The Dead Countess 2 page

21/08/2021

Thanks to for sharing where she's placed our book. Check out her new page, lots of great interesting posts!!! https://www.facebook.com/laurinkabky

11/08/2021

We’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of the premiere of The Others, the superb film directed by Alejandro Amenabar and starring Nicole Kidman. We didn't want to miss such an important date for us!

Thanks to this movie, Carlos Areces' interest in Post Mortem photography began. So… it made much sense and we’re delighted that Alejandro Amenabar wrote the prologue for our Limited Edition 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴.

An exclusive edition of 1,839 copies numbered and signed by the author, Virginia de la Cruz, and the collector and co-publisher, Carlos Areces. Post Mortem. Collectio Carlos Areces allows us to delve into another era through photographs that capture a unique and inimitable moment in the lives of the...

01/08/2021

Hi!! Finally, we’re almost finished shipping our pre-sale orders. Attached, our first book + case finished, first package ready to ship and a book to be sent to author Virginia together with all the rest, of course. Very happy to finally start seeing them go!

Susana's workhouse artisan processes required are so much mind blowing (some of them are really Middle Ages') that we'll share some soon!

If you're curious about how was made anything in particular please lets us know below 👇

23/07/2021

At the workshop...

04/07/2021

From the birth of photography in 1839 until well into the 20th century, post mortem photography became a widespread practice. With them, families captured an image or its of their loved ones who, due to the novelty of the technique or its high cost, had never been photographed during their lifetime.

These portraits of the deceased, of great interest due to their rarity and historical and artistic value are currently sought after by collectors, including actor Carlos Areces. Learn more about this Limited Edition al www.postmortembook.com

Special price, presale only!

10/06/2021

Did you miss last's week event hosted by the The Mark Twain House & Museum with Virginia de la Cruz Lichet, Cecilia Casas and Carlos Areces? Now you can watch it here!!! https://www.crowdcast.io/e/post-mortem-carlos

Join us for a lunchtime talk with experts Dr. Virginia de la Cruz Lichet and Cecilia Casas Desantes about post-mortem photography, along with MTH assistant curator Mallory Howard and a translator.

26/05/2021

26/05/2021

We're so thrilled and grateful to Mark Twain's House and Museum for hosting this virtual event!! Register for free here https://www.crowdcast.io/e/post-mortem-carlos

Join us for a lunchtime talk with experts Dr. Virginia de la Cruz Lichet and Cecilia Cases Desantes about post-mortem photography, along with MTH assistant curator Mallory Howard and a translator.

21/05/2021

Collector Carlos Areces with a copy of the book just out of the workshop! We're very excited!

14/05/2021

Seen in our friend's page, The Victorian Book of Death . Many more interesting posts, definitely worth fo follow!!

Poignant post-mortem portrait of an infant surrounded by potted plants and artificial flowers.
Former eBay listing.

26/04/2021

1884
In some instances (for originality and individuality sometimes step over the funeral director’s directions) the body is not placed in its burial case, but lies upon a couch, sometimes gracefully canopied. In one case, that of a young lady, the co**se, beautifully robed in lace and decked with roses was placed upon a lounge as if cosily reclining among its pillows. Everything was arranged to exclude the conventional symbols of death; it was like a reception given in honor of the “sleeping Princess” of an olden fairy tale. Music and memorial services of an unritualistic sort occupied the time, which was after gaslight. This has the advantage of a private leave-taking by the family, avoiding the exposure of sorrow’s sacred anguish to a crowd often only curious if not callous. To quote the consoling words of the reporter’s courteous cicerone among post-mortem mysteries: “Everything is done nowadays to make death pleasant.” “To the survivors!” one may add, sotto voce.
[c. 1910 post mortem with lace canopy.

22/04/2021

Post from The Victorian Book of Dead

Mourning brooch with silver hair. Inscribed Stephen Van Rensselaer obt Jany 26th 1839
http://www.albanyinstitute.org/details/items/mourning-brooch.html

07/04/2021

Many thanks to The Dead Countess for her support. Make sure you check her page, it's really something! Awesome content for hours of discovery, make sure to follow!😍 Link to her page here! 👉https://www.facebook.com/thedeadcountess

Boutique d'antiquité spécialisée dans les objets macabres et victoriens .

02/04/2021

29/03/2021

29/03/2021

Be amazed by a unique experience for collectors and photography & art lovers, with this careful selection of 19th century post mortem pictures from more than 15 countries.

We are now on presale!

Come and take a look 👉 https://postmortembook.com/

15/03/2021

It was a daily reality: the wake was at home, children posed with them, the neighbour women dressed them and the whole village came by to touch them and kiss them for the last time✣

12/03/2021

10/03/2021

When someone died in the town, the entire community stopped what they were doing in order to go to the house of the deceased, help the family in the preparation of the body and to assist at all stages of the funeral rite.

✣The time of normal and daily life suddenly stopped in order to start this transition stage✣

Tintype, 1850-99.

#1850

10/03/2021

The mourning is a transitional stage, where the living try to adapt to the new situation: ✣to live without the other ✣

04/03/2021

Why does 🅓🅔🅐🅣🅗 fascinate human beings so much?

Between repulsion and attraction, the post-mortem portrait presents that mixed feeling of curiosity on the one hand and rejection on the other. Even so, the portrait of the deceased has been a regular practice, more than we believe today.

04/03/2021

Freud affirms that, in order to overcome death, it is necessary to face it, to stand up to it, seeing it, to face the painful fact of the loss, in order to accept it without resentment, with serenity and calm.

04/03/2021

And, although death is a matter that is lived in community, it is still an individual experience, a transitory stage as defined by Arnold Van Gennep in his book The rites of passage.

He explains that death is part of life and, therefore, must be considered at the same level as birth, puberty and marriage.

⚫Death, like being born or becoming sexually mature, is a transitional rite⚫

In this process, the deceased is in a state of movement, in which he or she is neither alive nor dead; it is a status in which the deceased passes from one to the other, implying a time, a duration. We understand this period as the moment of the wake.

02/03/2021

Makeup, poses, accessories...
Everything was put at the service of ✣Post Mortem photography✣ to preserve the memory of a loved one for life.

Albumen, 1865-1900. Cabinet. R. Castro, Córdoba, Spain

#1865

02/03/2021

It is common sense to understand that death is part of life, at least that is what ◾Sigmund Freud◾ point-ed out to us in 1915; at a time when World War 1 was raging, when mass death was a daily possibility, it was important to make sense of it in order to understand and accept it. Because our attitude towards death, especially a premature death, is to give it a meaning.