Exceptional half plate tintype featuring a well-dressed man and woman seated in an early horseless carriage, posed in front of a painted backdrop of Niagara Falls. The couple, dressed in fashionable turn-of-the-century attire, sit confidently in a finely detailed studio prop automobile — a style emulating a late 1890s or early 1900s runabout, likely modeled after real vehicles such as the 1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash or a Locomobile steam car.

The automobile is equipped with tiller steering, spoked wheels, headlamps, and a cylindrical rear-mounted tank — all key hallmarks of very early motorcar design, suggesting this prop may have been based on a well-known early production model. It is possible that this was a studio novelty backdrop used to capitalize on the excitement surrounding new automotive technology and the popularity of Niagara Falls as a tourist destination.

Remarkably well composed and clean, this tintype captures the energy and optimism of the early 20th century, combining one of America’s most iconic natural landmarks with its emerging automotive age. A beautiful crossover image with appeal to collectors of early transportation, photography, and Americana.