Have you ever heard of the first selfie? Unlike what most people might think, it wasn’t taken by a self-centered teen in the early ’00s.
In 1839, standing alone in his yard, American photography pioneer Robert Cornelius took what is now considered to be not only the first portrait of a person but also the very first selfie. Just to make things clear, it was a truly remarkable accomplishment at the time.
To be more specific, the type of portrait Cornelius took is called a “daguerreotype”, which is a super intricate process comprising a sheet of silver-plated copper, fumes, some liquid chemicals, and of course, a camera. Not very similar to the salifies we take today using our smartphones, huh?
The Library of Congress purchased this precious portrait in 1996, along with more of Cornelius’s works. In 2022, the library added more of his works to its impressive collection thanks to the generous donation of his great-great-granddaughter (yes, that’s how long ago he lived).
Fun fact: There’s actually a copy of the first selfie ever on Cornelius’s tombstone! So, if you happen to find yourself near the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, go pay it a visit.