These 16 Photos of Victorian Women of Color Are So Resplendently Glorious

While capturing the true beauty of brown skin eluded photographers for nearly a century—it wasn't until the 1970s and '80s that film was reformulated so that its emulsions were sensitive to the nuances of non-white complexions—whoever snapped the photos of these women of color during the 1800s were doing something right.

The images of these glorious Victorian Age ladies are so very rare, and wonderful: Take a look and see for yourself!

 Images c/o Pinterest and Dangerous Minds

 Published February 17, 2015