Rare Portraits of Fancy Bulldogs, Circa 1905

Images taken by an unknown photographer capture bulldogs in distinctive attire.

ByABC News
December 8, 2014, 2:02 PM
"Old Heidelberg," circa 1905.
"Old Heidelberg," circa 1905.
Detroit Publishing Company/The Library of Congress

— -- Dogs playing dress up seems to not just a modern trend, but a historical one, as well.

This photo series of bulldogs in assorted finery, a collection from the Library of Congress, is estimated to have been created around 1905. Each photograph was taken with a large format camera on an 8-by-10-inch negative.

To take this type of portrait, these bulldogs would have been required to sit still for minutes, making this series a turn-of-the-century rarity.

The unknown photographer created separate personalities with attire for each portrait -- from a pipe-smoking gentleman to a lady with ruffles.

PHOTO: "Tommy Atkins," circa 1905.
"Tommy Atkins," circa 1905.
PHOTO: "An Old Sea Dog," circa 1905.
"An Old Sea Dog," circa 1905.
PHOTO: "The Missis," circa 1905.
"The Missis," circa 1905.