This page has some fine examples of spirit photographs from the 1870s, created by having a person come into the photograph during a long exposure (in our opinion).
William Crookes took the following photographs, and claimed them to be the authentic materialization of psychic medium Florence Cook's spirit guide, Katie King. We of course believe that Florence posed as Katie in these early spirit photographs, but take a look at the photos and make up your own mind...
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Photograph of the spirit guide, "Katie."
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Another spirit photo shows Katie behind the psychic medium who is "out."
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Katie walks among the living...
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Close-up spirit photograph of Katie walking among the seance attendees.
Supposedly, Florence would go into a cabinet and be "in trance," while her spirit guide, Katie, would appear from behind curtains and walk among the seance attendees - even allowing them to touch her!
The bright spot in spirit photographs of the 19th and 20th centuries is that they brought people to consider the afterlife and the possible existence of spirit.
Though spirit photographs were initially created to trick, they certainly have caused many to contemplate the idea of spirit visitors being among us all. Perhaps the creation of spirit photographs were unknowingly inspired by unseen entities for that very purpose...