What - or Who - was a Kameristen?

The Kameristen were a group of early photographers based in Laernu. Their experiments in producing monochromatic images ‘Fotograffen’ onto quite primitive metal negatives paralleled those taking place across Europe during the early 1800s, often using technology and ideas brought to them by the visiting tourists and traders.
Henry Swedko is credited with bringing the first mobile darkroom ‘booths’ to the Isle of Vue - an island paradise dedicated to romance - where souvenir prints of couples visiting the island quickly became popular.
Prior to this there were many artists on the island who would specialise in adding personal portraits to mass-produced landscape backgrounds featuring local beauty spots, but this process could take valuable hours to finesse and while some were finished back at the artists studio (often by a completely different artist) it could several weeks before the finished painting would be available to hang.
The Kamerista could produce a variety of portraits in less than half an hour and could then have prints available for the visitors to see when they left the island at the end of the day. If they liked the portrait they could then buy copies or enlargements and have them sent through the Postag Laernu to their families as a memoir of their day.
There was a short time when the traditional artists and kameristen worked together producing short-lived images on canvas that could be painted over by the artists at leisure once back at their studios. However the Institute of Designers, Engravers and Artists called a halt to this as they considered it to be undermining the personal input of the artist and the two professions, artist and photographer, grew apart.

What happened to the Kameristen?

They were the victims of their own success. As the popularity of the souvenir cards grew, so did the number of entrepreneurial kamerista who would vie for attention on the island, competing with offers of faster printing, lower cost, or reductions for further portrait work on the mainland, perhaps at engagement or wedding events. This behaviour became too obtrusive for the visitors and following complaints the number of mobile booths was restricted and eventually licensed to only a few, approved, fixed sites.

 I have some words on the backs of my cards that I do not recognise - does a Glossary of Terms exist for the cards?

Here are the terms I am aware of, I hope this helps.
A Peticio                              By request
Al Aproben                         On approval
Andlitt Handtaka                 Portrait photography
Blinkenclicken                     Flash photography
Completen                          Finished print
Evengooden                         Likeness
Etutten Etc,                         all, complete
Fotograffen                          Photography
Grandigen                            Enlargement
Inkleuren                            Retouched with inks
Kamerista                          Photographer
Kameristas                         More than one photographer
Kameristen                         Photography
Kopien                               Duplicates
Krijiten                               Handcoloured with pencil
Miniaturen                         Miniature printing
Medaille Verdiensten         Medal for Quality
Negativen Kepten             Negatives preserved
Numero De Kabinen          Booth number
Premio Domina Meritten   Medal of Merit
Standnummer                    Booth number
Tabula Numbro                Booth number
Unguenten                        Oil painting derived from photograph on canvas
Videgroten                       Lifesize
Vlamclicken                    Flash photography
Waterwerf                      Watercolour retouching

Will my card fade with time?

Most of the cards were developed and printed very quickly and therefore the image would dissolve or darken over time. However because so many of the cards were kept inside a dark pocket, bag or wallet they have survived. The majority of the cards were intended to be short-lived, a quick sample of what would be reprinted at extra cost - if approved - as a more permanent souvenir; but would frequently be kept by couples as a romantic keepsake, and some would joke that the card might last longer than their relationship! 

This example (centre) clearly illustrates a love lost

Do pristine cards exist?

All the examples I have seen appear to have been well-used.
The original cards were printed on non-archival materials and intended only as a short-lived sample that could be reprinted on a more permanent paper at a later date. However there have been several occasions in the past - such as the opening up of the Henry Swedko archives, and others - when reproduction copies were produced on thicker materials and presented as souvenirs to exhibition events such as the one at the La Maven Resten. So if you do find an example which looks relatively new, the chances are it actually IS new and although it still has a value it will not be as collectable as an original version.
The picture below shows a newly re-printed card (left) with older, original versions. Note the sharp corners and neat edges due to the thicker and more modern card stock.

I have some cards which have fallen apart. Would it affect their value if I had them repaired and joined back together?

There are lots of examples of cards that have been repaired, some almost invisibly, some less so. If the repair was made to the original card then I think the history this represents should be preserved; however, if the card has fallen apart more recently I always think the card should be left in it’s unrepaired, separated state. Personally, I think you might potentially be depriving future collectors from being able to see the card as it originally was, creases, wear, tears, and all - and for me at least, this would affect its value.

I sometimes think my card smells of coffee, or possibly tea... why?
The different studios used a variety of chemicals to print and fix their negatives. Some of these contained ammonia or sulphur - which would leave behind a smell of boiled eggs - not the most romantic of aromas, so some of the studios would give their cards a final coating of perfume to mask the smell. Cards produced on the Isle of Vue were often ‘fixed’ using a mixture of scents and natural ingredients available freely on the island, one of which could easily have been coffee. Or tea.