Below are some photographs of originals garments in my personal and tiny collection.   I hope to take more pictures as I have time, but for now here are a couple to start with.  I believe that looking at originals is one of the best ways to learn about clothing construction and the little details that makes mid-19th century clothing so unique and so different than today's.  A lot of attention definitely went into the details, and we can learn a lot by looking at these survivors.

I apologize for cutting off the left side of several of these photos!  Guess I'm not a born photographer...
 
 

This is a vibrant blue silk bodice dating to the early to mid 1860s.  Notice how the two back seams come extremely close in the back, within 1".  This is more apparent in the photo of the brown lining.  This bodice has very curved coat sleeves (the photo I took didn't come out).

This is a coppery colored bodice with a green brocade.  I believe it was once part of a one piece dress, as bits of the skirt remain where someone apparently got tired of cutting the threads and just snipped the skirt fabric away (some of the skirt pleats are still attached to the bodice's waistband).  It has a functional 11 button closure, double darts on each side, and has pinked/scalloped gathered self-fabric trim at the armscyes and cuffs.  Once again, the back seams come very close to each other. 

This is the lining of the coppery bodice.  Notice the large (approx. 1") seam allowances, and the flat lining (treating the fashion fabric and the lining as one during construction).  This bodice is boned at each of the 4 darts.

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