THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

Offered here is a vintage real photo postcard (RPPC) portrait of a young woman seated in an ornate studio chair, likely dating to the early 20th century, circa 1910–1920. The photograph captures the sitter in a composed studio setting, seated against a softly blurred backdrop that was typical of portrait studios of the period. The young woman faces the camera directly with a thoughtful and somewhat intense expression, which gives the portrait much of its character and appeal. Her gaze is steady and engaging, lending the image a sense of personality that makes the photograph particularly interesting to study. She wears a dark dress with short sleeves and a single strand pearl necklace, a fashionable accessory for women of the era. Her hair is styled in a soft early twentieth-century coiffure and tied with a large ribbon bow, which adds to the charm of the portrait. Resting in her hands is a small bouquet of flowers, while she sits in an ornately carved studio chair with decorative tassels, that adds a touch of elegance to the image. In the lower left corner of the image is a small printed box that reads: “Max Zesig – Perleberg.” Perleberg is a historic town in Brandenburg, Germany, located northwest of Berlin and known for its preserved medieval architecture. Zesig is the photographer or the publisher of this postcard. In fact, he may have filled both roles. This postcard is in fair antique condition overall. The card shows several signs of age and handling, including: A crease along the right edge near the center of the card, a crease in the bottom left corner, and a crease at the card’s top right corner. The postcard also shows moderate warping or curvature, meaning it does not sit completely flat on a surface. There are also light surface marks and general age toning consistent with an early twentieth-century photographic postcard. Despite these issues, the image itself remains clear and appealing, and the expressive portrait of the sitter still displays well. This is an attractive and characterful early German real photo postcard portrait (see scans).

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $7.85 or best offer

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336479119804

This cabinet card photograph features a handsome and distinguished looking older gentleman. He has a bushy beard but no mustache. This image comes from the studio of Thompson & Son in Toronto, Canada. Canada. Note the surface wear above the subject’s head and the corner wear on the reverse of the photo. Overall, this cabinet card portrait is in good condition (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $19.85

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336360722838

This is a beautiful hand-colored Art Nouveau postcard portrait of the performer Speranza, photographed by the Paris photographer Lucien Walery. The image presents the actress in elegant profile, her gaze directed thoughtfully into the distance, creating a refined and almost classical composition typical of theatrical portrait photography of the Belle Époque era. Speranza is shown wearing an elaborate lace headdress or veil adorned with decorative ornaments, including jeweled elements and a suspended pendant ornament that drapes alongside her hair. The delicate lace veil falls gracefully over the back of her head and shoulders. Her hair is styled in a softly arranged early 20th-century coiffure, swept upward and back in a fashion typical of the period. The portrait emphasizes her refined features—her straight nose, softly defined lips, and thoughtful expression—giving the image a strikingly sculptural quality. The photograph has been tastefully hand-colored, particularly visible in the floral decoration on her garment and the ornamental headpiece, adding warmth and visual richness to the otherwise monochrome studio photograph. This type of subtle color enhancement was common in theatrical postcards produced during the early 1900s. Walery (Paris) was active during the early decades of the twentieth century and produced numerous portrait postcards of actresses, performers, and fashionable women. He was one of the most celebrated society and theatrical photographers of the Belle Époque. SOLD

This elegant cabinet card photograph depicts a poised young gentleman holding a violin (sometimes called a fiddle in folk traditions), along with the bow in his right hand. The instrument’s distinctive shape, tuning pegs, and chin rest clearly identify it as a violin rather than a viola or other bowed instrument. The young man holds the violin resting against his shoulder in a theatrical pose, suggesting that he was likely either a trained musician or wished to present himself in the fashionable image of a cultured performer. The subject appears to be a young adult man dressed in formal evening attire typical of the 1890s. He wears a dark tuxedo-style coat with satin lapels, a waistcoat fastened with buttons, and a white shirt with a prominent bow tie. His carefully combed hair and composed expression give him a refined and somewhat introspective look, while his sideways gaze adds a touch of drama to the portrait. Such poses were often used in studio photography to emphasize talent, social status, or artistic identity. The violin, a long-established symbol of classical music and culture, reinforces the impression that the sitter was a musician. The photograph was produced by A. D. Vanderbilt, whose studio operated in the village historically known as Sing Sing, New York. The town, located along the Hudson River in Westchester County, later changed its name to Ossining to avoid the notoriety associated with the famous prison located there. The name “Sing Sing” originally derived from the Sintsink Native American tribe, from whom the land was purchased in the seventeenth century. During the late nineteenth century the village was a bustling Hudson River community. The reverse of this cabinet card has a logo which provides additional details about the studio. It was located on the Barlow Block of Sing Sing. The ornate design incorporates a decorative emblem containing a classical column and photographic camera—symbols often used by photographers of the period to convey artistic skill and technical mastery. The Barlow Block referenced on the card was a commercial building on Main Street rebuilt after a major fire in 1872 and became an important center of retail activity in the village.The studio imprint also advertises that the photographs were “made by the new instantaneous process,” a marketing phrase commonly used by photographers in the late nineteenth century to highlight improved photographic technology that allowed shorter exposure times and sharper portraits. This cabinet card was most likely produced circa 1887-1893. The condition of this cabinet card appears good overall for its age of well over a century. The photograph retains strong contrast and detail with only light surface wear. The mount shows some minor corner wear. The overall presentation remains clean and attractive (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $36.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336477049106