THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This is a striking antique cabinet card portrait depicting two young women dressed in dark formal attire, photographed by J. Proctor of Corning, Iowa. The image presents a beautifully composed studio portrait typical of the late nineteenth century, likely dating to the 1880s or early 1890s. The two women are posed within a traditional studio setting featuring a painted woodland backdrop and decorative studio props. One woman stands while the other is seated beside an ornamental pedestal. The seated woman rests one arm on the pedestal, while the standing figure holds what appears to be a small envelope and an elegant handbag, accessories commonly seen in Victorian portrait photography. Both women are dressed in dark, carefully tailored garments typical of the late Victorian period. Their outfits include fitted bodices, high collars, and long pleated skirts, with stylish hats and gloves completing their attire. The seated woman wears a broad-brimmed hat and a coat with decorative buttons, while the standing woman wears a smaller hat with fur or velvet trim and carries a fashionable small purse. The fact that both women are dressed entirely in black naturally raises the possibility that this may represent mourning attire, which was common during the Victorian era following the death of a family member. Mourning dress often involved black garments worn for extended periods, particularly among women. However, black clothing was also widely worn as formal or fashionable attire, especially for studio portraits where darker garments photographed well. The photograph was produced by J. Proctor, whose imprint appears along the bottom mount. Corning is a small community located in southwestern Iowa. This cabinet card portrait dates back to circa 1886 to 1890. This cabinet card remains in very good antique condition overall. The photograph itself retains good clarity, contrast, and detail, with both figures sharply rendered. The mount shows some light foxing along the lower margin. The corners show minor rounding and light edge wear consistent with age and handling. The reverse of the mount displays a plain pink backing and has beveled gold edges.  (see scans)

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $75.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236687986364

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