THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

Offered here is a striking vintage real photo postcard portrait of a young woman, published by Kiss, No. 605, a European photographic postcard publisher active in the early twentieth century. The card likely dates to circa 1910–1915, based on the photographic style, the fashion of the sitter, and the publisher’s numbering system. The portrait presents an attractive young woman posed in a soft-focus studio setting typical of the era. She leans gently forward with one arm resting on a floral arrangement, creating an intimate and engaging composition. Her hair is styled in a fashionable beehive-style coiffure, arranged in soft curls that frame her face and accentuate her large expressive eyes. A small decorative hair ornament is visible among the curls. Her expression is warm and slightly playful, with a subtle smile that gives the portrait a lively, personable quality. She gazes directly toward the viewer, a technique commonly used in early twentieth-century studio portraits to create a sense of connection with the subject. The woman wears a delicate necklace with a small pendant, which rests at the base of her neck and adds a subtle elegance to the image. Her dress appears to be made of sheer or lightly textured fabric with decorative floral elements along the neckline and shoulder. Resting beneath her arm is a bouquet of flowers—likely carnations. The photograph is signed in the lower right corner “Kiss” The Kiss publishing house produced a number of photographic portrait postcards during the early 1900s. These cards were commonly distributed throughout continental Europe, particularly in France and Belgium, and typically featured studio portraits of actresses, performers, and fashionable women of the period. The reverse of the postcard contains a printed vertical line in French reading (as translated): “Printed by J. B. H. Jacquie, La Garenne-Colombes.” La Garenne-Colombes is a town located just northwest of Paris, France. In regard to condition, the postcard remains in good antique condition overall. The image retains strong contrast and pleasing detail in the subject’s face, hair, and clothing. The corners show minor wear typical of postcards of this period. The reverse displays light toning and scattered age spots but remains clean and clearly legible (see scans). This is a beautiful early twentieth-century portrait postcard, notable for the subject’s expressive gaze and it’s elegant styling. 

This vintage postcard 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/336468489309

Offered here is a wonderful antique cabinet card portrait of two children identified in period handwriting as Albert and Bertha Grusce. The portrait was taken by N. N. (Nelson N.) Mickelson, photographer of Dwight, Illinois, and dates to approximately 1900 (circa 1897–1905) based on the style of the mount, clothing, and the photographer’s studio imprint. Albert stands beside a small wooden studio stool, resting his hand on its surface while facing the camera with a serious, composed expression typical of formal studio portraits of the era. He wears a stylish outfit consisting of a plaid jacket, striped knee trousers, and a large decorative bow tie, along with buttoned leather boots. His neatly parted hair and steady gaze give him a very dignified appearance for a young boy. Seated beside him is Bertha, posed on an upholstered studio chair. She wears a dark dress with lace trim and a decorative collar, and her hair is softly curled with a small ribbon at the crown. Like her brother, she looks directly toward the camera with a calm, slightly solemn expression that was common in late-19th-century photographic portraiture. The photographer arranged the pair carefully using studio furniture to create a balanced composition.  Historical records indicate that this photographer, Nelson N. (“Nels”) Mickelson (1850–1924), a Danish-born resident of Dwight who appears in local records first as a grocer and later as a professional photographer in the town during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The reverse of the card is especially attractive, featuring an illustrated view of the Dwight Art Co. photographic studio building, along with text identifying Mickelson as the “successor to Dwight Art Co.” The backmark also advertises picture frames, albums, and art goods offered by the studio. Dwight, Illinois is a small town located in north-central Illinois. The cabinet card remains in good antique condition with mild corner wear to the mount typical of photographs from this period. The image itself displays good contrast and clarity. There is a light surface scratch or crease visible near the right side of Albert’s jacket, which can be seen in the scan. The reverse shows some scattered age spotting but retains the attractive studio illustration clearly (see scans).

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $24.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336468325015

This striking cabinet card portrait features an elderly gentleman distinguished by an extraordinarily long and flowing white beard—one of those wonderful nineteenth-century faces that immediately captures the viewer’s attention. The photograph was produced by M. D. Miller of Tiffin, Ohio. The sitter is shown in a straightforward bust portrait against a softly toned studio background. His expression is calm and reflective, with steady eyes gazing slightly off to the side rather than directly into the camera. The pose gives the portrait a thoughtful, almost dignified character, as if the photographer wished to emphasize the subject’s wisdom and age.  What immediately commands attention, however, is the gentleman’s remarkable long white beard, which flows down in a thick, tapering cascade from his chin to the middle of his chest. The beard is full, soft, and carefully groomed, forming a dramatic triangular shape that was often associated with patriarchal or biblical imagery in nineteenth-century portraiture. The rest of his appearance is simple and understated: his hair is neatly combed back from a high forehead, and he wears a dark coat with a plain shirt, allowing the beard to remain the unmistakable focal point of the image. The photographer, M. D. Miller, operated in Tiffin, Ohio, a historic town located in northwestern Ohio. The town sits along the Sandusky River, about 55 miles from Toledo. William D. Miller operated a photography business in Tiffin from 1881 through 1887 and then again from 1897 through 1908. The cabinet card remains in good antique condition overall. The photo has beveled gold edges. The card shows a very slight, barely noticeable curvature consistent with age. The photograph retains strong contrast and excellent clarity, particularly in the detailed texture of the subject’s beard and facial features. The mount shows light age toning and minor surface wear typical of cabinet cards more than a century old. The reverse of the mount is blank and clean. Overall, it presents very nicely (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $32.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336467974022

This uncommon beautiful early twentieth-century real photo postcard features a softly lit portrait of the actress Daisy Stratton, presented in an elegant studio pose typical of theatrical publicity photography from the Edwardian era. The card was published by Philco (London). The caption beneath the image identifies the series number as “Series 3127 E )”. Stratton is shown reclining gracefully beside a small pedestal draped with flowers. She rests her head lightly against one hand, gazing directly at the viewer with a calm, confident expression. Her face is softly illuminated, highlighting her large dark eyes and composed, slightly enigmatic smile. Her long, wavy hair flows freely over her shoulders and is adorned with a prominent ribbon bow, adding a touch of youthful charm to the portrait. Her costume reflects the delicate fashion of the Edwardian stage portrait. She wears a light, gauzy gown with sheer sleeves and soft folds of fabric that gather across the bodice. The dress appears airy and romantic, complemented by a small pendant necklace that rests at her throat. The arrangement of flowers and the soft studio background contribute to the dreamy, theatrical atmosphere that was so characteristic of early postcard portraits of actresses. The reverse of the undivided back card bears a half-penny King Edward VII postage stamp and a circular postal cancellation with the date 1907. The card contains a handwritten message. While some words are difficult to decipher, the message appears to read approximately: “Lovely weather here now. Don’t think we are going to have anymore bad weather. Such a change for this time of year.” The postcard remains in very good vintage condition overall. The photograph retains strong contrast and clear detail. Corners show minor rounding. The card has been postally used with stamp and cancellation, and the handwritten message adds historical character (see scans).

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $12.00

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23667289337212

This delightful real photo postcard captures a young couple posing proudly in their bathing attire at one of the famous photographic studios that once lined the legendary Atlantic City Boardwalk. The reverse identifies the photographer as Whiteley Studio, 2345 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J., one of several portrait studios that catered to the steady stream of vacationers visiting the seaside resort in the early twentieth century. In the heyday of Atlantic City’s popularity, the boardwalk was not only lined with hotels, amusements, and saltwater taffy stands—it also hosted numerous photography studios where visitors could memorialize their beach holiday. Tourists would step off the sand, sometimes still in their bathing suits, and sit for a quick portrait to be turned into a postcard they could mail home as proof that they had braved the Atlantic surf. The young couple in this photograph appear to be doing exactly that. The man stands confidently beside the seated woman, wearing a classic early bathing costume consisting of a sleeveless knit swim shirt with horizontal stripes and short bathing trunks secured with a wide belt. His sturdy shoes and socks remind us that beach footwear was considered essential in this era. His expression is calm and self-assured, as if to say that Atlantic City’s chilly surf was no match for him. Beside him sits the young woman, perched carefully on a studio prop meant to suggest a seaside balustrade overlooking the ocean. She wears a modest dark bathing dress typical of the 1910s, along with stockings and lace-up bathing shoes. A bathing cap or head scarf frames her face and drapes over one shoulder. Her expression is more serious, perhaps suggesting that the Atlantic Ocean was considerably colder than advertised in the travel brochures. Together they make a wonderful portrait of early twentieth-century seaside fashion. The backdrop behind them depicts a painted seascape, a common studio device meant to give the impression that the photograph was taken directly on the beach. In reality, they were likely seated inside the studio just steps away from the bustling boardwalk, surrounded by photographers ready to produce souvenir portraits for vacationers. The reverse of the postcard features an AZO stamp box, which is a helpful tool for dating real photo postcards. The style present on this card—with AZO and small triangles in the corners—generally dates to approximately 1904–1918, placing the photograph squarely in the early golden age of Atlantic City tourism. This postcard remains in good vintage condition overall. The photograph retains strong contrast and pleasing sepia tones with clear detail in the subjects’ faces and clothing. The corners show light rounding. The reverse is clean and unused, with light toning typical of postcards over a century old. No creases or significant damage are present (see scans). This is a charming and slightly whimsical Atlantic City boardwalk studio portrait, capturing two beachgoers proudly displaying the bathing fashions of the early 1900s.

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $14.85 

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336467216152