WOMAN HOLDING LETTER : HANSEN & WELLER : COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (CDV)

This antique carte de visite photograph presents a finely composed Victorian-era portrait of a seated woman photographed by Hansen & Weller of Copenhagen, Denmark. The portrait shows a thoughtful, well-dressed woman seated in a studio setting, holding what appears to be a folded letter or packet of papers in her hands. She wears a dark fitted dress with a light collar and cuffs, a brooch or decorative fastening at the throat, and her hair is neatly arranged in the restrained style of the period. Her expression is serious and composed, with the quiet formality often seen in nineteenth-century portrait photography. One of the photographers of this cdv portrait is George Emil Hansen (1833-1891). He was a pioneer Danish photographer. His father and brother were also photographers. He won photography awards in London (1862) and Berlin (1865). Hansen was the photographer of the Danish Royal Family. His photographic work spanned from 1856 through 1891. The card likely dates from the 1870s or 1880s, based on the CDV format, the typography, the woman’s dress, and the style of the studio mount and backmark. This CDV shows age-appropriate wear. The mount has light edge and corner wear. The photographic image has surface marks visible near the upper right of the image area. The reverse is clean overall with a very nice decorative studio imprint. Overall, this is a pleasing Danish CDV with strong visual character and an attractive Copenhagen photographer’s backmark (see scans).

This carte de visite portrait is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $16.00 or best offer

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336585262595

Published in: on May 16, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

FRENCH GIRL STANDING ON A CHAIR HOLDING HER DOLL : MOULINS, FRANCE : CDV

This delightful carte de visite (CDV) captures a young French girl—identified on the reverse as Marcelle, age five —standing atop a wooden chair and holding a cherished doll. The image was produced by photographer L. Sénac, whose studio was located in Moulins, a commune in central France. The child is dressed with obvious care and attention. She wears a pleated skirt with horizontal bands of trimming and a blouse featuring puffed sleeves gathered at the wrist. A large, wide lace collar cascades over her shoulders, adding a touch of elegance typical of the late 19th or very early 20th century. Her long hair is parted and tied into twin pigtails with matching ribbons—each tied into neat bows that frame her face. Her expression is calm, solemn, and slightly curious—a common look in early childhood photography when long exposure times discouraged smiling. In her arms, Marcelle cradles a striking doll. The doll appears to be a bisque-head type with painted features and inset eyes, dressed in a white dress with striped stockings and black shoes. Its curly wig and dark bonnet suggest it was a fashionable toy of the time—possibly German-made, as many high-quality dolls of that period were. The girl’s firm grip on the doll and the central positioning of the toy in the composition suggest that it was a beloved possession, likely included to soothe the child or highlight her status and affection. A noteworthy detail in this CDV is that the girl is standing on a chair—a common practice in studio portraiture to elevate small children to better capture them within the camera’s frame. Her feet, clad in boots and striped stockings, are clearly visible, adding to the charm and authenticity of the image. Turning to the reverse of the CDV, we see elaborate lithographed artwork typical of the era. The back bears the branding “Photographie Artistique,” with additional French text advertising reproductions, enlargements, and group photography. At the very top is the handwritten note identifying Marcelle.  (SOLD)

Published in: on May 16, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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FLORENCE WARDE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : ZIEGFELD FOLLIES : RAPHAEL TUCK : 1907

This is a lovely antique lithographic theatrical postcard picturing Miss Florence Warde, a British stage performer associated with the musical comedy and pantomime stage of the Edwardian era.  Among her roles, were appearances in “Spring Chicken” at the Gaiety Theatre in 1905 and “Sinbad” at Drury Lane in 1906. The card was published by Raphael Tuck & Sons as part of Tuck’s “Celebrities of the Stage” series. The front presents Warde in a beautifully hand-colored or color-tinted theatrical portrait, wearing an elaborate pink costume with a large feathered headpiece, curled hair, and a dramatic upward gaze. The image has soft lighting, theatrical glamour, and a carefully posed expression meant to suggest both beauty and stage presence. The publisher’s information on the reverse identifies this as part of the “Glossō” Postcard Series 5756. The “Glossō” series cards were known for their glossy finish and their attractive color work. The card was postally used in Great Britain, with a green King Edward VII halfpenny stamp and a clear Leicester postmark dated 1907. SOLD

Published in: on May 15, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

SCHOLARLY YOUNG MAN IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

BIG HAIR 2

 

A well dressed scholarly looking young man poses for his portrait at the Siegel Cooper studio in Chicago, Illinois. The man is wearing a thin bow tie and a surplus of pins. He has a pin on the lapel of his jacket and a larger pin on the lapel of his vest. He is also sporting a pocket watch. Also take note of his wire rim glasses. The studio that produced this photograph was located in the Siegel Cooper department store. The cabinet card gallery has developed a nice collection of images from this studio. To view these images, click on the category “Photographer: Siegel Cooper”.  SOLD

Published in: on May 15, 2026 at 11:30 am  Comments (1)  
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WWI ERA FRENCH COLONIAL SOLDIER : TIRAILLEUR MALGACHE : WEARING SIDEARM : RPPC

This striking real photo postcard features a Tirailleur Malgache—a Malagasy rifleman serving in the French colonial army. The term “Tirailleur” referred to light infantrymen recruited from various parts of France’s overseas empire, including Madagascar, Senegal, and Indochina. This image captures one of these proud soldiers from Madagascar wearing his heavy wool double-breasted greatcoat, high collar with decorative insignia, and the distinctive kepi-style wool cap characteristic of colonial troops during the First World War and interwar years. The soldier’s right hand rests confidently at his side, while a sidearm in a leather holster—most likely a Lebel or Ruby automatic pistol—is clearly visible at his hip, signifying his rank or specialist role within his regiment. His expression is solemn and dignified, reflecting both the discipline and the sacrifice associated with the Tirailleurs who served France across multiple fronts. The postcard was published by A.N. Paris, a French publisher known for high-quality photographic military and ethnographic studies.  (SOLD)

Published in: on May 14, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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YOUNG WOMAN IN A STUDY IN CHICAGO

A young woman poses for her portrait in a staged study at the Schneider studio in Chicago, Illinois. She is surrounded by standard studio props including a desk, fur, plant, and curtain. The desk has a dragon design. Schneider’s studio was located at 2135 Archer Avenue. The Lakeside Directory of Chicago (1876) lists a photographer named George Schneider who was located at 219 & 221 North Avenue. It is unknown if he is the same photographer that operated on Archer Avenue and produced this photograph.  SOLD

Published in: on May 13, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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CARTE de VISITE PORTRAIT : HANDSOME WELL DRESSED GENTLEMAN : MADISON, WISCONSIN

This striking carte de visite (CDV) features a well-dressed gentleman posed in a confident and composed studio portrait by E.R. Curtiss (1836-1906) of Madison, Wisconsin. The sitter stands in a classic mid-19th-century pose, one hand resting on a book while the other is held behind his back, projecting an air of quiet authority and intellectual refinement. The gentleman’s appearance is particularly appealing, with softly curled hair, a neatly groomed mustache, and a full beard that frames his face. His expression is calm and direct, with a steady gaze that gives the portrait a strong presence. He is dressed in a dark, well-tailored coat with a velvet collar, buttoned vest, and bow tie—attire that reflects the formal style of the late Civil War to Reconstruction-era period. The reverse bears an ornate backmark for E.R. Curtiss, Madison, Wisconsin, featuring an American eagle motif and decorative scrollwork.  He operated a photo studio in Madison, Wisconsin. Curtiss was born in Southington, Connecticut and married Eva A. Lingenfetler of Fonda, New York in 1859.  An interesting physical characteristic of this example is that it is printed on slightly thinner cardstock than is typically encountered with CDVs.  Based on the style of dress, pose, and mount design, this CDV likely dates to approximately the late 1860s to early 1870s. The condition of this cdv is good overall. The image remains clear with good contrast and detail. There are scattered small surface specks and light marks visible. The corners show light wear and the mount exhibits typical handling wear for its age. The reverse shows moderate soiling and spotting but retains a strong, legible backmark. The thinner cardstock is intact with no structural issues. Overall, this 150 year-old photograph is a solid and displayable image with appealing subject matter (see scans). 

This carte de visite is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for  $18.00 at auction

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336575595451

Published in: on May 12, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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PIONEERING BOOK CLUB IN GENEVA, OHIO

This cabinet card is an image of three grand ladies gathered around a table. Atop the table is one closed and one open book. This meeting of the Geneva Ladies Book Club was the forerunner of the modern day version of women’s book clubs. The previous statement may be false, but it does raise the value of this cabinet card. The photographer of this image is Woodworth, of Geneva, Ohio. James P. Woodworth (1845-?) was born in Kingsville, Ohio. He was active as a photographer in Geneva by 1869. He and his wife (Ruby M. Thorp) operated Woodworth’s Fine Art Gallery in Geneva until 1886.  SOLD

Published in: on May 12, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY TEAM : UNIFORMS & STICKS : BRIGHTON, ENGLAND : RPPC 1907

This is a fascinating and uncommon early real photo postcard depicting a 
women’s field hockey team, posed formally with their sticks and ball in what appears to be a school or club setting. The group consists of eleven young women arranged in two rows, dressed in coordinated athletic attire typical of the Edwardian period—long dark skirts paired with light blouses and ties, reflecting both modesty and the emerging presence of women in organized sport. Each player holds a field hockey stick, with several crossed in front for a carefully composed team portrait. A single ball rests prominently at the feet of the front row, reinforcing the athletic identity of the group. The players’ hairstyles—loosely pinned up with volume at the crown—are consistent with the circa 1905–1910 period, and their expressions range from serious to quietly confident, offering a compelling glimpse into early women’s athletics. The reverse of the card is postmarked 
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, FEBRUARY 7, 1907.  It bears a green one-penny stamp of 
King Edward VII.  The card features a divided back. The postcard is in 
good antique condition with some age-related wear. The image remains clear with strong detail, though there is visible edge wear, corner rounding, and some surface discoloration and spotting, particularly along the borders.  The reverse shows expected toning, a clear postmark, and legible handwriting. Overall, this is a well-preserved and  displayable example of a women’s field hockey team and early women’s sports (see scans).

This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $28.00 

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336507878222

Published in: on May 11, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

CONSTANCE COLLIER : IN COSTUME AS CLEOPATRA : ACTRESS, ACTING COACH, WRITER

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

Postcard 1 is a vintage real photo postcard featuring English stage and film actress and acting coach, Constance Collier (1878-1955). She also wrote hit plays and films. She has another claim to fame. She was the first person to be treated with insulin in Europe. This postcard captures Miss Collier in costume for her role of Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra” (1906). Marc Antony was played by Herbert Beerbohm Tree and the production’s venue was at  “His Majesty’s Theatre”. Collier began her stage career at the age of three. She appeared in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. At the age of 15, she became one of the “Gaiety Girls”. This group was a famous dance troupe based in London’s Gaiety Theatre. In 1905, Collier married English actor, Julian Boyle. He was better known as the famous theatrical cross-dresser, Julian L’Estrange. After appearing in “Antony and Cleopatra”, Collier became very popular and seen as a distinguished actress. In 1908, she made the first of several tours of the United States. In her 1916 tour of the US, she made four silent films including in D. W Griffith’s, “Intolerance”. In 1918, her husband died from the Spanish flu while the pair were on a US tour. The influenza epidemic of 1918-1919 killed 650,000 Americans. It was the era’s version of Covid-19. In the early 1920’s, Collier became close friends with actor, Ivor Novello. They acted and co-wrote together. In the late 1920’s, Collier relocated to Hollywood where she became a voice coach. She filled a valuable role because talkies were beginning to replace silent films and many actors were in need of help with the transition. Her most famous students were actresses, Colleen Moore, Marilyn Monroe, Vivien Leigh, and the Hepburn sisters. While teaching, she still performed on Broadway and made films. The IBDb reports that Collier was in 21 Broadway shows between 1908 and 1939. These shows included Oliver Twist (1912), Othello (1914), Camile (1931), and Dinner at Eight (1933). According to IMDb, Collier performed in 29 films, wrote 7, and was in the crew of 4. She performed for Otto Preminger as well as Alfred Hitchcock. She was awarded an American Shakespeare Festival Theatre Award for distinguished service for training actors for Shakespearean roles. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.4039H). Miss Collier’s photographic portrait was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. The National Portrait Gallery possesses this same card in their Constance Collier postcard collection. They possess 33 different photographs of Miss Collier.   (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was published by Rapid Photo as part of a series (No.1834). Note the size of the buttons on her dress and her hair ornament composed of four leaves. (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2

Published in: on May 11, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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