This cabinet card is a portrait of a young woman photographed by Harry, who advertised himself as the “leading photographer” of Steubenville, Ohio. The woman is wearing a ribbon around her collar as well as two pins. One pin is a horseshoe while the other appears to be some sort of clover. Perhaps these are good luck charms. Albert S. Harry (1848-1904) was born in Ohio and worked as a photographer in Wooster, Ohio through much of the 1870’s. In 1878, he settled in Steubenville and operated a studio until at least 1893. He later worked as a photographer in Brooklyn, New York.
LUCKY LADY IN STEUBENVILLE, OHIO
FINNISH PHOTOGRAPHER KARL EMIL STAHLBERG’S MYSTERY PORTRAIT OF PENSIVE GENTLEMAN (HELSINKI, 1894)
The Cabinet Card Gallery needs help identifying the gentleman in this photograph. The pensive man in this image was photographed by Karl Emil Stahlberg (1862-1919) in Helsinki, Finland. The cabinet card is exceptionally large, 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ and was photographed in 1894. . Stahlberg was a Finnish photographer and engineer. Stahlberg was a man for all seasons. In 1904 he opened Finland’s first film theatre. He was also the nations first film producer. He initially specialized in short documentaries. He later produced Finlands’s first fictional film and hired painter Louis Sparre to direct the film. Stahlberg was the cousin of Finland’s first President, Kaarlo Juho Stahlberg. The reverse of this cabinet card may offer clues as to the identity of the gentleman pictured in the photograph. In pencil on the back of the card is the inscription “Greve (unclear word) Sparre”. There is a second inscription on the reverse of the card; and a copy of this inscription is provided above. Is the subject Louis Sparre or one of his relatives? Any help in identifying the subject of this photograph would be appreciated. UPDATE: Thanks to the cabinet card gallery’s vast research department (in other words, the sites visitors), the gentleman in this photograph appears to have been identified. Check out the comment section to see how a visitor identified the gentleman in less than 24 hours time after the photograph was posted. The gentleman is not just a gentleman; he is also a Swedish Count. Ambjorn Pehr Sparre (1828-1921) was the son of Pehr Sparre, a Colonel and author. Ambjorn Pehr Sparre was the father of artist Louis Sparre. He participated in Parliament, headed a bank note paper mill, and between 1855 and 1871, established a printing house which printed stamps for the national post office. He is associated with the first Swedish hydrogen balloon ascent. He was an inventor whose work was done in the areas of security paper, weapons, bicycles, flying machines, underwater vehicles as well as a number of other areas.
SWEET BABY CHILLING IN WICKER CHAIR IN ADA, MINNESOTA
This cabinet card captures a very cute baby posing on a wicker chair. The baby is wearing a long gown and has a terrific sweet facial expression. The photographer is Halvor William Thune (1857-1932). He was born in Iowa of Norwegian native parents. He opened a gallery in Ada, Minnesota in 1883 and Thune still operated the gallery in the 1920’s. He was civically active and held a number of county and village offices including Mayor of Ada and Chief of the Fire Department. Thune also found time to operate his farm.
ELEGANT LADY IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
A beautifully dressed elegant lady poses for her portrait in San Francisco, California. She has long tight ringlet curls. A family of four could live under her tent-like dress. This cabinet card was produced by the studio of Edouart & Cobb. Edouart (1818-1892) was born in England and was the son of the famed silhouettist, Auguste Edouart. He was educated in England and between 1848 and 1850, he was a painter and daguerreotypist in New York City. He arrived in San Francisco in 1852 and worked as a landscape artist. By 1860, he opened a photographic studio where he was known for his watercolored photographs. In 1869 he joined David Cobb (1841-?) in a partnership in a photographic studio. The studio was located at 504 Kearny Street in San Francisco. Their partnership lasted until 1881. Cobb was active in San Francisco between 1863 and 1865, as well as between 1869 and 1889. In 1866 he worked in Grass Valley California. To see other photographs by Cobb, click on the category “Photographer: Edouart & Cobb”.
FOUR AFFECTIONATE GENTS
This cabinet card captures four fabulously dressed gents posing for their photograph. The men are showing affection toward each other in this image. The gentlemen are sportily dressed; note the striped sport jacket. Their hats are interesting and varied. One man is smoking a pipe. The photographer’s name and the location of the studio are unknown.
WOMAN AND A BIG BOW IN ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT
This cabinet card is an image of a young woman with a very large bow on her collar. She has short hair or it is pulled back behind her head. The photographer is Kellogg of St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
YUPPIE VICTORIAN COUPLE POSE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN ENGLAND
An attractive couple pose for their portrait in Falmouth, England. The couple are very well dressed and appear very comfortable in front of the camera. The photographer is W. M. Harrison. Harrison had studios in Falmouth, Helson, Truro and Redruth. William Marsden Harrison (1852-?) worked as a photographer in Scotland but worked in Falmouth beginning the early 1880’s. By 1900, Harrison had won over 30 medals for his photographs, many of them from international competitions (ie. France, Austria, Belgium, Holland). Judging by the back design, this cabinet card photograph is circa 1902.
RUGBY PLAYER IN WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card is a portrait of a young rugby player. He is wearing padded pants but no other equipment. The photographer is W. Frances Grubb (1864-1938). Grubb was an active photographer in the suburban Philadelphia area. He operated from his West Chester, Pennsylvania studio (25 N. High Street). He worked out of this studio between 1886 and 1898. Check out additional rugby cabinet cards under this site’s “rugby” category. To view additional cabinet card photographs by Grubb; click on this site’s “Photographer: Grubb” category.
WASP WAISTED WOMAN WEARING WONDERFUL HAT IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
This cabinet card features a fashionable woman wearing an interesting, but not necessarily attractive hat. She is very thin waisted, thanks to a corset. The photographer is Siegel Cooper and Company of Chicago, Illinois. Siegel Cooper was a major department store in Chicago. Click on category “Photographer: Siegel Cooper” to see other photographs by this studio.
HANDSOME IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
A handsome man poses for his portrait at the studio of Morton, in Providence, Rhode Island. Hosea Q. Morton is the photographer of this portrait and he is listed in Providence directories from the 1880’s and 1890’s.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 