This cabinet card features a gentleman with an unusual mustache. This style mustache could be labeled an “ear muff mustache”. The mustache looks like the man had been wearing ear muffs and they slid down his face stopping in a position where the furry ear coverings came to rest on his cheek and upper jaw, while the head band settled in a spot above his upper lip and below his nose. To view other interesting and unique mustaches, click on cabinet card gallery’s category “mustaches (Only the Best)”. The photographer of this image is T. W. Taylor. In advertising on the reverse of the photograph he has printed the name of his studio, “First Premium Gallery”. It was located at 10 West Gay Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The previous described advertising also indicates that in 1882 the studio won a “prize medal” for its use of Crayons. Thomas W. Taylor (1838-1904) is described by the Chester County Historical Society as operating one of the most prominent studios in West Chester. His photography career was interrupted by the Civil War. Taylor joined Company E of the 124th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. He fought at Chancellorsville and Antietam. He entered the Union army as a private and mustered out as a corporal. He reopened his studio for business in 1863 and worked into the 1890’s.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
Unless I’m mistaken, it looks like there’s been some retouching here, too. I’ve seen photos with the pupils touched up to make the eyes pop, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one where texture was added to the hair. So interesting!
Well now, the ear muffler beard and mustacsh made me laugh so much that I actually snorted soda out my nose. That doesn’t happen very often! So accurate, and so funny.
Fantastic description here.
[…] is. Perhaps to add texture and definition? I’ve only seen retouched hair once before, here on a blog I follow. Actually, instead of saying I’ve only seen it once before, I should […]
[…] to choose them? Most of the photographers seemed to be well-known in West Chester and beyond. T.W. Taylor was said to have closed his studio during the Civil War to join the Union army – fighting at the […]