PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN : FANCY HAIR : NORWICH, NEW YORK ; CARTE de VISITE

This carte de visite portrait features a pretty young woman. Her hair is stylish and she is well dressed. She is wearing a lace jabot and long earrings. The photographer of this cabinet card is Alston E. Hotchkiss ( c 1846-1907) of Norwich, New York. A. E. Hotchkiss came to Norwich in 1872 at the age of twenty-six. He ran the most popular photo gallery in town and it is reported that he took on the persona of an artistic and cultured gentleman. His wife played a major role in his running the studio, and at one point, he employed at least twenty workers. Note that the top corners of this cdv are trimmed. This carte de visite is in overall good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on October 6, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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BRAKEMAN : MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD : UNIFORMED : TRAIN : WEST BAY CITY, MICH.

This cabinet card features a handsome young man dressed in his railroad uniform. His cap identifies his occupation as a brakeman. A brakeman’s job was to assist in the braking of a train when the conductor wants the train to slow down or stop. Among the job’s other duties was to ensure that all couplings between cars were set properly. It was a dangerous job. The cap also identifies the railway abbreviation as being “M. C. R. ?.”. The photographer of this image was George F. Sterling. His business was based in Bay City, Michigan. The reverse of the photo has an advertisement for Sterling’s business. The ad includes a drawing of his photographic studio rail car. Attatching the studio to a train gives the photographer the advantage of having the opportunity to gain business in more than one town. Sterling’s studio car was attatched to a train belonging to the Michigan Central Railroad. The railroad was established in 1846. In time, the railway served Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ontario (Canada). In 1867 the Michigan Central was taken over by the New York Central Railroad company. (SOLD)

Published in: on October 4, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ROSALBA BEECHER : PRETTY OPERA DIVA : OWL ON A CRESCENT MOON : SARONY CABINET CARD

The celebrated Sarony studio of New York City, famed theatrical photographer, published this cabinet card portrait of Rosalba Beecher. Ms Beecher is wearing a very  ornate and dramatic dress. Note the design of an owl sitting on a crescent moon. She is wearing a great deal of jewelry. Her clothing is likely a costume from an opera that she was appearing in. Beecher’s magnificent piercing eyes are evident in this portrait. During her stage career, Beecher appeared in one Broadway play, “Prince Methusalem” (1884). Miss Beecher is mentioned in a New York Times (1900) article concerning her divorce from Clarence Lyman Collins of the dry goods commission firm of  Whitin Collins. Mr. Collins had filed for divorce because he alleged that his wife, whom he married in 1886 (She was 23 and he was 38 years-old), was causing him financial ruin with her excessive extravagant spending. It was alleged that her spending was creating a grave economic problem for Collins and she agreed to return to her pre marital profession of being an opera singer. She moved to Paris to get experience before executing her plan to return to singing on the American stage. She stayed in Europe for several years. While there, she continued her incessant spending and Collins found himself forty thousand dollars in debt. An interesting side note is that Collins’s first wife was a Vanderbilt. This particular cabinet card has been well travelled. The reverse of the cabinet card has “Property Of” stamps from Culver Service (New York), Frederic Hilton (New York), and Charles Ritzman (New York). Culver Pictures was a service that collected photographs that for a fee could be used by the media to accompany the stories appearing in their publications. Culver Service was established in 1926. Research yielded no information concerning the identity of Frederic Hilton. Charles L. Ritzmann was a well known purveyor of photographs of stage actors and actresses. To view other cards formerly owned by Culver or by Ritzmann, type Culver of Ritzmann in the search box.   (SOLD)

Published in: on October 3, 2021 at 12:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FIVE SALVATION ARMY WOMEN AND THREE GUITARS IN MORRIS RUN, PENNSYLVANIA

Five women pose for their photographic portrait at the O’Donnell studio in Morris Run, Pennsylvania. The women are all dressed in a uniform that appears to be consistent with the garb of the Salvation Army. However, none of the women seem to be wearing the customary badge that members of the organization usually wear. Comments in regard to whether their band is part to the Salvation Army, would be welcomed. Three of the ladies are holding guitars. The other two may be singers but one  would expect that they would be holding tambourines as is the style in many music themed salvation army cabinet cards. The photographer is likely Stewart J. O’Donnell who is listed in the 1899  Hamilton Township business directory. O’Donnell’s studio was located in Morris Run, which is part of Hamilton Township and Tioga County. The area was known for its coal mining.  (SOLD) 

Published in: on October 1, 2021 at 12:01 pm  Comments (4)  
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