This is a wonderfully evocative and visually striking cabinet card photograph depicting a young female performer posed in an elaborate theatrical costume, seated within a carefully constructed rustic studio setting of vines, flowers, and a cottage-like backdrop. The composition has a distinctly staged, almost storybook quality, with the sitter turned slightly while looking directly toward the camera, her expression calm, thoughtful, and self-assured. She appears quite young, yet carries herself with the poise of a performer accustomed to being observed. Her costume is particularly eye-catching and strongly suggests a theatrical or exhibition role rather than everyday dress. The fitted jacket is decorated with bold, evenly spaced button-like accents running along the seams and edges, giving it a stylized, almost uniform-like appearance. The outfit is paired with lighter-toned trousers or leggings, an unusual and somewhat progressive choice for the period, reinforcing the impression that this is a stage costume rather than conventional attire. Her long hair is parted at the center and falls naturally, softening the otherwise structured look of the costume. What makes this cabinet card especially intriguing is the identification written on the reverse that reads: “Anita (soubrette) ‘Buffalo Bill Show’.” The show operated between 1883 and 1915. The term soubrette refers to a young female stage performer, often associated with lively, theatrical, or light operatic roles. While Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show did not operate as a traditional play with fixed characters, it featured a wide range of performers presented in stylized roles, particularly during its European tours. Although a performer named Anita is not prominently documented in surviving records, the show employed many individuals who were billed under first names or stage names. Also on the reverse is a faint but readable stamp identifying that this photograph was once owned by Culver Service, a company known for distributing historical and theatrical imagery to the press and book publishers. The photograph itself has a pleasing sepia tone with good clarity and contrast, and the image retains strong visual impact. There is some honest age-related wear to the mount, including corner rounding and light surface marks. The reverse shows expected signs of age, including a partial paper label, an inventory bar code, and faint stamp impressions, all of which add to the piece’s authenticity and history (see scans). This is a compelling and somewhat mysterious cabinet card, combining theatrical costume, early entertainment history, and a direct written association with the Buffalo Bill Wild West show.
This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $75.00 at auction
Interested collectors may view the listing here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/336553194886
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
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