This is a wonderful cabinet card portrait of a pretty young woman. The photograph features a great deal of uncertainty. The individual who formerly owned this image claimed that the subject is African American. In my opinion, the claim is debatable. One of the issues relating to some cabinet card images of African Americans is this very question. Some collectors and dealers sincerely believe they possess a portrait of an African American while others dishonestly make the claim in order to increase the value of the photograph. This particular image presents another interesting and debatable subject. The previous owner also claimed that this photograph is a memorial cabinet card. In other words, the photograph was made in honor of this young woman upon her death (not a post-mortem photo). The placement of the woman’s image inside a scroll, or whatever the shape represents, is the alleged tip off that it is a memorial photograph. I have seen experts provide conflicting opinions about such claims. Lets talk about what we do know. This young and attractive woman is making an interesting fashion statement. Her dress has little squares of fabric attached to it in what appears to be a haphazard manner. She is wearing a horseshoe collar pin and a thin necklace. If this photo is a memorial cabinet card, then the horseshoe certainly didn’t provide her with good luck. She is wearing her hair up. The photographer of this cabinet card is William T. Ross (1861-1945) who operated a studio in Appleton, Wisconsin. Ross appears in “Wilson Photographic Magazine” (1898) in an article that reports that he was elected Treasurer of the Convention of Wisconsin Photographers. Ross has a presence in a number of Appleton city directories from 1889 through 1934. He was born in Syracuse, New York and was married to Ella A. Ross. The edges of this cabinet card are scalloped and gold gilded. The reverse of the cabinet card has a ghost image (see below). The image was likely formed by the rear of the cabinet card being pressed against the front of another image while occupying a frame or album. SOLD
This vintage photograph features an adorable African American baby posing for her portrait at an unidentified studio. The baby is so cute and appears uncertain but inquisitive about her visit to the photographer. The child is wearing a necklace and holding a rattle. The reverse of the image has an inscription. It appears that the baby lived at “182 Yale Avenue N.” in Seattle, Washington. It also appears that the baby’s name was “W. G. S——“. I can not decipher the name and would welcome any help that anyone can provide. This photograph was purchased in Austin, Texas and was part of a collection of African American images that were originally found in San Antonio, Texas. (SOLD)
This photo booth photograph features a middle age African American man. He is wearing a white knit sweater and a driving cap. He is flashing what appears to be a pained smile at the camera. This photograph was part of a collection of African American images from San Antonio, Texas. Here is some history about photo booths. The first automated photo booth was patented by William Pope and Edward Poole of Baltim0re, Maryland. The first working model was exhibited at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889. The first commercially successful photo machine was called the “Bosco” and it was patented in 1890. The modern concept of the photo booth was introduced by Anatol Josepho, a Russian immigrant who entered the US in 1923. The first photo booth was introduced on Broadway in New York City in 1925. Twenty-five cents would buy eight photos and the process took ten minutes. After six months time, the booth was used by 280,000 people. In 1927 a company paid Josepho one million dollars plus royalties for use of his invention nationwide.
This three panel vintage photograph features a young African American man. He appears to be in his late teens and is nicely dressed in a suit and tie. Note his derby hat. Subject and photographer are not identified. The image was purchased in Austin, Texas and was part of a group of photographs described as the “San Antonio Collection”. The reverse of the photograph has residue that indicates it once resided in a scrap book or photo album. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features a well dressed African American man. He is wearing a ring and a nice hat. He is looking directly at the photographer. The reverse of the postcard has an inscription which includes his name as well as his wife’s name. The gentleman’s name is John Anderson and he inscribed the card to his wife, Inez Anderson. He humorously wrote that she knew that he was the “pretty man” in the photo. The postcard has an AZO stamp box which indicates that it was produced between 1904 and 1918. The lower portion of the postcard has eight tack holes which indicates that the postcard may have traveled a bit and been tacked to a number of walls. There is also residue evidence that the postcard once resided in a photo album. SOLD
A young African American woman poses for her portrait at the Richmond Photographic Company studio in Richmond, Virginia. She is wearing a white dress with a collar pin and is holding a fan in her left hand. Her lips are pursed and she displays a serious expression as she stares at the cabinet card photographer. I wish I knew more about this lovely woman. (SOLD)
This cabinet card portrait features a handsome middle aged African American man. He displays an intense expression and is wearing formal clothing for his visit to the photographer’s studio. The photographer of this cabinet card is Newton Mossheim Wonders. He was born in Ohio in 1862. He learned the photography business from his brother and worked in Cleveland (Ohio), Chicago (Illinois), and Lebanon (Pennsylvania) before opening his photography business in Pottsville (Pennsylvania) in 1891. His studio was originally located at 105 East Market Street (1893-1909). He moved the gallery to North Centre Street where it was located between 1910 and 1941. A review of US census data reveals that he was married to his wife Annie Wonders (1863-1963) in 1889. The couple had three children. Newton Wonders died in 1945 and is buried in the Charles Baber Cemetery in Pottsville. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of a pretty young African American woman. She projects an aura of sweetness. This image was created by an unknown photography studio. The AZO stamp box indicates that the photograph was taken between 1904 and 1918. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard is one of the most intriguing postcards that I have come across. What is the story behind this photograph? The image captures a simply dressed black woman flanked by two white men dressed in jacket and tie. Who are these men in relation to this woman? Why do the subjects of this photograph want their meeting photographed? One can imagine some interesting scenarios. Unfortunately the circumstances related to this image are lost to history. This AZO postcard was published between 1904 and 1918. SOLD
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 