A young girl sits on a chair, hands folded on her lap, and dreamily looks at the camera. Sitting alongside her is her trusty pug. Actually, the dog may not be that trusty because the dog is wearing a collar and chain insuring that he stays in range of the camera. The young girl is holding the dog’s leash. This photograph was taken at the Kottmann studio in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Edward Kottmann was a German born photographer who received his training at galleries in Philadelphia. He began working as a photographer in Altoona in about 1883. An advertisement announcing the sale of his gallery appears in Snap Shots (1908). SOLD
This cabinet card poses an interesting question. My first impression upon looking at the photograph was that it was an example of a “Tom Thumb Wedding Portrait”. What is a “Tom Thumb Wedding” ? The answer offers an interesting social commentary. A “Tom Thumb Wedding” is a wedding pageant in which the major wedding roles are played by children; usually under ten years old. Not only are the bride and groom portrayed, but so are the best man, maid of honor, groomsmen, bridesmaids and the clergyman. Some of these weddings involved more then twenty children playing costumed parts. Often times, the weddings were fund raising events for charitable causes. These faux weddings became popular after the wedding of General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) to Lavinia Warren in 1863. Tom Thumb’s wedding was very publicized by the media in America and received the attention across the county. Not having any royal families, Americans had to find celebrities to obsess over. Tom Thumb had a great promoter keeping him in the public’s eye. P. T. Barnum, the circus entrepreneur managed Tom Thumbs career. The previous owner of this cabinet card contends that this image is actually a portrait of a boy and a girl portraying George and Martha Washington. I have to give the last owner’s theory credibility because over the years I have been collecting these photographs, I have seen a number of portraits of children portraying George and Martha. Sometimes the images present them together and sometimes separately. In conclusion, there is no conclusion. What do you think, “Tom Thumb Wedding” or “Portrayal of George and Martha Washington”. The photographer of this image is R. B. Lewis of Hudson, Massachusetts. He is cited in the Photographic Journal of America (1893) for an excellent photograph of a football team. Lewis is also listed in the Hudson city directory as a photographer between at least 1872 and 1909. This cabinet card portrait has gold beveled edges and is in excellent condition (see scans).
Buy this Cabinet Card Photograph (includes shipping within the US) #5843
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$148.00
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This vintage photograph is a Boudoir Cabinet Card. Boudoir Cabinet Cards are larger than the typical cabinet card. This photograph features a portrait of fashionable girl who appears to be in her teenage years. The identity of the girl is written on the reverse of the photograph. Her name appears to be “Eda Lestora”. What makes this photograph special is the photographer who took the photo. The 5″ x 8.25″ image was photographed at Monaco’s Excelsior Art Gallery at 183 Main Street in Stockton, California. J.B. Monaco (1856-1938) was a noted photographer in San Francisco but had satellite studios. A collection of his photographs can be found at the San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library. In 1875 Monaco arrived in the United States as an immigrant from Switzerland. His name was originally Giovanni Battista. He joined his brother in Eureka, Nevada. Louis Monaco operated a photo studio there and J.B. joined him in the business, thus launching a career as a photographer that would span 62 years. In 1887 J. B. moved to San Francisco where he was soon joined by his brother who died in 1897. During J. B.’s career, he distinguished himself with his earthquake and fire photographs. These images have been described as dramatic and journalistic. He documented much of early Nevada and Northern California history. His portraiture work of prominent San Francisco individuals and their families is considered to be exceptional. During his career, Monaco was described as the “Dean of North Beach photographers”. SOLD
This cabinet card features three very cute young children; presumably, they are siblings The girls are wearing jewelry. The girl on the left of the image is wearing a necklace and the girl on the right is adorned with a necklace, choker, and earrings. The young lad in the center is wearing a large bow tie and is dressed in the fashion of “Little Lord Fauntleroy”. The lad is holding a flower. The photographer of this image is Gustavus Timm (1867- ?). He operated photographic studios in Oshkosh, Wisconsin between 1895 and 1924. He was located at four different addresses while he was in business. The address on this cabinet card indicates that at the time of this photograph, he was located at the site of his first studio. The address on this photograph reveals that it was taken between 1895 and 1898. Gustavus Timm was married to Jennie Timm, who was ten years his junior. They married in 1895. The 1920 U. S. census data discloses that the couple had at least two children; Rhea (age 22) and Ralph (age 11).
Buy this Cabinet Card Photograph (includes shipping within the US) #5789
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$36.00
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This vintage undivided real photo postcard features an adorable pair of young sisters. The older girl has her arm protectively around the younger girl’s shoulder. The “Artura” stamp box indicates that this photo card was published sometime between 1908 and 1924. This lovely postcard is in very good condition (see scans).
Buy this Real Photo Vintage Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5170
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$18.70
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A boy dressed in jacket and tie, poses with his bicycle, in the studio of I. B. Klopfenstein, in Inman, Kansas. Note the castle in the background. The castle is an interesting choice for a backdrop, considering that the studio and the lad are located on the Great Plains of America. The pasty faced boy looks intently at the camera. His bicycle lacks the accessories often seen in images of people posing with bikes in cabinet card photography. This bike lacks a horn, basket, or repair kit. The photographer, Isaac B. Klopfenstein is listed in a number of state and federal censuses. In 1885 he lived in Lincoln, Kansas but by 1895, his residence was reported to be Inman, Kansas. He was of German heritage and was born in 1864, somewhere in Ohio. The reverse of the cabinet card has a pencilled name that identifies the boy in this photograph. The inscription reveals that he is “Master Charlie Williams”. Research efforts to gather further information about the lad were stymied because of the abundance of people in Kansas named “Charlie Williams” during that era. When was this photograph taken? It is safe to say that the image was produced 1889 or later. The town of Inman, Kansas was founded in 1887 but was originally named “Aiken”. The town was renamed in 1889. The new name was Inman, named after nearby Lake Inman. Who is Inman? Inman was the name of the Army Major who originally surveyed the area. (SOLD)
A young Russell Smith pushes an even younger, Edna Collins, in a baby carriage (the kids names are noted on the reverse of the image). The two children are very cute. Russell has flowing long hair and a wonderful cap. Edna looks adorable in her gown and bonnet. The baby buggy is quite ornate. To view other baby buggies, click on the category, “Baby Carriage”. The photographer is Albert G. Tickner and his studio was located in Hart, Michigan. According to the United States census of 1910, Tickner (1872-?) was born in Ohio. At the time of the census, he was a 38 year-old photographer and proprietor of his own business. He was widowed and lived with his four sons (ages spanned between four and fifteen) in Hart, Michigan. Research yielded no information about Russell Smith; but the search for biographical material about Edna Collins was more fruitful. The 1920 census discloses that there was an Edna Collins living in Hart. Edna was twenty years-old and was a public school teacher. She lived with her father (Sodorous) and her mother (Carrie). Her father was a druggist and operated his own store. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features an adorable little girl with curls galore. The child sits at a table behind a cup of tea. The girl has an expression as if she is suspiciously eying the photographer. The card was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (No.1405).This real photo postcard has minor edge and corner wear and is in overall good condition (see scans).
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$26.00
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Two adorable siblings pose for their portrait at the Goldsberry and Gillet studio in Ottumwa, Iowa. The oldest sibling has incredibly engaging eyes. The reverse of this photograph has an inscription that reveals the identities of the two girls in this photograph. The subjects are Lillian Westling (age 4 1/2) and Lena Westling (age 2 1/2). The children’s parents were Swedish born. Lillian was born in 1888, just a year after her parents married. Their father was John Albert Westling and their mother went by a few different names including Minnie Hurd (Wilhelmina) and Miriam C. Westling. By the time of the 1900 US census Lillian had three younger siblings, including Lena. In 1900, the Westlings had moved to Fairbury, Nebraska and John was working as a laundry man. One of the photographers of this image, Benjamin E. Goldsberry (1853-1922) was born in Ottumwa. The 1880 US census finds him living in Bedford, Iowa, married to Anna E. (Lida) and working as a “Degarian Artist”. While working in Bedford he took a portrait of “Sitting Bull”. In 1895 he and his family moved back to Ottumwa where he worked as a photographer. The 1910 US census reports that he was living in Omaha, Nebraska and pursuing his career as a photographer. Goldsberry’s partner for this photograph was Bert Gillett (1857-?). He is listed in both the 1900 and 1920 census as a photographer. In the 1900 census he is listed as married to Virginia E. Gillett but by 1920 the couple had divorced. Gillett is also listed as a photographer in Ottumwa directories including 1902 and 1905. This cabinet card is in excellent condition (see scans).
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$48.00
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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. This cabinet card has excellent clarity and is in good condition (see scans).
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$24.00
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 