Photographer Robert Franck of Worms, Germany produced this rather amateurish cabinet card. The boy is holding his bicycle while posing indoors on what appears to be a stage with a nautical painting on a screen behind him. The child looks as if he is standing in front of a giant picture postcard. Look closely and you can see the stand on each side of the backdrop that holds it in place. The stand is on the floor and located at both corners of the screen. If the photographer stood closer to the subject, the edges of the backdrop would have not been in the image; significantly improving the picture. The very obviously fake plant behind the rear bicycle wheel further detracts from this image. Despite my criticism of this photograph, there is something that I like about it. If one focuses on the boy and his bike, this is a fine image of a child and his beloved mode of transportation. This photograph presents a bit of confusing information because on the reverse of the image, the photographers name is listed as F. Berf (possibly F. Ferf). Perhaps Mr Franck succeeded Mr Berf as owner of the studio and was using up Mr Berf’s card stock. Also on the reverse of the cabinet card is a hand written note that identifies the child as “the little Hoffman boy on his bicycle. He is now married.” (SOLD)
A BOY, A BIKE, AND A BAD BACKDROP
LITTLE GIRL PARTICIPATES IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY IN REGENSBURG, GERMANY
A young girl poses for her photograph creating a memory of her participation in a religious ceremony. Is the event a communion, or possibly a confirmation. This pretty girl is holding a prayer book and a lit candle. She is dressed in all white and wearing a pair of gloves. The photographer is Walter Klie whose studio was located in Regensburg, Germany.
A BOY AND HIS PEDAL CAR IN CORONEL SUAREZ, ARGENTINA
Photographer Arturo Stinco took this wonderful portrait of a young boy and his pedal car. The boy has long hair and is wearing a large bow. Judging by his clothing and his expensive toy car, he is likely from a very well-to-do family. The boy’s name is written on the reverse of the photograph. His name is Carlos Aguerra (possibly Aguerro). The photographer’s studio was located in the Argentinian town of Coronel Suarez. This town was founded in 1883 and is in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina. It was named after Manuel Isidoro Suarez (1799-1841) who was an Argentinian army colonel who fought in wars of independence against the Spanish.
“AMERICA FOREVER”: PATRIOTIC TEN YEAR OLD IN DAYTON, OHIO SUPPORTS AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND SAILORS DURING THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
A ten year-old boy named Horace H. Justice Jr. poses proudly in a sailor suit at the studio of Anderson & Hartshorn in Dayton, Ohio. Horace’s naval cap displays the name “Dewey” rather than the more typical ship name. Admiral George Dewey (1837-1917) was a US naval officer best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish American War. He came home to the United States and was received as a conquering war hero. Young Horace is clearly paying tribute to Admiral Dewey. The Spanish American War era was a time marked by a escalation of patriotism in the United States and this image provides an illustration of this nationalistic fervor. It is also possible that Horace’s father may have served with Admiral Dewey and that Horace Jr. is emulating Horace Sr.. Initial research found a Horace J. Justice living in Dayton. The 1900 US census reveals that Justice was married to Mattie Justice 1885) and at the time of the census, they had a twelve year old son also named Horace. Horace Justice Sr. is mentioned in many Dayton city directories from 1871 through 1909. He worked many years as a travelling salesman. It could not be established that Horace Sr. was in the armed forces. It appears that Horace Jr was born in 1888 and died in 1948. Information was also found about the photographers. Photographer James Otto Hartshorn was a leading Dayton photographer. He was born in Ohio in 1869. A Dayton history book reveals that he was “deprived” of his parents when he was thirteen years-old and forced to live with various friends. He worked on a farm until he turned eighteen and and then moved to Dayton and for a short time worked in a cotton batting factory. In 1888 he became employed in a photography studio where he learned to become a very skilled photographer. In 1891 he married Ella M. Huesman of Dayton. In 1894 Hartshorn partnered with Charles F. Anderson and opened up the studio that produced the portrait of Horace Justice Jr..
FROWNING SISTERS WITH MUSSED HAIR
Two sisters with identical lacy white dresses and identical frowns pose for an unknown photographer in an unknown location. The bottom of this cabinet card has been trimmed creating a mystery about the origin of this photograph. Both girls have mussed hair. The photographer and the girls parent(s) appear to have not given a thought to combing the girl’s hair before taking this portrait.
ADORABLE YOUNG GIRL IN CALUMET, MICHIGAN
This photograph captures a beautiful young girl wearing a big hat. Her adorable outfit includes a white dress, plaid jacket,white tights and white shoes. She is also wearing a ring and necklace. The image was produced by the Herman gallery in Calumet, Michigan. The photographer, Victor Herman, did an excellent job of posing the child. An advertisement for Herman’s studio can be seen in the Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory (1897) and he is listed in other directories from about 1886 through 1910.
CUTE SIBLINGS IN BROWNSVILLE, OREGON
Two adorable young children pose for their photographic portrait at the Winter studio in Brownsville, Oregon. The little boy is wearing knickers and the little girl wears curls. The photographer of this image is John A. Winter (1831-?). He was born in Ohio of Ohioan parents. He was active as a photographer in a number of Oregon cities including Eugene, Albany, and Jefferson. He was in business in Brownsville during the 1890’s. Winter owned a sheep ranch near Brownsville that totaled over 900 acres of land. From 1888 until 1900, he was the official photographer of Oregon State University. To learn more about John Winter, click on the category “Photographer: Winter”.
TWO ADORABLE CHILDREN POSE FOR CARL PIETZNER IN OLMUTZ, AUSTRIA
Carl Pietzner produced this wonderful portrait of two children posing at his Olmutz, Austria studio. The kids are adorable. Big sister is holding her sibling’s hand who has a smile wider than the Danube River. The reverse of the photograph has a printed advertisement for the studio that states “Jnhaber: Adolf Muller”. Thanks to google translation, the entry indicates that Mr. Muller was the owner of the studio. It seems to indicate that Pietzner is the photographer but not the owner of the studio. Perhaps a knowledgeable visitor to the cabinet card gallery can clarify this issue. To learn more about Pietzner and to view more of his photographs, click on the category “Photographer: Pietzner”.
ADORABLE VICTORIAN TODDLER IN LONG GOWN IN MINONK, ILLINOIS
A toddler wearing a long gown poses by an ice cream parlor style chair in the Pfaffle studio in Minonk, Illinois. Henry Pfaffle was a man with many interests and talents. He was a optometrist in Minonk over 60 years.He began working as a printer in 1876 and entered the fields of optometry and photography in 1889. He recorded much of the early history of Minonk. He had photograph car built for him that could be placed on a railroad flat car and taken from town to town. After arriving at a new town, the photograph car would be drawn by horses to desired locations for taking photographs. Pfaffle had an interest in astronomy and constructed telescopes. The first telescope he built was sold to Eureka College. Pfeffle was also very interested in weather. He was an observer and displayer of weather flags for the Federal Weather Bureau. He died in 1952 and interestingly, donated the money from his estate to the city of Minonk for water supply improvements. (SOLD)
ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL WEARING HER FANCIEST CLOTHES TAKES A FAKE STROLL IN A FAUX PARK IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
The subject of this photograph is a darling little girl with sausage curls under a fancy hat. She is seen faking a walk in a faux park. The little girl is holding a parasol. The photographer of this image is John D. Strunk of Reading, Pennsylvania. To view other photographs by Strunk and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Strunk”.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 