IS THIS A TOM THUMB WEDDING PHOTOGRAPH OR IS THIS A PORTRAIT OF A REINCARNATED GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON?

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).

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Published in: on January 14, 2024 at 9:17 pm  Comments (1)  
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TWO YOUNG GENTLEMEN AND TWO YOUNG LADIES : MACON, MISSOURI : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card features two young gentlemen and two young ladies posing for their portrait at Roswall’s Art Studio, in Macon, Missouri. The exact address of the studio was 21 & 23 Rollins Street. The  young adults in this photograph may be from the same family, or may be just friends. These four individuals are very well dressed, leading one to believe that they likely come from families of means.  It is interesting to note that the girl on the left appears somewhat separated from the other three subjects. The separation my reflect how she felt psychologically about her place in the foursome. However, her position in the photograph may be simply the result of the photographer not wanting to leave too much space on the left side of the image. The photographer, Lars J. A. Roswall, was reported by the Photographic Times (1884) to be a part of a group that held a patent relating to  an apparatus for cleaning photographs. The bottom border of this photograph has been trimmed. The card has a slight curl. Overall, this cabinet card portrait is in good condition (see scans). (SOLD)

Published in: on November 21, 2023 at 9:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN AND HIS LOVELY WIFE IN STEUBENVILLE, OHIO

An older couple poses for their portrait in the studio of Filson an Sons in Steubenville, Ohio. The senior partner in the Filson studio was Davison Filson (1829-1899). He was a plain and ornamental painter and photographer. He was born in Pennsylvania and was of Irish descent. He settled in Steubenville in 1851. He worked as a master painter and bookseller before taking up photography in about 1863. In 1867 and in 1881, he made visits to the Far West where he did much outdoor photography. He was renowned locally for an exhibit he presented which was a montage of portraits of 12,223 deceased local residents and distinguished visitors (1897). Filson’s son was Charles P. Filson (1860-?). He was a sculptor, photographer and a portrait, landscape, and still life artist. He used crayon, ink, watercolor, and oils. He joined his father’s studio as a photographer in about 1879. He moved to La Jolla, California in 1937. Among his better known portrait subjects were civil war notables, Edward Stanton and Colonel George McCook. Daavison Filter also had a daughter that was a noted artist. Anna Filson (1857-?) was an artist active in Steubenville. To view other photographs by Filson, click on the category “Photographer: Filson”.  SOLD

Published in: on September 10, 2023 at 7:59 am  Leave a Comment  
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HERE COMES THE BRIDE IN STILLWATER, MINNESOTA

A bride and groom pose for their wedding photograph at the studio of  J. M. Kuhn in Stillwater, Minnesota. The groom looks as if he is in a state of shock on this momentous day. Perhaps he’s experiencing “cold feet syndrome”. His bride seems a bit happier and is wearing a very  flowery veil. John M. Kuhn (1855-1910) operated photography studios in Stillwater between 1882 and 1897. Afterwards, he owned a studio in Saint Paul, Minnesota. At times, he was partners with his brother Louis Kuhn. Research reveals that John Kuhn took official photographs of guards and wardens at the Stillwater State Prison.  SOLD

Published in: on September 3, 2023 at 12:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ATTRACTIVE COUPLE AT CROWDED SWIMMING POOL : BATHING SUITS : SNAPSHOT

This vintage snapshot photograph features an attractive couple in their bathing suits, standing in front of a crowded swimming pool. This photo was found in France.This scallop edged vintage photo measures about 3.50″ x 2.5″ and is in very good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on March 15, 2022 at 10:08 pm  Comments (2)  
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PORTRAIT OF AN ATTRACTIVE FASHONABLE COUPLE : WOMAN HOLDS CABINET CARD

This is an interesting cabinet because of the way that this couple is posing for their portrait. It is unusual to see a a woman sitting on the floor while posing for a cabinet card photograph. It is also not typical to see a woman sitting at the feet of a man in cabinet card images. The subjects of this photograph may be married, or perhaps, they are brother and sister.  The couple is nicely dressed and the woman is holding a photograph of a man. The backdrop is high quality.  There is no identifying information about the two individuals in the image or about the photographer. This cabinet card portrait is in excellent condition (see scans).

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Published in: on February 18, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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WEDDING COUPLE PORTRAIT : HALSTAD, MINNESOTA : O. E. FLATEN : CABINET CARD

This photographic portrait captures a lovely formally dressed couple. It is likely that this is a wedding photo. Both the man and the woman are dressed in formal clothing. In addition, the gentleman is wearing a  boutonniere while the woman is wearing a corsage. Looks like wedding attire to me. The photographer is O. E. Flaten who at the time of the photograph, had studios in Moorehead and Halstad, Minnesota; as well as in Gardner, North Dakota. Research reveals that Ole E. Flaten (1854 or 1865- 1933) was born in Vanders, Norway and emigrated to the United States. He worked as a photographer from the 1870’s through the 1920’s, retiring in 1930. This cabinet card portrait has minor edge and cornerwear and is in very good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on January 26, 2022 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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WEDDING PORTRAIT : HANDSOME ELEGANT COUPLE : WHITE GLOVES : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a handsome and elegant wedding couple. The bride has a lovely smile. The couple are well dressed. The bride is wearing a pretty hair ornament and one white glove. The groom is holding the second glove. This portrait postcard is in good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on December 2, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ATTRACTIVE YOUNG COUPLE IN MADISON, SOUTH DAKOTA

This image was photographed by J. M. Munson of Madison, South Dakota. The photograph was taken after 1889, the date of South Dakota Statehood. Photographs before 1889 would print the location as “Dakota Territory”. The couple in this image are an attractive pair. The woman subject is wearing a pretty dress, a ring, a collar pin and a bow in her hair.  The gentleman is well groomed and dressed    in a fancy suit. The photographer of this portrait is John M. Munson. He and his family appear in the U. S. Census of 1900. He was working as a photographer and living with his wife and daughter in Madison. He was 50 years old, his wife (Ada) was 41 years old, and his daughter Josephine was 6 years old. He and his wife had been married in 1882. The census indicated that Munson was born in 1849 in Ohio. A 1909 South Dakota business directory lists his Madison photography studio. The 1910 census confirms that he still worked as a proprietor of a photography business and lived with his family. The 1920 census finds Munson unemployed, or retired, and still living with his wife and daughter.   (SOLD)

Published in: on October 31, 2021 at 12:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A SOMBER OLD COUPLE : CIVIL WAR VETERAN : 13TH IOWA INFANTRY

This photograph features an interesting looking older couple. The husband stands in the background with a sullen expression while the wife, appearing quite intense, stands in the forefront. One wonders if the positioning in this image reflects their respective roles in their relationship. Written notations on the reverse of this photograph reveals that the subjects in the image are “Barclay and Sarah George”. The photo is dated “1900”. No photographer or location is indicated but research quickly discovered that this couple resided in Tonganoxie, Kansas at the time this photograph was produced. The 1900 Federal census revealed that Barclay  was born in Indiana in 1839, making him 60 years old at the time of this photograph. He had one parent that was born in Virginia while the other hailed from North Carolina. Sarah George was born in 1846 in Indiana, making her 53 years old when this picture was taken. Her parents were native to North Carolina. The couple was married in 1863. The 1895 and Kansas census reported that the pair still lived in Tonganoxie on their farm and had two teenage children. The 1905 Kansas census also found them residing in Tonganoxie. Further research revealed that Barclay was a participant in the War Between the States. He served in the 13th Iowa Infantry (Company B). Sarah filed for Barclay’s civil war pension in 1898 stating that he had become an “invalid”. In 1923 she filed for his pension upon his death. She made the death claim while living in Texas. Barclay George (1839-1923) is buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Pampa, Texas. An interesting side note concerns the origin of the name of “Tonganoxie”. “Tonganoxie” was the name of the chief of the Delaware tribe that occupied the area. The town was established in 1866. This vintage photo measures about 6 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ and is in very good condition (see scans). 

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Published in: on June 22, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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