DISTINGUISHED LOOKING ELDER GENTLEMAN IN ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA

hill

This fabulous cabinet card portrait features a very distinguished older gentleman sitting in a chair and holding what appears to be a cane. He is well dressed and sporting a thick mustache and relatively long beard. The photograph was taken by the Hill studio which was located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. There is no information on the reverse of the photograph so the address of the photographer and the identity of the subject is unknown. There were three photographers named Hill in St. Cloud during the cabinet card era. Joseph Hill (1820-1892) was Irish born and began his photography career in St Paul, Minnesota (1858-1867). He later operated studios in St. Peter & Anoka (1878-1879), Brainerd (1881), St. Cloud (1868-1869, 1880-1889). Joseph Hill’s son took over the St. Cloud studio. His son was Eugene S. Hill (1856-1936) and records indicate he took over the studio in 1883. A third photographer in St. Cloud during the 1880’s was someone named M. Hill. It is unknown to me whether he was part of Joseph and Eugene’s family. Whichever “Mr. Hill” took this photograph, it is a beauty. The photograph measures about 3 3/4 ” x 8″.   SOLD

Published in: on April 3, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , ,

PORTRAIT OF A VERY HANDSOME YOUNG MAN IN HINTON, WEST VIRGINIA

hinton

A handsome young man poses for his portrait at the Hinton Photo Company in Hinton, West Virginia. The fellow looks quite dapper with his fine suit, bow tie, and nicely groomed mustache. The name of the photographer who operated the studio is unknown as is the year the photograph was taken. However, it is known that this type of photograph would have been taken shortly after 1900. Several photographs by the Hinton Photo Company can be found in the library historical collection at West Virginia University. The reverse of this photograph (see image below) possesses a ghost image of a woman in a fancy dress.

hinton 2

Published in: on April 1, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

TWO DANDIES IN BOWLER HATS…. ONE WITH ATTITUDE

BOGGS

This cabinet card portrait features two young men posing for their portrait at the Boggs & Jefferson studio in Marion, Indiana. This photograph of a pair of well dressed young men sitting in chairs is a study in contrast. The gent on the right sits in a stiff position and he appears a bit intimidated by the camera. Note his rigidity and the position of his hands. Compare him to his companion. The second gentleman sits back in his chair in a relaxed fashion and cooly stares at the camera. Note the lack of tension in his open left hand. Judging by his expression, this guy has attitude. Preliminary research did not uncover information about photographers Boggs and Jefferson.  SOLD

Published in: on December 21, 2015 at 12:32 pm  Comments (4)  
Tags: , ,

A GENTLEMAN WITH A WONDERFUL BEARD AND A WONDERFUL EXPRESSION IN STUTTGART, GERMANY (CDV)

=stuttgart

The young man in this carte de visite portrait is displaying a fantastic expression He has a devilish glint in his eyes. This fun loving gentleman is well dressed and sports a terrific beard. The photographer of this cdv was Erwin Hanfstaengl (1838-1905) who operated a photography studio in Stuttgart, Germany. He was married to Marie Schroder Hanfstaengl (1848-1917) who was a noted German operatic soprano and singing teacher. Erwin was a member of the distinguished Stuttgart photography and art publishing family headed by Franz Hanfstaengl. There is an inscription on the reverse of the photo (see image below) which probably identifies the young man. Unfortunately, I am unable to translate the writing and am hopeful a Cabinet Card Gallery visitor will leave a comment that includes the translation.   (SOLD)

=stuttgart 1

Published in: on September 3, 2015 at 12:16 pm  Comments (2)  
Tags: , , ,

DISTINGUISHED AND CHARISMATIC GENTLEMAN WEARING A TOP HAT

tophat

The subject of this vintage photographic portrait is quite a character. He is flashing a great smile and even his eyes are smiling. The mustachioed distinguished gentleman is wearing a three piece suit, a bow tie, and a top hat. He is holding a pair of gloves. I am very curious as to what this interesting looking man is smiling at. The reverse of the photograph has an inscription which identifies him as “Brother Jim”. The photographer of this portrait has his name embossed at the bottom of the photograph. It is difficult to decipher but appears to be M. Crowe (possibly Crow) of Moundsville, West Virginia. The town derives it’s name from the many Adena Indian burial mounds found there. These mounds were constructed more than 2000 years ago. Preliminary research found no  biographical information about the photographer.   SOLD

tophat 1

Published in: on September 1, 2015 at 12:09 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , ,

FOUR VERY COOL LOOKING YOUNG MEN IN ASHLAND, WISCONSIN

jones

This cabinet card portrait features four well dressed hatted young men posing for their portrait at the J. A. Jones studio in Ashland, Wisconsin. The men present themselves with an air of confidence. That is particularly true of the fellow seated on the right of the photograph. All four men are wearing vests and the two men in the front row appear to be wearing identical striped shirts. It is my theory that the men work in the same business and that is what brings them together for this group portrait. The photographer of this image is John A. Jones. He operated a photography studio in Ashland between 1893 and 1916. A man with the same name had a studio in Hurley, Wisconsin between 1919 and 1922, although I am uncertain that they are one and the same person. Apparently, Mr. Jones of Ashland was a bit of an entrepreneur. Motor Age (1909) reported that Jones bought a sixteen passenger truck to establish a sightseeing stage line between Ashland and Odanah, the seat of the big Indiana Reservation of northern Wisconsin.

Published in: on August 31, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , ,

DAPPER GENTLEMAN WITH A HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE IN BARMEN, GERMANY (CDV)

green 4

This cartes de visite features a dapper gentleman wearing a three piece suit and a wonderful handlebar mustache. He displays an air of confidence. This cdv portrait was taken by Zeppenfeld & Company which was located in Barmen, Germany. Barmen was pioneering center of the early European industrial revolution as well as the development of socialist theory and the socialist movement. Barmen was the birthplace of socialist Friedrich Engels. This cdv measures 4 5/8″ x 2 1/4″. It is longer and narrower than the typical cdv. The reverse of the image has information about the photographer and it can be seen below.

green 5

Published in: on August 21, 2015 at 11:53 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , ,

A DAPPER MORRIS GASTON FACES THE CAMERA

green

The reverse of this photograph is inscribed with the name “Morris Gaston”, presumably the handsome subject of this portrait. Mr Gaston is well dressed and very poised in front of the camera. He is is wearing a pocket watch and holding a magazine or newspaper. The photograph was taken at the Green & Company studio in Berlin. Unfortunately, the logo on the mat of this photograph does not indicate in what locale Berlin is located. Is this image from a studio in Germany or in the United States? There are several US states that have towns named Berlin and there is even a Berlin in Ontario, Canada. I have been unable to uncover the answer to the location riddle. Perhaps a cabinet card gallery visitor can solve the mystery. The cabinet card measures about 4 1/2″ x 6 1/4″ and has terrific clarity.

Published in: on August 19, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
Tags: ,

TEN WELL DRESSED GUYS POSING FOR A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH (REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

ten guys

This vintage real photo postcard features a group of well dressed youngish men posing for a group photo.The men are wearing an assortment of types of hats. Most of the guys are wearing some kind of pin on their lapel but their common bond is unclear. Perhaps they are members of a fraternal organization? The postcard was produced on “AZO” paper sometime between 1904 and 1918. The clarity of the image is excellent.

ten guys 1

Published in: on August 16, 2015 at 12:18 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

DISTINGUISHED LOOKING GENTLEMAN IN HELENA, MONTANA

montana

Lowry’s Art Place was the location that the distinguished looking man in this cabinet card portrait had this picture taken. The gentleman pictured is well dressed and well groomed. Though he was likely a resident of a western town, he appears to have made his living with his brain rather than his brawn. Perhaps he is a lawyer or a physician. The photographer of this image is H. J. Lowry, who according to the advertising on the reverse of this cabinet card, had studios in both Bozeman and Helena, Montana. Howard J Lowry is listed in the Helena Business Directories of 1889 through at least 1892 as a “portrait artist” (photographer) and as a teacher of drawing and painting at Helena Business College.  (SOLD)

montana 1

Published in: on August 13, 2015 at 11:58 am  Comments (1)  
Tags: , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »