This vintage real photo postcard features three fashionable men and their hats. These guys appear to be dressed for a special occasion. The men are smiling for the photographer, not a common sight in many portraits of this era. What era, you may ask? The answer lies in noting that the AZO stamp box indicates that the postcard was published sometime between 1904 and 1918. The names of these men and the identity of the photographer are lost to history.
An inscription on the reverse of this cabinet card portrait reveals that the subject’s name in Edwin Phelps. The photograph was taken at the Brainerd Photo Company in Rome (Oneida County), New York. Preliminary research tells us a little bit about Mr. Phelps. He was born in Oneida County in 1829. He was married to Amanda Howard (1832-1904). The 1880 census indicates that the couple had three sons living at home with them. He worked as a carpenter during at least four decades. He died in 1902 in Baltimore, Maryland and is buried in Forest Park Cemetery in Camden (Oneida County), New York. The images seen below include a portrait of Phelps taken at a later date than the portrait seen above, and a photograph of Phelps’s gravestone. The photographer that produced this image is Jonathan Millard Brainerd (1851-1926). Brainerd was born in Oneida, New York. After finishing school, Brainerd began working for photographer H. Hovey and after two years the two men became partners in a firm named appropriately Hovey & Brainerd. The business partnership lasted ten years until Brainerd bought out Hovey. Brainerd was married to Sarah C. Knight in 1874. Brainerd’s studios included locations in Rome (112 West Dominick Street) and in Oneida (28 Main Street). He had an interest in public service which is reflected in the three years that he spent as an alderman and his position as treasurer of State Custodial Asylum. He died in Utica, New York and is buried in Rome Cemetery in Rome, New York. His obituary appeared in the Rome Sentinel (1926) and the article included an interview with his colleague, photographer Betty Filchard. She noted that Brainerd was a friend of the famed photography entrepreneur George Eastman, one of the founders of Eastman Kodak. She stated that Brainerd was a genius and had invented a new camera shutter that Eastman had patented under his own name and “broke Jonathan’s heart”. SOLD
LATER PORTRAIT OF EDWIN PHELPS
GRAVESTONE OF EDWIN PHELPS
PORTRAIT OF JONATHAN MILLARD BRAINERD
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
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.
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
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)
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
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.
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.
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.
 | bmarshphd on NORTHPORT, LONG ISLAND, NEW YO… |
 | Libby Bryant on NORTHPORT, LONG ISLAND, NEW YO… |
 | rangerdon on BEALLSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA : ST… |
| bmarshphd on ELEANOR GAINES : LUBIN SILENT… |
 | phantomfamous0cbbe9d… on ELEANOR GAINES : LUBIN SILENT… |
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 