This cabinet card features two young girls posing for their portrait at a photographer’s studio. The girls are most probably sisters, and they are very cute. Note their large dark expressive eyes. The older girl is wearing a necklace with a locket or charm, while her little sister is wearing a necklace with a cross and holding a toy that could be a spinning top. The youngest child also has a strap over her shoulder which appears to be a bag of some kind. A previous owner of this cabinet card states that the photograph was produced by a studio in Sofia, Bulgaria. The name of the photographer is difficult to decipher and hopefully a Bulgaria savvy visitor to the Cabinet Card Gallery, will be able to provide the name of the producer of this image.
TWO CUTE YOUNG SISTERS IN SOFIA, BULGARIA
YOUNG BOY PULLING HIS TODDLER SISTER IN A WAGON (FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER IN COUNCIL GROVE, KANSAS)
This is the likely scenario. The boys parents, at the photographers suggestion, said, “Go stand over there and pretend that you are pulling your sister in the wagon”. The boy followed his parents suggestion, but, he wasn’t too happy about it. He certainly wasn’t going to smile for the photographer. This day at the photographer’s gallery was certainly not the fun he had hoped it would be. In contrast, little sister was interested in her surroundings and she sits in the wagon taking it all in. Examination of the wagon reveals that she appears to have a pillow behind her and that there may be a toy , perhaps a spinning top, directly in front of her. The photographer of this image is Kate Adele Aplington (1859-?). Her studio was in Council Grove, Kansas. Kate Aplington was an author and an artist. She was a professional photographer between 1886 and 1900. She held office in the state suffrage association and gave lectures about suffrage issues. A photography journal indicates that she sold her photography gallery to Emma Harvey (1900). In 1901 she donated a small set of photogravures which became the nucleus of a state art study collection which was basically a travelling art gallery. It became known as the “Aplington Art Gallery”. The purpose of the traveling exhibit was to cultivate the appreciation of art in Kansas. Aplington wrote the lectures accompanying the exhibit. In 1912, she published a novel about the pioneering times. Aplington was a truely accomplished woman. As an aside, it is interesting to note that Council Grove is named after an agreement between European Americans and the Osage Nation that allowed settler’s wagon trains to pass through the area on their way out west. Council Grove was one of the last stops on the Santa Fe Trail heading southwest.
YOUNG CHILD AND WOODEN HORSE IN RECKLINGHAUSEN, GERMANY
A not too happy child is photographed with a beautifully carved wooden horse in this cabinet card. The toy horse is mounted on a wheels and the horse has a mane, bridle and reins. The child appears to be holding a horse whip. The photograph is by Victoria of Recklinghausen, Germany. Recklinghausen is located in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.
MOTHER AND TWO CHILDREN IN MUNICH, GERMANY
A mother and her two children pose for a family portrait at the studio of B. Nielander & T. Romauer in Munich, Germany. Mother is wearing a striped skirt and simple white blouse with a dark ribbon. The oldest child is wearing a bow in her hair and holding a ball.
THREE ADORABLE CHILDREN IN CONSTANTINOPLE, OTTOMAN EMPIRE
This cabinet card dates back to the days of the Ottoman Empire. The photograph features three very adorable children posing for celebrated photographer, Theodore Servanis of Constantinople. As the musical group “They Might Be Giants” describe musically, the city of Constantinople became known as Istanbul (1930). The children in this image are wearing cute bonnets and two are holding toys while the third has a basket of flowers.
TWO BOYS AND A HOOP TOY IN ST. LOUIS MISSOURI (SHADES OF THE LITTLE RASCALS)
This cabinet card is an image of two street kids posing with their hoop toy. The boys have a mischievous expression and appearance reminiscent of the boys who were featured in the vintage television series, “The Little Rascals”. They are wearing wonderful caps. Caps like these must be the predecessors of the baseball cap seen on similar aged boy of today. The studio that produced this photograph was the Metropolitan Photo View Company of St. Louis, Missouri. No further information has been located about this studio or concerning the identity of the two “Our Gang” members. To see other photographs of turn of the century toys, click on the Cabinet Card Gallery category of “Toys”.
THREE SISTERS AND THEIR TOYS IN MUNICH, BAVARIA
This cabinet card features three sisters at play. The youngest is holding a stuffed horse, while the other two sisters are holding a doll and a book. On the floor stands another doll. The photographer was Alfred Schmidt of the Apollo Studio in Munich, Bavaria. Schmidt did an excellent job of capturing the girls in a quite natural pose of play. (SOLD)
A BOY AND A SHOVEL (1886)
A young boy poses in the studio of Brown, Barnes and Bell for a portrait. He is wearing a knit sailor outfit and holding a toy shovel. The tool is most likely a studio prop and not revealing any information about the child. The photograph was taken in 1886 as determined by the logo on the reverse of the card. Richard Brown, Robert William Barnes and Joseph Bell built a dynasty of photographic studios that reached around the world. At the time of this photograph, the studio had locations in London, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and New Castle. All of these studios were located in England so the international expansion had not begun yet. The studio advertised themselves as photographers to “Her Majesty The Queen” and the Prince of Wales, and several members of the Royal Family.
BABY RIDER POSES ON A ROCKING HORSE: KENTUCKY DERBY CONTENDER?
This cabinet card is a portrait of Edwin Jacobs, son of Edwin and Lilla Jacobs, posing on a rocking horse. Note the detailed rocking horse which features reins, harness, stirup, mane and long tail. Young Edwin doesn’t appear to be excited about his opportunity to ride the horse. The photographer is Johns and Faught of Lexington, Kentucky. To view other photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Johns & Faught”. Kentucky is horse country and of course, the home of the Kentucky Derby since 1875.
YOUNG BOY WITH RINGLETS CARRYING A STICK IN WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA
This cabinet card is a portrait of a young boy wearing a bow and carrying a stick. Perhaps it is a riding crop or a walking stick? The lad has long hair with ringlets. The photographer is Plummer of Wheeling, West Virginia. Research reveals that F. W. Plummer operated a photographic studio at 1138 Main Street in Wheeling.
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