THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This evocative early 20th-century photographic portrait depicts three young adults posed in a studio setting, arranged in a classic triangular composition that emphasizes both formality and subtle interpersonal dynamics. The photograph measures 6 ¼ x 4 ¼ inches, a size commonly associated with privately commissioned portraits from the late 1890s to early 1900s, just before the widespread dominance of postcards. The man stands at center, slightly behind the two seated women, resting one arm casually across the back of a chair. He wears a dark suit jacket, a crisp white shirt, and a neatly tied bow tie, topped with a flat cap. His expression is steady and unsmiling, projecting quiet confidence and composure rather than overt warmth—typical of male portraiture of this era, where restraint was often equated with dignity. The two women flanking him are dressed in fashionably structured blouses with high collars, each wearing an elaborate hat that reflects the period’s emphasis on millinery as a marker of style and social standing. The woman on the right appears more reserved, her face calm and serious, eyes directed forward with little visible emotion. The woman on the left, however, is especially compelling. Her expression carries a subtle complexity—a faint, knowing half-smile combined with alert, engaged eyes. Rather than the blank neutrality seen in many studio portraits, her gaze feels self-aware, even slightly amused, as if she is conscious of the moment and perhaps skeptical of its formality. This small emotional deviation gives the photograph much of its charm and individuality. The studio backdrop features a painted decorative scene with ornate scrollwork, lending depth and visual interest without overpowering the sitters. The photograph itself is in very good antique condition, with strong contrast and excellent clarity in facial features and clothing details. No creases, tears, or losses are evident. Overall, this piece displays well and retains significant visual and historical appeal.

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $28.00 

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236561726141

This engaging real photo postcard captures a large picnic gathering posed around a long wooden table. The scene is identified in caption as a “Picnic Dinner at Stoddard’s Camp, May 30, 1914.” The scene appears to be set beneath a rustic open-sided shelter, likely part of a campground or excursion destination, with heavy timber beams overhead and large rocks visible in the background—details that strongly evoke an early 20th-century recreational camp environment. Seated and standing around the table are fourteen young adults, men and women, most appearing to be in their late teens to early thirties. The men wear period-appropriate shirts, ties, and jackets—some with suspenders—while the women are dressed in modest blouses and long skirts, several accessorized with wide-brimmed hats typical of the 1910s. Their expressions range from relaxed to quietly formal, suggesting the photographer asked the group to pause mid-meal. The table is covered with cups, plates, and food, reinforcing the sense of a communal outing rather than a staged studio portrait. The overall mood is social and intimate, offering a vivid snapshot of leisure culture just before World War I, when group picnics and organized outings were popular among young working adults and social clubs. The shelter structure and natural surroundings hint that this was a known destination rather than a private backyard. In the lower right corner of the image, the photographer credit appears to read “Frasher Photo” followed by a number (possibly “863”). This attribution is consistent with Frasher, a well-known western U.S. photographer active in the early 20th century, particularly in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West.  Burton Frasher (1888 –1955) was an influential American photographer and publisher best known for his extensive documentation of the landscapes, towns, and daily life of the American West in the first half of the 20th century. Frasher began his career in photography in 1914 when he established a studio in Lordsburg(now La Verne) California. By 1921, he relocated the studio to Pomona, California, where Frasher shifted his focus toward producing and publishing real photo postcards. These postcards—marketed as “Frasher Fotos”—quickly became popular, capturing scenic vistas, historic towns, and the evolving infrastructure of the West. His work spanned California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and parts of Mexico. The reverse of the postcard is clearly marked “IDAHO” in pencil. There was a Stoddard’s Camp in Idaho, believed to have been a recreational campground (likely in northern Idaho), making Idaho a plausible—though not absolutely confirmed—location for this image. There were  campgrounds in other states that had “Stoddard” in their names. In addition, if Frasher took the photo on this card, it had to be very early in his career since the photo was taken in his first year of business. The question remains, was there another photographer, sharing the Frasher name who operated the same time as Burton Frasher. It is strange though that both photographer labeled their postcards, “Frasher Photos’.  In regard to condition, the image side is in good vintage condition, with strong tonal contrast and clear facial detail. There is a very difficult to detect pin hole at the top center  of the postcard. It is more detectable on the reverse of the card. Notably, there is a patch of tape residue at the bottom center of the reverse, which does not affect the image side. Overall, the card presents well and remains an excellent social-history photograph from the 1910s (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $18.00 at auction

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236561664667

Mary Pickford (1892-1979) was a Canadian-American actress and one of the most influential figures in early Hollywood. She was often referred to as “America’s Sweetheart”. She was a pioneer of silent film and a co-founder of the film industry as we know it today. Pickford’s career began in childhood when she performed in theater productions in Canada and the United States. By the early 1900s, she transitioned to film, working with director D.W. Griffith at Biograph Studios. Her delicate beauty and expressive acting quickly made her a fan favorite, setting her apart in an era when exaggerated stage-style performances dominated silent films. During the 1910s and 1920s, Pickford became one of the highest-paid and most beloved actresses in the world. Starring in films such as Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917), Daddy-Long-Legs (1919), and Pollyanna (1920), she was known for playing wholesome, spirited young women. Her curly hair and signature on-screen innocence became iconic, but she was also a savvy businesswoman who understood the power of her brand. Pickford was not only a star but also a trailblazer in the film industry. In 1919, she co-founded United Artists alongside Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks (her then-husband), and director D.W. Griffith. This revolutionary move allowed filmmakers to control their own productions rather than rely on major studios, changing the industry forever. As the film industry transitioned to “talkies,” Pickford retired from acting in the early 1930s, though she continued to produce films. Her contributions earned her an honorary Academy Award in 1976 for her lasting impact on cinema. Mary Pickford’s influence extends beyond her films. She helped shape the star system, paved the way for women in Hollywood, and co-founded the Motion Picture Relief Fund to support struggling actors. She remains an enduring symbol of early Hollywood glamour and innovation. Mary Pickford was born into a working-class family in Toronto, Canada. Her father, John Charles Smith, was an alcoholic who struggled to provide for the family and died from a workplace accident when Mary was just six years old. Her mother, Charlotte Hennessey Smith, was left to raise Mary and her two younger siblings, Lottie and Jack, on her own. To support the family, Charlotte encouraged her children to enter acting, and Mary began performing in theater at a young age. She soon became the family’s primary breadwinner, and her siblings, Lottie Pickford and Jack Pickford, also pursued film careers. Pickford transitioned from theater to film in the early 1900s, quickly rising to fame with her expressive acting and wholesome on-screen persona. By the 1910s and 1920s, she was one of the most recognizable stars in the world, earning the nickname “Queen of the Movies.” She also helped establish the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Mary Pickford was married three times. Pickford’s first marriage was to silent film actor Owen Moore (1911-1920). Her second and most famous marriage was to fellow silent film actor, Douglas Fairbanks (1920-1936). Her third marriage was to actor Charles “Buddy” Rogers (1937-1979). After retiring from acting in the early 1930s, Pickford focused on producing films and philanthropy. She became more reclusive in her later years, struggling with alcoholism and health issues. Today, she is remembered as a pioneering force in cinema history. This is a classic profile portrait of Mary Pickford, photographed in a soft-focus, romantic style that emphasizes elegance rather than celebrity bravura. She is shown in left-facing profile, her gaze cast downward, which lends the image a quiet, introspective quality typical of late 1910s–early 1920s studio portraiture. Her hair is worn long and loosely waved, flowing down her back in a natural cascade — a visual hallmark of Pickford’s screen persona during her peak years. The lighting is gentle and diffuse, carefully modeling her features without harsh shadows, while the dark background isolates her silhouette and heightens the sculptural effect of the profile. She wears a light-colored gown with a soft neckline and a single-strand pearl necklace, reinforcing the refined, feminine image that made her internationally recognizable. The overall effect is idealized and ethereal, very much in keeping with publicity imagery intended for the European market. The postcard was issued by Verlag “Ross,” Berlin, with distribution credited to Transocean-Film Co., Berlin, indicating a German publisher producing authorized star portraits for international film audiences during the silent era. (SOLD)

This vintage color postcard depicts Harman’s Kentucky Fried Chicken, a locally branded early franchise of Kentucky Fried Chicken operating in Phoenix, Arizona during the early 1960s. The image shows a classic mid-century roadside restaurant with bold signage, expansive parking, and exterior lighting designed to attract passing motorists—an architectural style closely associated with America’s postwar car culture. At the time this postcard was produced, Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises were often permitted to incorporate the owner’s surname into the business name, resulting in signage such as Harman’s Kentucky Fried Chicken. This practice was common during the brand’s early expansion under Colonel Harland Sanders, before later corporate standardization phased out most locally branded names. The postcard was published by Dexter Press for the Phoenix Specialty Advertising Company and photographed by Tom Reed. Based on Dexter’s internal coding system, the card dates to circa 1963, placing it squarely in the formative era of KFC’s national growth. Evidence suggests that at least two Harman’s Kentucky Fried Chicken locations operated in Phoenix, making this card an especially interesting record of early fast-food franchising in the Southwest. The reverse is a standard Dexter Press divided-back format, printed for souvenir and promotional use. Cards like this were often sold at the restaurant or nearby tourist outlets. This postcard is in very good vintage condition. The card features a clean image with strong color and contrast. There is light corner wear consistent with age. There are no creases or tears. The reverse remains clean and legible. Overall, this is a well-preserved example that displays well (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at The History Peddler for $22.00 at auction

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236566876440

This cabinet card features early theatre actress, Annie Dunscombe. She was certainly a beautiful young woman. Unfortunately, biographical information concerning Miss Dunscombe appears to be sparse, and further research is necessary. Dunscombe is mentioned in Michael Bennett Leavitt’s book, “Fifty Years of Theatrical Management” (1912). Leavitt writes of a theatrical season where many of the young actresses he worked with, were wed. Annie Dunscombe, then, a member of the chorus, married comedian, J. W. Bradbury.  This cabinet card portrait is by celebrated photographer, Marc Gambier (1838-1900). This image captures Miss Dunscombe in costume. Gambier was born and educated in Paris, France. At the age of 19, he came to America for a very short stint of time. He returned to France and became a student of the great painter, Le Creton. Subsequently, he became a student of another great painter, Camino. He then returned to America and for five years, studied and worked under esteemed photographer, Napoleon Sarony. He then launched his own photography business in New York City. He divided his time between his first love, painting, and his business of taking and selling photographs. Gambier was known as a great historical painter. He was a veteran of the French Army and while in the service, he sketched and painted several important battles. Research reveals that Gambier was listed in the 1880 US census. He was forty-one years old and living in New York City with his family. He is listed as living with his wife Emilie (age 28), daughters Louise (age 10) and Emilie (age 7), and son M. L. (age 2). Also in the residence was a young woman (age 25) who worked as a servant. Gambier was known for the many theatrical photographs he produced as well as for selling postage stamp sized portrait photographs, that people attached to their letters and postcards. This cabinet card has an extremely minor curl and is in veriy good condition (see scans). Annie Dunscombe portraits are uncommon.

This cabinet card is available for purchase at The History Peddler for $40.00 or Best Offer.   

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336245539368

This vintage real photo postcard captures two very adorable and beautifully dressed little girls. They have magnificent smiles and sparkling eyes. This postcard was produced by PC Parisas part of a series (No.1510). The P.C logo is an abbreviation for Papeteries d Levallois-Clichy. The firm published a variety of real photo postcard topics including portraits of pretty models, nudes, views, and holiday cards. The company was active in the 1920’s. SOLD