MADAM NAOMI: SIDE SHOW FAT LADY (562 POUNDS) OFFERS ESPECIALLY LARGE DOWRY TO PROCURE A HUSBAND

This cabinet card features Madam Naomi, who appears to have been a side show “fat lady”. The term “fat lady” is a despicable and derogatory way of describing someone overweight; yet the term found common use at circuses and fairs of the era of this photograph. Pencilled on the reverse of this image  is the information that Madame Naomi was born in Michigan and at the time of the photograph, she was 30 years old. A further “fact” provided is that her arms had a circumference of 27 inches.  Madam Naomi is not looking too comfortable in this portrait. She is wearing an interesting hat and one would guess that it would take her a long time to button all those buttons on the front of her dress. The newspaper The Weekly Statement (1890) has an article about a Madam Naomi appearance in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The article states that Naomi was advertised to appear in a museum and to “bestow her hand, heart, oleaginous sweetness, and a deed to a $5,000 farm to any young man who would marry her”. The offer was accepted by an insurance man from New York, Thomas J. Crowley; who came to Fort Bend and joined her on the museum stage to accept her hand in marriage. The photographer of this image is Baker, whose studio was located in Columbus, Ohio. There were many photographers named Baker operating out of Columbus when this photograph was taken. Many of the Bakers were relatives who operated the Baker Art Gallery. It is not clear which Baker or which studio is the source of this image. However, the initials below the photograph appear to be “LMB” which would indicate that the photographer was Lorenzo Marvin Baker (1834-1924).L. M. Baker was  part of the Baker Art Gallery family. To view other photographs by the Baker Art Gallery, click on the category “Photographer: Baker Art Gallery”.   (SOLD)

FLORENCE METTA YOUNG PONDERS IN MOUNT VERNON, OHIO

Florence Mette Young poses for her portrait at the studio of Fred S. Crowell, in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Florence is well dressed and apparently likes jewelry. She is wearing two rings, two bracelets and a necklace. Florence appears to be deep in thought. What might she be pondering about? The 1880 U.S. census reveals that she was born in 1862 and at the time of the census, she was living with her parents, Charles and Angelina Young. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a homemaker. The photographer of this cabinet card, Fred S. Crowell, can also be found in the 1880 census.He was born in 1844 and lived with his wife Ella, and their three children. Other research reveals that there was a Fred Crowell from the Mount Vernon area who enlisted in the 142nd Regiment of the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War.. He served only during 1864. Crowell trained as a photographer under Anna Payne, and worked in the profession in Norwalk, Sandusky, and Cleveland, Ohio. He then opened his own studio in Fredericktown in 1866. In 1869, he moved to Mount Vernon where he established another  photography studio that was in business until at least 1889. To view other photographs by Crowell, click on the category “Photographer: Crowell”. This cabinet card portrait is in good condition (see scans).

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ATTRACTIVE WOMAN IN DANVILLE, ILLINOIS

A pretty young woman poses next to an indoor plant in the studio of Washington Boyce, in Danville, Illinois. The woman is wearing her hair up, and has a ring, collar pin, and earrings. Washington Boyce is mentioned in an Illinois law journal (1894) concerning a breach of contract case  involving a violation of a non compete clause in the sale of a photographic studio. He is also referenced in a photographic journal (1886) for holding a patent on an innovative photographic paper box.  Boyce’s studio was located at 18 North Vermillion Street, in Danville.   SOLD

Published in: on June 3, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN : UNCLE JACK’S SISTER : VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH (1922)

This vintage photograph features a pretty woman wearing a simple dress. She is identified in the inscription on the photo’s reverse. She is Uncle Jack’s sister. This photograph was “found” in Hawley, Pennsylvania. A date stamped on the reverse, reveals that the photograph was taken in 1922. The image is mounted on a thick cardboard paper stock. The mounting is thicker than a typical cabinet card. The photograph measures 3 x 5 inches. This one hundred year-old photograph is in good condition (see scans). SOLD

Published in: on May 25, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY WOMAN : WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS : VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH

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A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the Park Studio in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is fashionable in her dark dress and she is well accessorized. Note her pretty eyes. I estimate her to be in her teenage years or possibly in her early twenties.  SOLD

Published in: on May 18, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A BEAUTY FROM BUTTE, MONTANA : VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH

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This image features a pretty woman photographed in Butte, Montana, at the studio of a photographer named Dusseau. The woman is wearing a lace collar and has a ribbon tie. She is also wearing a lovely piece of jewelry over the tie. Research found some information about photographer A. J. Dusseau. His first name was listed as “Angelo” in some sources and  as “Alrick” in other sources. Perhaps one of these names is incorrect, or possibly Mr. Dusseau used both names during his lifetime. Dusseau was born in Burlington, Vermont in 1842. He worked as a carpenter for a railroad in Wisconsin and in 1865 he was employed as an assistant engineer on a steamer in Missouri. He then moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 1869 he moved to Helena, Montana, where he worked as a musician for five years. In 1874 he relocated to Deer Lodge, Montana, and opened a photographic gallery which he moved to Butte in 1877. While living in Butte, he led the Silver Coronet Band and Orchestra for three years.In 1881 he married Amanda Henault of Missouri.  He operated a studio in Montana through the 1880’s and 1890’s. His Butte studio was located above the post office on the corner of Main and Granite Streets. After Butte, he ran studios in Helena, Havre, and Fort Assinaboine.  At times he worked with partners. One of these partners was named Thompson and they began working together in 1902. It is interesting to note that Montana did not become a state until 1889. Dusseau was truly a pioneer photographer in the “Big Sky State”. Judging by Dusseau’s varied job history, he must have had a thirst for adventure.  SOLD

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PRETTY RED HEADED TEENAGER : ARTIST IS GIOVANNI CALDANA : PORTRAIT POSTCARD

This vintage postcard features a portrait of a lovely young red headed woman. Her red hair appears nearly orange. She is holding a bouquet of daisies to her chest. She has a sweet smile. This vintage postcard was published by Arca Ltd (Paris). The artist who created the painting of this pretty teenage girl is Italian artist, Giovanni Caldana (1869-1949). SOLD

Published in: on May 2, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN : RENSLER’S STUDIO : CINCINNATI, OHIO: MABELE FISHWICK : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a studio portrait of a pretty young woman  wearing an adorable hat. The woman’s name is embossed above her image on the card. Her name was “Mabele Fishwick”. The 1900 US census reveals that Mabele was 15 years-old, born in 1884, and lived with her parents and 13 year-old brother in Cincinnati. In 1908 she married Clarence H. Hinsdale. The couple’s marriage ended in divorce. She married again in 1922 to Hewett Griggs Robertson. During World War I, Mabele worked with the Red Cross and then went to Washington DC to work for the government (Civilian Personel Army Ordnance”. During that time, Mabele was on a flight from Washington DC to Dayton, Ohio. Due to gale force winds, the plane, carrying nine passengers, had to make an emergency landing in a farmer’s field. In an interview with a reporter, Mabele said that pilots needed to be more careful where they choose to land. She explained that the Pennsylvania farmer who owned the field, charged the pilot $250.00 for “parking priviliges” and charged each occupant of the plane 50 cents for walking across his property. Mabele’s portrait was taken by Rensler’s studio, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The advertising on the reverse of the postcard indicates that the studio had more than one location in Cincinnati as well as a location in Cleveland, Ohio. According to one historical Cincinnati blog, Rensler’s was one of the few photo studios in Cincinnati that accepted African American clients. The studio operated for 83 years and shut down in 1989. I have seen a number of photographs by this studio and many are excellent. The AZO stamp box on this card indicates that the postcard dates back to between 1918 and 1930.  (SOLD)

PRETTY WOMAN AND HER UNUSUAL HAT (POST CABINET CARD ERA PHOTOGRAPH)

This post cabinet card era photograph features a portrait of a beautiful well dressed woman. She is wearing a large and unusual hat. In my opinion, calling the hat unusual is an act of kindness. There are certainly more befitting descriptions. The identity and location of the photographer responsible for this very fine photograph is unknown. There is an inscription on the reverse of the image reveals that this lovely lady’s name is “E. Snider Smith”. This photograph measures about 5 3/4″ x 4″ and is in excellent condition.

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Published in: on April 21, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF AN ATTRACTIVE Y0UNG WOMAN IN A DARK DRESS

This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of an attractive young woman wearing a dark dress with a high collar. She is wearing her hair loose and she is quite striking. This photograph was taken at an unidentified studio, at an unidentified location, and by an unidentified photographer.  SOLD

Published in: on April 9, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)