HANDSOME YOUNG MAN : HIS UNIFORM AND MEDAL ARE MYSTERIES TO ME

A handsome young man poses for his portrait at an unknown studio. He is in uniform, but what kind of uniform is he wearing? Is he in the military? I don’t think so. There are no patches indicating rank; nor are there any other insignias revealing a military identity. However, there is the matter of the medal that he is wearing on the flap of his shirt pocket. It certainly looks military to me. Then again, he is wearing a bow tie which argues against his uniform being military issued. The clothing that he is wearing seems appropriate for someone who is spending time in a jungle or heavily wooded environment. His soft hat and the accessory that he is wearing above his shoes may be worn in such a setting. The tied wraps around the bottom of his pant’s legs are something that I have seen worn by bicyclists of this era. Its purpose was to keep one’s pant’s legs from becoming entangled in the spokes of the bicycle wheels and causing a nasty spill. Does the gentleman in this photograph use a bicycle in his work? If so, where is the bike? I have lots of questions, and unfortunately, no answers. I need some help on this one. Hopefully a Cabinet Card Gallery visitor will be able to provide more information about this photo. Guesses are welcome too. The AZO stamp box on the reverse of this postcard indicates that the card was published sometime between 1904 and 1918. This vintage photograph has excellent clarity and is in good condition (see scans).

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3477

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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3477

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$36.50

Published in: on March 24, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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SNAPPILY DRESSED BOY ON A PORCH

A young boy stands on a porch as he poses for an unknown photographer. He is wearing long shorts and high socks. He also is wearing an interesting hat and a large bow on his collar. Note the detail and the quality of the bannister on the porch steps and the porch. They’re certainly not making bannisters the way they used to. The identity of the young boy, and the location where the cabinet card photograph was taken, is unknown. SOLD

Published in: on March 23, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

YOU CAN FORCE US TO SIT FOR THIS PHOTOGRAPH……….BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE US SMILE: THREE UNHAPPY SIBLINGS IN WEST BEND, WISCONSIN

Three siblings, wearing their fanciest clothing, pose for their cabinet card portrait at the studio of J. W. Goetz, in West Bend, Wisonsin. These children have had happier days than the day they sat for this photograph. The oldest child appears to be doing her best to be stoic, but the youngest children look absolutely miserable.Their scowls at the  photographer seem to say “let me out of here”. The online “Museum of Wisconsin Art” offers a biographical profile of John W. Goetz (1839-1912). He was born near Tiffin, Ohio and by 1860, he and his family moved to Buckwood, Wisconsin. In 1864 he married Mary Wagner of West Bend. He worked as a carpenter and in 1875 he partnered with Mr Bangs in a West Bend Photographic Studio. By 1887, he owned his own photography business located on Hickory Street in West Bend. He worked as a photographer in West Bend for over thirty years. After his wife died in 1901, he sold his business and moved to Marshfield, Wisconsin where he established a photography studio in nearby Marathon City. He died in 1912. This cabinet card portrait has excellent clarity and is in excellent condition (see scans).     (SOLD)

Published in: on March 21, 2021 at 12:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MAUD D’ORBY : BEAUTIFUL COMIC OPERA STAR : RISQUE MODEL AND FASHION MODEL FOR THE MOST PROMINENT FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHERS

This vintage postcard features Spanish model and operetta star, Maud d’Orby (1851-1929). She performed during the Belle Epoque era. d’Orby was born in Valladolid, Spain. She began her career as a comic opera singer toward the end of the nineteenth century. It is unknown whether she performed in Spain, she only appeared in the French press from that period of time. She worked in Paris (theaters included La Cigale, Scala, Olympia, Lyric) and Brussels (Folies Bergere, Theatre du Vaudeville). She received praise for her acting talent and for her singing ability. She was described as having a “melodious cheerful voice”. She often played the role of “La Commere”. This role involved being the character who narrated the opera’s story and connected the adjacent scenes. One writer stated that she was successful in this role because of her “playful and cheerful way” and her “eye-catching appearance”. d’Orby was also a successful fashion and postcard model. She was photographed many times by Leopold Reutlinger. These photos were published in the most popular fashion magazines. She looked phenomenal in her beautiful clothes, large feathered hats, and magnificent jewelry. At the exhibition of 1900 in Brussels, her photographs were exhibited and well admired. d’Orby was also a model for Jean Agelou, a prominent photographer who specialized in taking erotic photos. The photographer of this postcard’s photo is also an esteemed lensman of his era. The photograph was taken by Henri Manuel (1874-1947). In 1900, Manuel opened a portrait studio in Paris with his brother Gaston. He quickly became well known for his portraits of politicians, artists, and athletes. His images were used by news agencies . His studio became the largest studio in Paris and it attracted many young photographers who sharpened their skills there. In 1925 the brothers expended their business to include fashion photography. They worked for such designers as Chanel, Patou, and Lanvin. The studio shut down during World War II and many of their photographic plates were destroyed. Manuel was the official photographer for the French government from 1914 through 1944. The publisher of this postcard was CCCC (Charles Collas et Cie, Cognac). CCCC was established by Charles Collas (1866-1947) in Cognac, France. It began operating at the end of the 19th century as a bookstore and printing business. He began to produce postcards in 1894. The company also produced books and maps. By 1914, the publisher employed 500 people. CCCC postcards are cherished by serious collectors today. In 1914, the firm was taken over by Fleury & Cie. (SOLD)

Published in: on March 20, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CONEY ISLAND : IMMIGRANTS EXPLORE NEW YORK CITY

This vintage real photo postcard features a group of four women and two men being photographed at a Coney Island, New York photo gallery. A message on the reverse of the photograph is written in Italian. I may be going out on a limb, but it is my theory that we are looking at an immigrant family exploring New York City. They made a stop at the gallery to have their photo taken as a souvenir. Coney Island is a neighborhood and entertainment area in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn. The PMC stamp box on the reverse of this postcard indicates that it dates back to sometime between 1920 and 1935. By that time, Coney Island was well known for it’s amusement parks. In fact, between 1880 and World War II, Coney Island was the largest amusement area in the United States. Coney Island amusement parks attracted several million visitors per year. The city of New York built a boardwalk to be utilized by visitors. Where there are boardwalks and amusement parks; there are photo studios. By the time the subjects in this postcard photo visited Coney Island, the famous “Cyclone” roller coaster was already in operation. This antique postcard is in good condition (see scans). The card may have been slightly trimmed to fit a frame. SOLD

Published in: on March 19, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A PERFECT PIXIE

This vintage postcard features a portrait of a perfect pixie. This adorable young woman fits the definition of a pixie. She is fairy like, specifically, she appears to be a cheerful mischievous sprite. She also fits the physical definition of being a petite vivacious woman or girl. The pixie that we see in this portrait is posed to be a bit risque (leggy). This is a photogravure image published in circa 1900-1910. This undivided back postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3466

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Published in: on March 17, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF THE MOST ADORABLE BABY IN MUSCATINE, IOWA

This cabinet card portrait features the most adorable baby ever photographed in Muscatine, Iowa. Thanks to an inscription of the reverse of the photograph, we know the name of this photogenic child. The notation states “Please give this to Cora Freddie(?) Guthrie. Taken when 3 1/2 months old. She is now over a year”. The notation is signed “Evelyn”. The photograph was taken by the Clifford & Son studio in Muscatine, Iowa. The studio was operated by Charles Clifford and his son Frederick. Charles Clifford had a studio in Newton, Iowa in the 1880’s and 1890’s. The Photographic Journal of America (1893) announces that Charles and his son opened a studio in Muscatine. The Photographic Times (1895) makes mention that the father and son had mauufactured a “flash light machine”. The Photo Beacon (1897) notes that the Clifford & Son had won some awards at a photography exhibition.   (SOLD)

Published in: on March 16, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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GENTLEMAN WITH A NOTABLE BEARD IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA (RARE FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER)

Regular visitors to the Cabinet Card Gallery know that this writer has a bit of an obsession with photographs of interesting beards and mustaches. The fellow posing for this cabinet card earns a spot in the “Beards (Only the Best) category. You can view the beard collection by clicking on the aforementioned category. A. M. Gorman of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, produced this image of an interesting looking gentleman. Research yielded some surprising information about the photographer. A. M. Gorman is a female photographer whose full name was Annie M. Gorman. She was listed as a photographer in the 1881 Philadelphia city directory. She also appears in the 1880 US census which lists her occupation as photographer. At the time of the census she was 36 years old and single. Preliminary research yielded very little information about Miss Gorman. A story is waiting to be written about this pioneering female photographer. I wonder how many of her photographs still survive. This image is likely one of the few survivors. To view other women photographers, click on the category “Female Photographers”. This cabinet card portrait is in very good condition (see scans).

 

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Buy this Cabinet Card (includes shipping within the US) #3455

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Buy this Cabinet Card Photograph (includes International shipping outside the US) 3455

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Published in: on March 15, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY TEENAGE GIRL IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

This vintage real postcard features an attractive young woman. She appears to be in her teenage years. Her photograph was taken by Florencio Bixio and he operated a studio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bixio specialized in studio portraits, wedding portraits, and photos of entertainers. He also was a correspondent for the magazine “Caras and Caretas”, as well as a producer of photo postcards. Between 1900 and 1930 he opened photography studios in partnership with two other photographers. These studios were called “Bixio and Merlino” and Bixio and Castiglioni”. He was of Italian descent and emigrated to Argentina in 1896. He died in Buenos Aires in 1933. The message on this postcard indicates that it was written in 1922. SOLD

Published in: on March 14, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FOUR LOVELY YOUNG WOMEN POSE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN BERLIN, GERMANY

This cabinet card portrait features four lovely young women, probably sisters, posing for their portrait in Berlin, Germany, The photographer of this image is Carl Muller. Printing on the reverse of the photograph advertises that the photographer had won photography awards in Freiburg (1897) and Rouen (1899). The ad also indicates that English and French were spoken at the studio. The owner of this photo numbered (bottom border) each woman and identifies them on the back of the photograph. From left to right, the girls names are Ella, Emma, Bertha, and Helene. Emma is the oldest of the four, while Helene is the youngest. Their birth years are listed next to their names. SOLD

Published in: on March 13, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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