A pretty young topless woman sits in deep thought. She is holding a tambourine. Her facial tatoos, headdress and jewelry reflect her Moroccan culture. Some viewers of this postcard believe that the woman is a prostitute. It is likely that these observers are correct. Her nudity and the popularity in Europe of photo portraits of prostitutes in less developed countries, provides supporting evidence that she is indeed a sex worker. This is an ethnographic postcard. Buying or sending a risque photo postcards was more acceptable if the card provided a look at a people from different cultures. This postcard is part of a series (no. 92). The photo was taken by Marcelin Flandrin (1889-1957). Flandrin moved to Morocco in 1901 and volunteered for the military in 1912. He served as an Army photographer. Around this time, Morocco came under French rule. He corroborated with the French government and tourist boards. He was very involved with the French Protectorate government. Flandrin was criticized by some Moroccans for reinforcing “Orientalist” stereotypes . During the Rif War (Spain vs. Berber tribes), he published a number of reports. During World War I he served in the Air Force as an air observer, taking aerial photos of fighting. After the war he moved to Casablanca and went to work taking many photographs between 1921 and 1930. He published many photo books about Morocco. Flandrin was also an important postcard publisher in Morocco. The Cabinet Card Gallery blog includes another postcard by Flandrin. This photo postcard captures a group of prostitutes in Casablanca (Morocco). You can view this postcard by placing the name “Flandrin” in the search box. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features Danish actress, Lillian Ellis (1907-1951). She made fer film debut in 1928. Many of her roles were in German films. Her stardom in Germany peaked at the end of the 1920’s. The IMDb credits Ellis with 18 acting roles between 1928 and 1959. This vintage postcard was published by Ross Verlag and was part of a series (no. 5281/1). The photographer who took this photograph was Alex Binder, a celebrity photographer located in Berlin, Germany. This portrait postcard is in very good condition.
A lovely young couple pose with their baby and their dog in a family portrait photograph. It is not clear whether the photo was taken outdoors, or in a photo studio. Writing on the reverse of the postcard indicates that the message was written in 1913. The postcard was sent to someone in Paris, France. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features an exotic looking mother posing with her baby. The child is sitting on the highest high chair that I have ever seen. Using an elevated chair is very smart. The chair puts the child at the mother’s level and makes for a better posed photograph. I have not seen this photographic strategy employed before. The mother has very short hair and a serious expression. She is wearing a stylish collar pin and necklace. Note her fashionable boots. A stamp on the reverse of the postcard reveals that the photographer was “Pornet” and his/her studio was in Roanne, France. Roanne is a town in central France and is located 90 km northwest of Lyon. This vintage photo postcard is in very good condition (see scans). 
A “bevy” of beauties? I’ve never used that word before. What is a bevy? I looked up the word and learned that a “bevy” is a “large group of people of a particular kind”. The “particular kind” in this vintage photograph are pretty young woman in their bathing suits at the beach. The beach is located in Romania and is at the edge of the Black Sea. Some of the women are using parasols to protect themselves from the sun. The reverse of the photograph has a stamp indicating that the photo was taken in Contanta, a city on the shores of the Black Sea. It is located in southeastern Romania. I would love to know the story behind this image. Are these young ladies, friends on a beach trip, or are they models posed by a professional photographer? What’s your guess? This photograph measures about 2 1/4″ x 3 1/4″. SOLD
This vintage photograph features an adorable little girl holding a teddy bear. She is wearing a large bow in her hair. The child is looking at the photographer but clearly not feeling especially comfortable. The photo measures about 3 3/8″ x 5″ and is in excellent condition. 
A pretty young woman poses for her portrait at a photo studio in Springfield, Massachusetts. The photographer of this cabinet card photograph is H. E. Bosworth. The subject of this photograph appears to be in her teenage years or slightly older. She has beautiful eyes. Note her hair ornament. Langdon Road reports that in 1899, Bosworth’s studio was known as Bosworth & Murphy. Research reveals that Bosworth was very active in his state’s Photography Association. This cabinet card portrait is in excellent condition and has excellent clarity (see scans).
This carte de visite features a gentleman in some sort of uniform which includes a cap and sash. He appears very “official”. Is he a military veteran? Is he a train conductor or a law enforcement officer? The photographer of this image is F. Steffen. He operated a studio in Erlangen, Germany. The city is located in the Bavarian region of Germany. The Cabinet Card Gallery has another photograph by Steffen in it’s collection. You may view the image by placing the word “Steffen” in this site’s search box. (SOLD)
The identity of the gentleman pictured in this cabinet card portrait is Caleb Lysander. The previous owner of this image reported that it comes from an album that makes this positive identification. The subject has an interesting billy goat beard. To view other notable beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”. The cabinet card was produced by the Howe studio which was located in Brattleboro, Vermont. A Brattleboro history internet site includes a biography and obituary of Mr. Caleb Lysander Howe. The article states that upon his death, his daughter, Mrs Mary Howe-Lavin was informed via cable to Paris where she was performing as a singer. Howe was born in Dummerston, Vermont, in 1811. At age two, he moved with his parents to Dover, Vermont. His father worked as a farmer and had a second business providing transportation between Dover and Boston. Howe worked on the family farm until he was about sixteen when he went to learn a trade as a machinist. At age eighteen he moved to Brattleboro to work in a machine shop. While in the role of machinist, he worked as a watchmaker and producer of jewelry. He married Miss Cynthia Sherman who was from Dover. In 1838 he leased a farm in Dover. He became interested in photography in about 1846 and soon purchased a photography studio where he started out producing daguerreotypes. He then purchased a four wheel car for three hundred dollars and added traveling photographer to his job description. He did most of his work within his county. It is reported that he made a profit of between one hundred and two hundred dollars a month. He came to Brattleboro in 1856 and purchased a photography gallery. He became quite successful as a photographer. In 1880 his son, John C. Howe became associated with the business and the studio became known as C. L. Howe & Son. The senior Mr. Howe was highly regarded throughout the county as a teacher of vocal music and as a tenor singer. He died in 1895. There is a possibility that this is a self portrait. In other words, Caleb Lysander Howe may be the subject and the photographer. Research found an engraved portrait of Howe that looks similar to this cabinet card image. As a side note, research found a number of references to C. L. Howes prima donna daughter. The book “Picturesque Brattleboro: With Over Two Hundred Illustrations (1894) describes Mary Howe-Lavin as a “beautiful songstress” and states that “there is something indescribably fascinating in the singing and personal appearance of this charming woman”. References reveal that she performed in a number of major cities in Germany. Her second wedding was announced in the New York Times (1905). (SOLD)
This tintype photograph features two cigar aficionados enjoying a smoke. Both men are well dressed. The seated many is “chomping down” on his cigar. Note his pocket watch chain. Tintypes were most popular in the 1860’s and 1870’s. This image measures about 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 