PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL, AND FASHIONABLE WOMAN IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

This cabinet card portrait features an attractive well dressed young woman. One could certainly refer to her as a fashionista. She is identified on the reverse of the photograph. Her name is E. S. Garfield and she was living in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. This portrait of Miss Garfield was taken by the McCormick & Heald studio in Boston. Research may have revealed some information about E. S. Garfield. The 1865 Massachusetts census reveals that there was an Emma Susie Garfield living in Fitchburg. She was only 4 years old at that time, as she was born in 1861. If this cabinet card photograph was taken in the 1880’s, her date of birth matches the age at which she appears in this photo. At the time of the 1865 census, Emma lived with her father (James. F. Dana), her mother (Emily), a younger sister (Mary), and 76 year-old Susan Newton (mom’s mom). Emma’s dad worked as a coal dealer. In 1882 Emma married William A. Blodgett in Fitchburg. At the time of the marriage, Emma was a housewife and William was a merchant. The cabinet card gallery has a number of images by McCormich & Heald as well as images by McCormick when he worked independently. You may see those photographs by putting the photographer’s or photographers name in the search box. John L. McCormick and his partner Sumner B. Heald (1835-1900) operated the Boston studio that produced this excellent portrait.  At one point in his career,  Heald supervised the portrait studio operated by famed Boston photographer, George K. Warren (1824-1884). Heald oversaw the celebrity and theatrical portraits produced by the Warren Studio.   (SOLD)

Published in: on August 18, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

S. W. COHEN’S BIG CANAL STORE: (SELLING PROVISIONS ALONG THE ERIE CANAL)

This vintage real photo postcard features a view of Cohen’s Big Canal Store. The store was located on the edge of the Erie Canal. The location provided an efficient way to move goods from the store to the buyers location. The store was a large general store. Note the advertising signs outside the store. Signage indicates that among its products, the store sold ground feed, cut hay, Harter’s iron tonic (beautifies the complexion), and Dr Harter’s little Liver Pills, and Cohen washing machines (“sold on it’s merits”). S. W. Cohen & Brothers was located in Sprakers, New York. Sprakers is a hamlet in the town of Root, New York. It is in the eastern central part of the state. General stores like Cohen’s were quite common along the Erie Canal. These stores had a “captured” customer base; where else could the boats go. Many of the business’s customers came on barges and packet boats. Some of their customers would charge their purchases on the first leg of their trip, would sell their load when they reached their destination, and would pay for the charged goods on their return trip from proceeds of their sales. Some of the stores would be open for business in the middle of the night if there was traffic (potential customers) on the canal.  The stores sold a wide range of products for people, mules, and boats. This photo postcard has a Belgian stamp and is postmarked in Liege, in 1909. Liege is a city along the Meuse River in Belgium’s Wallonia region. It would be interesting to know how this postcard found it’s way to Belgium. The postcard was published by Silas W. Cohen & Brothers and is part of a series (no. A 4484). The postcard was printed by a German company (Excelsior).   (SOLD)

Published in: on August 15, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MADIA BORELLI: BEAUTIFUL FRENCH DANCER (PORTRAIT BY REUTLINGER)

“Madia! I’ve just met a girl named Madia. And suddenly that name. Will never be the same.” With apologies to Leonard Bernstein, I just couldn’t resist. This vintage real photo postcard features dancer Madia Borelli. She was a Parisian dancer active in the early twentieth century. The photographer of this portrait of Miss Borelli was the famed photographer Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, France. The postcard was published by S.I.P., which is the Societe Industrielle de Photograpie of Rueil, France. The postcard is part of a series (no. 1239).   (SOLD)

Published in: on August 14, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF AN OLD MAN WEARING A “NECK BEARD”

This carte de visite features an old man wearing a “neck beard”. This style of beard was popular in the 19th century. This gentleman is in good company. Other neck bearders include Richard Wagner (composer), Henry David Thoreau (Essayist, Poet, Philosopher), and Horace Greeley (Author, Statesman, Newspaper Editor). It is interesting to note that in today’s culture, “neck beard” is a perjorative term for social awkwardness or pretentiousness. The subject of this cdv photo is well dressed. He gives the appearance of a kind good humored man. The photographer of this image is the Rodgers studio, which was located in Hartford, Connecticut. The Connecticut Historical Society’s online site provides some information about Hart J. Rodgers (1831-1905). During the 1850’s he worked as a daguerreotypist in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1855, he married Grace A. Rodgers. By 1871, he was operating a photo studio in Hartford. Interestingly, in the 1880’s he was the owner of a skating rink. This cdv image is in very good condition.

Buy this original Carte de Visite (includes shipping within the US) #2495

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$25.50

 

 

Buy this original Carte de Visite (includes International shipping outside the US) #2495

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Published in: on August 13, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF TWO PRETTY GEISHAS STANDING IN A GARDEN

This vintage real photo postcard features two pretty geisha women standing in a garden. The women’s portrait provides an excellent view of their traditional clothing. The postcard is color tinted and made in Japan. The postcard is in very good condition.

Buy this original Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #2494

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$27.50

Buy this original Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #2494

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$35.50

Published in: on August 12, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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EIGHT GOOD OLD BOYS IN POLO, ILLINOIS

Eight good old boys pose for their portrait at the studio of Samuel S. Johnston in Polo, Illinois. These fellows are dressed like they are workers. Their work clothing includes a various assortment of hats and many of the guys are wearing suspenders. It is apparent that these men are not desk workers. They clearly have jobs requiring physical effort. Samuel Johnston was born in Ohio in 1826. His name appears in the 1870 census and he is listed as a photographer living in Polo. His name and photography business also appear in a number of business directories from the 1870’s. Sam was married to Sarah J. Johnston. The town of Polo was named after Marco Polo. The town was incorporated in 1876. ADDENDUM:  The buyer of this cabinet card was the great-grandson of one of the men in this photo. He reports that his great grand dad was a buggy maker and the other men in the photograph were his co-workers.   (SOLD)

Published in: on August 11, 2018 at 10:02 am  Comments (2)  
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PORTRAIT OF A FAMILY TREE (AKA INITIAL TREE)

This vintage real photo postcard features a family visiting the “Initial Tree”. This family is not content to have a passive sight-seeing visit to the tree. Instead, this experiential family preferred to climb the tree and have their portrait taken. Three members of the family stand at the base of the tree while four others are perched on limbs or branches looking very much like human ornaments. The message on the postcard and the date on the postmark both disclose that the card was written and mailed in 1910. The postcard is from Aunt Dora to her niece, Tilly, in Portland, Oregon. The postmark discloses that the card was mailed from Nahcotta, Washington. The town is located on Willapa Bay, on the eastern coast of the Long Beach Peninsula. Nahcotta was settled in 1890 and named after an Indian chief. This real photo portrait postcard is in very good condition (see scans).  SOLD

Published in: on August 10, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THE MOST LOVING AND PROTECTIVE SISTER IN MOUNT PLEASANT, PENNSYLVANIA

This is a particularly nice cabinet card photograph for a couple of reasons. First, the photographer has captured the loving and protective emotions of the older sister toward her baby sister. Second, the photographer did an excellent job of photographing the children (dressed in white) against a dark background. The intimacy that the older child feels for the younger, is obvious in this image. Big sister has one arm wrapped around her sibling’s shoulder. She is also holding the baby’s hand. The photographer of this cabinet card portrait is Oliver C. Kough. He operated a studio in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. Oliver was born in Pennsylvania in 1873. He attended public school until he was twelve years old, whereupon he joined his father working in the mines. He received a number of promotions during the several years he worked the mines. In 1893, he decided that he wanted a different job and he went to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and received training and worked in a photo studio. At some point in his time at Uniontown, he partnered with a photographer with the last name of Leeper. Kaugh then opened his gallery in Mount Pleasant and operated the business until 1901. His next job move was to return to Uniontown where he took over the studio of McClellan Leonard. Kough was a member of the National, State, and County photographer associations. He was married to Ella Kaugh (1897). The Bulletin of Photography (1912) reveals that Kough had a tragic accident “when attempting to make a flashlight” of a fraternal group at their lodge. As he was about to set off the powder, there was a blinding flash in his face which resulted in him losing his sight in both eyes. How could such a devastating accident happen? Apparently, Kough was using flash powder, a mixture of magnesium powder and potassium chlorate. This technique was introduced by German inventors in 1887. A measured amount of powder would be placed in a pan and ignited by hand, resulting in a brief brilliant flash of light. This explosive event produced both smoke and noise. This method of producing a flash could be life threatening, especially if the powder was damp. This photo is in very good condition (see scans).   (SOLD)

Published in: on August 9, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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GORGEOUS WEDDING PORTRAIT OF A GERMAN COUPLE

This vintage real photo postcard features a very handsome looking German wedding couple. The bride and groom look very serious on their special day. They are both very well dressed. The bride is wearing a beautiful veil and note the lovely bouquet of flowers that she is holding. A faint embossed stamp gives a clue concerning the photographer. The word “Birkenfeld” is visible. “Birkenfeld” is the name of the location of the photographer’s studio. The photographer’s name is Stadelmanz. The message on the reverse of the postcard appears to be written to Fritz, the signer’s friend. Hopefully a cabinet card gallery visitor (the vast unpaid research department) can leave a comment with a translation of the message.This vintage postcard portrait is most likely from the 1920’s or 1930’s and is in excellent condition.

Buy this original Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #2487

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$40.00

 

Buy this original Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #2487

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$48.00

 

Published in: on August 7, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A FRENCH BOY AND HIS BICYCLE

This vintage real photo postcard features a well dressed young boy posing with his bicycle. The boy is wearing a black armband. Black armbands were first utilized as a sign of mourning in 1770’s England. This postcard is of French origin and was published circa 1910. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).  (SOLD)

Published in: on August 6, 2018 at 3:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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