TENNIS ANYONE? PORTRAIT OF A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

This vintage real photo postcard features a mother and daughter. The mom is wearing a bold striped shirt. The little girl is holding a tennis racket and has a wonderful smile. This postcard was published by Thomas Illingworth & Co. (T.I.C.). The company was a paper manufacturer founded about 1904. They produced the “Horse Shoe Brand” photographic paper in London England. In 1919 they were bought by British Photographic Supplies company, Ilford. An internet source states that the company produced postcards with horseshoe stamp boxes between 1919 and 1930. Symbols were used to identify the date the postcard paper was produced. Note the triangle on the reverse of the card which can be found between the words “Post” and “Card”. The triangle indicates that this postcard stock was produced in 1928.

Published in: on April 10, 2018 at 9:50 pm  Comments (2)  
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GORGEOUS WEDDING PORTRAIT OF JEWISH COUPLE IN BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (JUDAICA)

Finding vintage real photo postcards that feature wedding couples is not all that challenging. However, this particular photo postcard is exceptionally special. First of all, the wedding portrait is gorgeous. The bride looks absolutely beautiful in her wedding gown and veil. The bride holds a giant bouquet of flowers. She shows great poise. The handsome groom is dressed to the nines in his tuxedo and top hat. The second factor that distinguishes this photograph is that there is some known history attached to it. The postcard is from an album belonging to a Jewish family in Romania. The front of the postcard is embossed with the name and location of the studio that took this photo. The studio was located in Bucharest, Romania. The name of the photographer is difficult to decipher. I believe that this postcard is from the 1920’s.    SOLD

Published in: on April 9, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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THREE PRETTY CANADIAN WOMEN WEARING KIMONOS IN CHATHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA

This vintage photograph features three women wearing pretty kimonos and flowers in their hair. Judging by their smiles, they seem to be having a good time as they pose for their portrait at the Butler Studio in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. There was a time when wearing this Japanese style clothing was quite popular in parts of the United States and Canada. This is apparent because it is not uncommon to find cabinet card era photographs with Western subjects wearing kimonos. In fact, you can view other photographs of Western women dressed in kimonos in the Cabinet Card Gallery’s collection. Place the word “kimono” in this blog’s search box to see other photos exemplifying this impact of Japanese fashion on American/Canadian fashion around the early twentieth century. The photographer of this image is J. S. Butler who operated as a photographer in Chatham from 1874 until 1902. A number of his photographs can be found in the collection of the Chatham-Kent Municipal Museum. A photo of Mr. Butler can be seen below.

J. S. BUTLER

 

Published in: on April 8, 2018 at 3:03 pm  Comments (2)  
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ELDERLY WOMAN WEARING MOURNING DRESS IN EDMONTON, CANADA

This carte de visite portrait features an aged woman wearing mourning clothes. Her black dress, black hat, and sad expression, all suggest that she has suffered a recent loss. Her left hand is placed on a book atop a small table. The book is likely a bible. The photographer of this cdv photograph is J. R. Bentley. He operated a studio in Edmonton, Canada. Research found an ad in “The Photographic News” (1893) in which Bentley advertises the sale of his studio. It is very interesting to note that the advertising on the reverse of this CDV refers to Bentley as a “Portrait, Landscape, & Equestrian Photographer”. I do not remember ever seeing a early photographer refer to himself as a “Equestrian” photographer. I wonder if Mr. Bentley took photos of individual horses, or if he photographed individuals sitting on horses. I hope someday I locate one of Bentley’s equestrian photographs.

Published in: on April 6, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN READING BY THE LIGHT OF A FIREPLACE

This vintage real photo postcard features an attractive young woman sitting in a chair by a fireplace. She is reading a magazine by the light of the fire. The young lady is adorned with a lot of jewelry (two bracelets, a necklace, and a ring). She is wearing a pretty dress and a pretty smile.  The postcard was published by Rotophot Berlin (RPH). It is part of a series (no.3677/2). Rotophot made it’s debut in Berlin, Germany around the turn of the century (1900). The company had other European offices including London and Budapest. They published many different postcard topics including stage stars. Many of their early postcards were tinted. Eventually Rotophot morphed into “Ross Verlag”, a postcard company that collectors know for the many postcards they produced featuring actors and actresses. This postcard has a French stamp.  SOLD

Published in: on April 4, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (7)  
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PORTRAIT OF SWEET LITTLE OTTO AND HIS HOOP TOY (1913)

This sweet little boy is adorably dressed. He poses for his studio portrait in front of a very nice backdrop painting of the sea. The child is holding on to a hoop toy. He takes extra precaution that the toy won’t roll away by standing on the bottom of the hoop. A note below the image identifies the boy as Otto and the year the photograph was taken (1913). I am not a linguist so I can only guess what language the embossed studio information is written in. My hypothesis is that this photograph was taken in Russia, or possibly Greece. If I am correct, one wonders what a boy with a German name (Otto) is doing in Russia or Greece. Hopefully, a visitor to the Cabinet Card Gallery will be able to identify the language and leave a comment which will solve the mystery.

Published in: on April 3, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  

PORTRAIT OF STUNNING FRENCH MUSIC HALL STAR MADEMOISELLE DAVRIGNY

This vintage real photo postcard features French cabaret actress Mademoiselle Davrigny. She is truly a stage beauty. Her smile is delightful. Preliminary research yielded no biographical information. This postcard was published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France and was part of a series (no. 1676). The photographer was Edouard Stebbing who was active in Paris between 1890 and 1910. Stebbing taught at a University in Paris and invented the stebbing camera, and was known for his work with emulsions. It is reported that he was friends with the artist Monet. He died in 1914 and his wife (Celestine) died five years earlier. Stebbing was a prolific photographer during the Belle Epoque Paris. He appears to have been an expatriate from England. He published many articles in British Photographic journals. Stebbing photographed many theatrical stars. A frequent publisher of these postcards was Monsieur G.Piprot, of “Etoille” or “Star” publishing in Paris. The “Photographic Times and American Photographer” (1883) cited Stebbing as “one of the bright lights of the French Photographic Society.   (SOLD)

Published in: on April 2, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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BRITISH CHAP RIDING HIS DOUGLAS MOTORCYCLE (1920’S)

An Arlo Guthrie song has the following lyrics. “I don’t want a pickle. Just want to ride on my motorcycle. And I don’t want a tickle. Cause I’d rather ride on my motorcycle.” Motorcyclists often have a passionate relationship with their bikes and riding, Perhaps the chap in this vintage snapshot shares that same enthusiasm. This photo features a middle aged or older motor cyclist. His bike has a British (Bristol) license plate and was manufactured by the Douglas company. Douglas was a British motorcycle manufacturer that operated from 1907 through 1957. The company was based in the city of Bristol.  Interestingly, the company also built cars in its early days (1913-1922). This photograph measures about 3 3/8″ x 2 3/8″.  I believe that this photograph is from the 1920’s.  (SOLD)

Published in: on April 1, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (7)  
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PORTRAIT OF TWO MEN AT THEIR HAM RADIO STATION

This vintage snapshot features two enthusiastic men manning their ham radio station. The large desk that these men are sharing hosts numerous electronic devices. The electrical wires that power this station seems to be jerry rigged. It appears to be an electricity nightmare and I doubt this amateur set-up would pass an official fire or electronic inspection. Note the telephone, table radio and typewriter captured in this photograph. These two ham radio operators seem to be having a good time pursuing their hobby. It is possible that the men are actually at work and performing their duties utilizing the radio. The poor, and possibly dangerous wiring, leads me to believe that the men are amateurs and that this ham radio station is a home set-up.   SOLD

Published in: on March 31, 2018 at 2:38 pm  Comments (2)  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY SEMI NUDE WOMAN ADMIRING SELF IN THE MIRROR

This vintage real photo postcard features a beautiful semi-nude woman sitting on a stool and admiring herself in a mirror. This risque postcard is tastefully done. The postcard was published by a French firm known as “P.C.” from Paris. The P. C. logo is an abbreviation for Papeteries de Levallois-Clichy. The firm published a variety of real photo postcard topics including portraits of women, nudes, views, and holiday cards. The company was active in the 1920’s.   (SOLD)

Published in: on March 30, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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