PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY LITTLE GIRL IN OAKLAND, MARYLAND

A pretty little girl stands on a wicker chair while posing for her portrait at the Pritchard studio in Oakland, Maryland. The child is displaying a serious expression. Her curly hair on each side of her head is held in place by ribbons. She has a sash running across her midriff. I believe that it may signify that she is in mourning although that is just a hypothesis. An inscription on the reverse of the cabinet card identifies the girl as “Cousin Alice Salter”. Her name is too common to find biographical information about her. The photographer of this cabinet card image is Galusha H. Pritchard. The 1880 US census identifies him as being born in 1850 and as a working photographer. In 1889 he married Ella Pettit. The 1910 US census revealed that Pritchard was still working as a photographer. The Bulletin of Photography (1912) has an announcement stating that Pritchard’s photograph studio was taken over by James Bell.  SOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published in: on March 6, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (5)  
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STUDIO PORTRAIT OF A LOVELY COUPLE IN TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA

This cabinet card portrait features a portrait of a lovely couple by the Biel studio in Terre Haute, Indiana. The woman in this image is sitting while the gentleman is standing behind her. Cabinet photographs of couples may have only the woman sitting, or only the man sitting. I wonder how it was decided who gets to sit in the chair in the typical couple’s photograph. It is my guess that the ultimate decision is made by the photographer and it is based on creating the pose that photographs best. I imagine that the height of the man and woman being photographed is an important factor in such decisions. The photographer who took this photograph is Henry T. Biel (1855-1929). Biel’s parents were Prussian immigrants. He was married to Francinea E.Fundy in 1879. Biel was listed as a photographer in both the 1880 and 1910 US census. Biel began his photography career at the ripe old age of fifteen. At that age, he became under the tutelage of G. H. Wright, a photographer in Terre Haute. He struck out on his own  in 1886 after purchasing the John Adams studio. In time, he became a fixture in the city of Terre Haute as a photographer. In researching Mr. Biel’s background, I began to wonder what the words “Terre Haute” mean. I found the answer to be that Terre Haute was derived from the French term for “Highland”. The name likely was created by early 18th century French explorers who were noting the area’s unusual location above the Wabash River.

Published in: on March 2, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THE DOG SOLDIERS: SEVEN SOLDIERS AND THEIR MASCOT JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of seven young soldiers and their mascot Jack Russell Terrier. I do not know what army these men served in. Perhaps a visitor to the Cabinet Card Gallery will educate us via a comment. The stamp box on the reverse of this postcard indicates that the postcard was printed on “P M C” card stock. Therefore, this photo postcard was produced sometime between 1920 and 1935. The men served in the military between World War I and World War II.

Published in: on March 1, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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TWO YOUNG HISPANIC SIBLINGS IN NATIVE CLOTHING

This vintage real photo postcard features two young siblings wearing local garb pose for their portrait at an unidentified photography studio. These children are very adorable. The older child is taking a protective position next to her younger sibling. Judging by the card on the younger child’s hat, the kids are dressed for a religious ceremony. This photograph is probably from the 1940’s. The reverse of the photograph indicates that the image was once a resident of a photo album.

 

 

 

 

 

Published in: on February 26, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  

ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL WEARING A BIRD BROOCH IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

This cabinet card introduces us to an adorable little girl. She is well dressed and wearing lots of jewelry. Her jewelry includes a brooch shaped like a bird that is carrying a letter in it’s beak (see photo below). She is also wearing earrings, bracelets, and a pendant on a chain. The studio photo was taken by the MacIntire studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. James A. MacIntire is listed in the 1903 and 1904 business directory as a photographer.

Published in: on February 25, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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BEAUTIFUL FRENCH PERFORMER: BLEUETTE D’ARTOIS

This vintage real photo postcard features pretty French performer Bleuette D’Artois. She is beautifully dressed. In fact, she appeared in a postcard series called “Queens of Fashion”. The postcard was published by E.L.D. (E. Le Delay), a company located in Paris, France. The postcard is part of a series (no. 4264). The postmark is dated 1918 and the postcard was postmarked in Merbes-le-Château, Belgium. The postcard has a Belgian stamp.

 

Published in: on February 24, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FOREVER PLAID: CABINET CARD PORTRAIT OF A NEW ENGLAND GENTLEMAN

This cabinet card features a handsome middle aged man wearing a plaid vest and jacket. He has a longish but styled beard and he has piercing eyes. This gentleman was photographed by the Dunklee & Bau studio. The photographers operated studios in Northampton and Greenfield (Massachusetts as well as in Brattleboro, Vermont. Note the reverse of this cabinet card; it is quite ornate. The reverse of the photograph advertises that the photographers had won an award at a  1890 exhibition. Therefore we know that this photograph was taken during 1890 or later. Charles Dunklee was born in Rockingham, Vermont in 1842. He served four years in Company I of the 4th Vermont Infantry during the civil war. He entered the war as a private and mustered out as a private. He was the Vice President of his regiments veteran group according to an 1887 news article. In 1865 he married May C. Billings and they were married 54 years until her death. Dunklee’s 90th birthday was marked in the Lewiston Daily Sun (1932). This cabinet card was produced by Dunklee while in partnership with Charles Bau. The Bulletin of Photography (1914) notes that Bau sold his studio in Brattleboro, Vermont in order to return to Greenfield to open a new photographic gallery. To see other images by Dunklee and Bau, click on the category “Photographer: Dunklee”.   SOLD

Published in: on February 23, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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SIX OF THE DANDIEST DANDIES YOU EVER DID SEE

This looks like a group photo at a “dandy convention”. The convention must be fun because these six gentlemen seem very jolly. The men are dressed identically except for their hats. Four of the men are wearing straw boaters. Note that the fellows are all wearing high collars, cummerbunds, and white shoes. My “dandy convention” theory is just an attempt at humor. More likely, these happy guys comprise a performing group. All but one of the men are young and handsome. The older gent (seated) is smoking a cigarette. If you are unfamiliar with the term “dandy”, here is a definition of the term. A dandy is a man that is inordinately devoted to style and fashion in their appearance and dress.

Published in: on February 22, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A BEARDED OLD MAN IN NORWICH, CONNECTICUT

This cabinet card portrait features a well dressed older man with a long mustache and wiry beard. He has the expression of a person who has seen and experienced a lot in his many years. He looks a bit drawn and tired. The gentleman was photographed by Laighton Brothers studio in Norwich, Connecticut. The Laighton Brothers are cited in the book, “Leading Business Men of Norwich and Vicinity” (1890). At the time of the directory’s publication, William S. Laighton had become sole proprietor of the studio upon the death of his brother John. William was a native of Farmington, New Hampshire. William’s obituary appears in the Bulletin of Photography (1915). The brief article reports that he had died as a result of a fall in his studio. At the time of his death he was 76 years old. The article also mentions that he had been living in Norwich since 1874.

Published in: on February 21, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A PORTRAIT OF A FATHER AND HIS DAUGHTER

This vintage postcard features a portrait of a father and his teenage daughter. Both are wearing wide brimmed hats. The daughter’s hat is a straw hat. She is holding gloves. It has occurred to me that this photograph may actually be showing a husband and his very young wife. The nature of their actual relationship will remain a mystery. The “AZO” stamp box reveals that this postcard portrait was taken sometime between 1904 and 1918.

Published in: on February 20, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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