PORTRAIT OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY FRATERNITY MEMBERS IN FRONT OF THEIR FRAT HOUSE (1906)

This vintage real photo postcard features a photograph of fraternity brothers posing in front of their fraternity house. I have been unable to identify the specific fraternity that these boys represent. There are some clues that might help another researcher to uncover the name of the fraternity. The banner held by a boy in the second row identifies the university as Colgate, located in Hamilton, New York. There are four pillows that may be revealing. The pillow on the end, reports the year as 1906. The other three pillows are held by boys in the front row. Each pillow has a letter; which I assume is written in Greek. One of the pillow’s letters is impossible to read. Investigation reveals that historically, Colgate had many student organizations. The school was founded in 1819 and the institution’s rich history of student societies include Literary Societies, Greek Fraternities, Honor Societies, and even secret societies. This postcard has been postmarked twice. The card was processed in both Norwich and Hamilton, New York. The postmark was stamped in 1906. The postcard is addressed to Miss Abigail Post (1885-?). The 1900 US census reveals that she was the daughter of a farmer and the 1910 US Census lists her as a public school teacher. In 1913, she married Thomas Ray Gorton.

Published in: on March 28, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF TWO YOUNG AND ADORABLE SIBLINGS

I found this vintage photograph on a trip to the Texas Hill Country. Two siblings, presumably a brother and sister, pose for their portrait in this post cabinet card era photograph. The pair are adorably dressed. The young girl holds a parasol in one hand and her brothers arm with the other hand. The boy is wearing a wide brimmed straw hat and a bow tie. As he is being photographed, he is fiddling with his very loose belt. The photographer’s name is embossed on the mat of the photo (lower right hand corner). The name is difficult to decipher, but I believe the name is “Whitney”. The location of the studio is not identified.

Published in: on March 27, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

PORTRAIT OF ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN OF FRANCE (EDITED BY ALFRED NOYER)

This vintage real photo postcard is part of a series named “Les Plus Belles Femmes de France” (The Most Beautiful Women of France). This series is about the Provinces of France, and the model for this image represents La Berrichonne (The Berry). This postcard is no. 42 in the series. There were a number of different series published. The Province series was one of the more popular series. The models in this series represent different French Provinces and wear traditional clothing from that particular area of the country. The province of Berry is a historical province of France that disappeared with the French Revolution. It is one of the oldest agricultural areas in France. This postcard was published by well known photographer Alfred Noyer. The celebrated photographer supervised a large photo studio in Paris. The Noyer Studio operated from 1910 until the 1940’s. Many of his early postcards were reproductions of artworks. He also produced illustrated patriotic postcards during World War I. With the onset of the 1920’s he began producing postcards of children and women. Many of the postcards he produced of women were nudes or risque images. Some of his postcards list his name while others are simply marked “AN”. The photographer of this postcard portrait is Delorme.

Published in: on March 26, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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ADELAIDE WILSON: PRETTY AND SASSY BROADWAY STAGE ACTRESS

This vintage (1920’s) photograph features actress Adelaide Wilson. She is holding an umbrella behind her, and she either has an elaborate hair treatment, or she is wearing a complicated hat. She appears very young in this photograph and her hand on her hip gives her an air of sassiness. The hand on the hip pose also was a way for Wilson to display her large ring. Adelaide Wilson is quite pretty and engaging. Both the Playbill and IMDB websites credit her with six appearances on Broadway between the years 1907 and 1924. Her first Broadway appearance was in “When Knights Were Bold” (1907) and her final role was in “Great Music” (1924). A portrait of Miss Wilson can be found at the Billy Rose Theater Collection at the New York Public Library. A copy of the library’s image can be seen below. Is the subject of the NYPL photograph the same person seen in the photograph above? I think so, but the library image shows the actress at an older age. The image seen above, measures approximately 8″ x 10″. The back of the photograph is stamped “Pantages Road Show”. I can not confirm that Miss Wilson was a member of the Pantages Road Show cast.  SOLD

Published in: on March 25, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (9)  
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PROSPECTORS ON HORSEBACK: COWBOYS FEELING VERY AT HOME ON THE RANGE

This vintage real photo postcard features two riders on horseback. Who are these cowboys? They may be cowpokes, ranch hands, or prospectors. They are equipped with some tools of their trade. One rider has a shovel and a rope, while the other cowboy has a rope and an unidentifiable tool.  The men are riding in the brush. This is not a studio photograph. These wranglers appear to be the real thing. The velox stamp box on this postcard indicates that this photo was taken sometime between 1907 and 1917.

Published in: on March 24, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY TEENAGE GIRL WEARING A LARGE FLOWERED HAT

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty teenage girl wearing a large hat topped with flowers The postcard is color tinted and published by Furia as part of a series (no. 1786). Furia was a French postcard company. Most of the Furia cards that I have encountered have been greeting postcards. Pure artistic Furia cards, such as the one above, are much harder to find. The message on the reverse of this postcard indicates that it was written in Marseille, France in 1917.  (SOLD)

Published in: on March 23, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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TOMMY RHETT: UNSPECTACULAR FLYWEIGHT BOXER WEARING SPECTACULAR YANKEE BOXING SHORTS

Meet boxer Tommy Rhett. He fought out of New York, and the website BoxRec lists him as a flyweight.  He began his boxing career in 1947 and battled his way to 1955. At first, his career got off to a promising start. He won his first five fights (1 by KO). In his next 21 fights, he lost 19 bouts. He had the unfortunate distinction of losing his last 16 fights. He finished his career with 7 wins and 19 losses. Tommy Rhett appears to have been a journeyman fighter. Apparently, after a few fights he became fodder for other boxers to improve their record. Rhett must have been frustrated and disappointed with his performance in the ring. Tommy was no champion, but he sure wore terrific boxing shorts. The logo on his shorts is the same logo that is currently worn by the New York Yankees. A little investigating revealed that the logo has a connection to Tiffany’s. The interlocking “NY” logo was designed by the jewelry store in 1877,  as part of a Medal of Valor for a NYPD officer who was shot in the line of duty. The 1909 season marked the first time the New York Highlanders used the logo in its present form. The Highlanders became the New York Yankees in 1913.  (SOLD)

Published in: on March 22, 2018 at 1:26 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF MADEMOISELLE LILIAN GRENVILLE: EUROPEAN/AMERICAN OPERA STAR

This vintage real photo postcard features pretty opera star, Madmoiselle Lilian Grenville. The caption on the postcard indicates that she was appearing at the Opera de Nice when this photo card was published. Miss Grenville is wearing a pink dress, and a pink flower in her hair. She is also wearing a fur draped over her right shoulder. Hearst International (1909) reported that there were a number of Americans in Europe trying to “make a name” for themselves in opera. One of these Americans was Lilian Grenville (1888-?). She was born in New York. Her family name was Goertner. She was educated at the convent of the Sacred Heart in Montreal. Her mother took her to Paris and Milan to study singing. She started singing with Algier and Aramis in Paris between 1903 and 1905.  She made her debut in Nice, France playing “Juliet” (1906). She was then chosen by Puccini to create the title role in his “Manon Lescout”. In 1909 she sang in Nice, Naples, and Rome. Grenville made her American debut in “La Boheme” (1910) in Chicago. She was a lyric soprano with extensive range. This postcard was published by E. Le Deley (E. L. D.). The firm was active in Paris between the 1890’s and 1930. The company published, printed, and created postcards. E. L. D. was founded by photographer Ernest Louis Desire le Deley (1859-1917). Le Deley’s sons operated the business after their father’s death, and in 1930, the company went bankrupt. This postcard is part of a series (no. 4057). The card has a Swiss stamp.  SOLD

 

Published in: on March 21, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY GYPSY GIRL LOOKING OVER HER NEIGHBOR’S FENCE

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty young girl who is dressed like a gypsy. I would guess that she is in her teenage years. The girl is leaning on, and looking over a wooden fence. She is wearing a lot of jewelry including a bracelet, beads, and a thin chain with a heart shaped charm. I am unsure, but it appears that she is wearing a long necklace with cherries hanging from it. It is also possible the “cherries” are actually pins on her dress. The young lady is very fashionable. Note the fabric sash around her waist. This image was photographed by the Wilson Studio in Astoria, Oregon. Note the imprint on the front of the card with the Wilson Studio credit. The postcard has an Astoria postmark stamped in 1922. The Swedish Finn Historical Society’s website includes a 2016 publication with an article about photographer, Fred C. Wilson. He was born in Astoria in 1888. His parents immigrated from Finland and they settled in Astoria in 1881. Fred became a successful photographer and won many honors. As a young man he was involved in sports, including baseball, football, and golf. He also played in community bands. In 1909 Wilson bought the Carter Photographic Studio. He had previously worked with photographer A. A. Saari. In 1913 he married Agnes Karinen. Fred died in 1943.

SOLD

Published in: on March 19, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PHOTOGRAPH OF THE FINALISTS OF THE MISS BLACK OHIO BEAUTY PAGEANT (1976)

This vintage photograph features a portrait of the finalists of the Miss Black Ohio Beauty Pageant of 1976. The contest was hosted by the Bel-Aire Civic Club. All six of the African American women in this photograph are quite pretty but there could only be one winner and you can identify her by the crown on her head. This 8″ x 10″ image is likely a press photo.   SOLD

Published in: on March 18, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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