PORTRAIT OF A FASHIONABLE COUPLE IN NEW YORK CITY

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Photographer Rud Bachmann of New York City produced this portrait of a lovely and fashionable young couple. The woman in this image looks particularly young. She is wearing a dark dress with poofy sleeves and a collar pin. The gentleman is wearing a dark suit and his watch chain is visible on his vest. The photographer’s full name is Rudolph Bachmann. He was born in 1850 in Switzerland. He came to the United States in about 1880 and by 1884 was operating a photography business at 1437 Broadway in New York City. The gallery was later relocated to 6 East 14th Street. Images published after 1914 indicate that he was joined in business by his son. To  view other photographs by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Bachmann”. (SOLD)

Published in: on March 4, 2016 at 10:05 am  Comments (1)  
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THREE EXPRESSIVE WOMEN WITH HATS (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

three ladies

This vintage real photo postcard features three well dressed women wearing interesting hats and interesting expressions. The two women on the right have countenances like the “cat that ate the canary”. The ladies were photographed by an unknown studio at an unknown location. The “AZO” stamp box indicates that the postcard was published sometime between 1904 and 1918.

Published in: on March 2, 2016 at 4:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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YOUNG GIRL IN A BEAUTIFUL DRESS AT A HER COMMUNION IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

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A pretty young girl is dressed in a beautiful white dress and veil for her portrait at the Borgia studio in Los Angeles, California. She looks like a young bride but she is but she is almost certainly dressed in her finest on the occasion of her communion. She looks quite proud as she poses for the camera. Note the necklace with a cross that she is holding in her left hand. Preliminary research revealed little about photographer F. Borgia although there are a number of collections that include his photographs. One citation was found. The book “Los Angeles’s Little Italy”, by Mariann Gatto, states that Nick Borgia (located on San Fernando Street) was one of three of Little Italy’s favorite photographers (the other two were Mr. Ricci and Mr. Del Beato). There is a disparity between first names (F. vs. Nick) but it is very likely that Nick could have been the photographers middle name or nickname. Did I really just say that Nick may be his “nickname”? This portrait measures 5″ x 7″ and has excellent clarity.

 

 

Published in: on February 29, 2016 at 6:52 pm  Comments (3)  
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A FRENCH BEAUTY QUEEN IN PARIS: MLLE HENRIETTE POINTAL (1933 PRESS PHOTO)

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This vintage press photo features a beauty queen and her maids of honor. They participated in a Paris beauty contest in 1933. The three finalists are wearing furs and tiaras. The woman in the center, Mle Henriette Pointal was selected as the “Queen of Paris”. The 20 year old beauty was received, as was custom, by the President, Albert François Lebrun , at the Elysee Palace at the opening of the Mi-Careme festivities. This press photo was the property of the “Agence ROL”. The news agency was founded in 1904 by Marcel Rol (1876-1905).

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Published in: on February 28, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF AN ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL AND HER UMBRELLA IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA (1916)

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An adorable little girl poses for her portrait at the studio of Marie Gleissner in Vienna, Austria. The girl has long curly hair and a sweet smile. She is holding an umbrella. I could not find biographical information about the photographer but it is my assumption that the photographer is a woman (Marie). An inscription on the reverse of the photograph indicates that it was taken in 1916. The Cabinet Card Gallery has other images by the Gleissner studio. Click on the category “Photographer: Gleissner” to view the additional photographs.  (SOLD)

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Published in: on February 27, 2016 at 2:08 pm  Comments (5)  
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THE BEST PORTRAIT OF A BULLDOG YOU’VE EVER SEEN (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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If this vintage real photo postcard portrait of a handsome bulldog isn’t the best you’ve ever seen; it has to be right up there with the best. This adorable canine is apparently watching doggie tv. The dog is looking out the curtained window and appears quite intense about what he is seeing. The caption below the photo indicates that the dog is hoping to see cats. This unused postcard is part of a series published by Rotograph (no. 5016).bulldog 1

Published in: on February 26, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF THREE ADORABLE SIBLINGS (GERMAN REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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Two adorable little girls and their sweet little brother pose for their portrait at an unknown German photographic studio. They are beautifully dressed and each child is holding a basket of flowers. This image likely dates back to the 1920’s.

Published in: on February 25, 2016 at 3:14 pm  Leave a Comment  

PORTRAIT OF GRACE BOWMAN, PERFORMER AT THEATRE DU CHATELET IN PARIS, FRANCE (BY PAUL BOYER)

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This vintage real photo postcard features a costumed stage actress named Violet Bowman. Her clownish costume’s pattern includes men in tuxedos and blackface. Preliminary research yielded little information about Miss Bowman but it appears from the postcard that she performed at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris France. The theatre was designed by Gabriel Davioud after it was requested by Baron Haussmann between 1860 and 1862. Although it has been remodeled, the theatre is still in operation and currently seats 2,500 people. Violet Bowman is quite pretty in this portrait by celebrated Paris photographer, Paul Boyer (1861-1908). He photographed many famous people during his career. This postcard is published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France and was part of a series (no. 1264). The postmark of this French stamped postcard is from Castelnaudary, France and is dated 1905. It is addressed to Mazamet, France.

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Published in: on February 17, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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CABINET CARD PORTRAIT OF A LITTLE GIRL BY “STIFF THE PHOTOGRAPHER” IN BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS

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This cabinet card portrait features a nicely dressed little girl (possibly the subject is a boy) by the studio of “Stiff The Photographer”.  The back stamp of this cabinet card indicates that the studio’s address was 414 Main Street, Brockton, Massachusetts. The back stamp also confirms that the photographer did indeed call himself  “Stiff The Photographer”. What do we know about Mr Stiff? We know that Thomas P. Stiff once operated a studio known as Munroe and Stiff which was located at 64 Warren Street in Boston. We also know that in the 1880’s he had studios in Taunton and Fall River, Massachusetts. His studio in Brockton was there at least between 1882 and 1892. He was born in 1836 and died in 1908. He is buried in Melrose Cemetery in Brockton. He also must have had a sense of humor. I imagine his friends and customers must have a good time over his advertising motto “Stiff The Photographer”. The immediate humorous thought is that customers were being encouraged to not pay for the photographs they receive. I’ll leave additional interpretations to the reader.

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Published in: on February 16, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A SOLDIER AND HIS RIFLE AND HIS PREY: A LARGE RABBIT

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This vintage real photo postcard features a young soldier in uniform posing with his rifle and his lunch. The prize of the young man’s hunt is a large rabbit. Hopefully the soldier was able to avoid being “the hunted one” during his military service. This photograph appears to be from the early 1900’s and of European or Russian origin.

Published in: on February 15, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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