PRETTY WOMAN WEARING A BIRD NEST HAT

bird nest

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty woman wearing a bird nest hat. At least it looks like a bird nest. This young woman has the beauty to wear this unusual hat and look terrific rather than silly. The postcard is of French origin and was published in Paris. The Publisher’s logo “LL” can be seen on the front of the postcard. The postcard is part of a series (#123). “LL” postcards were produced for France, England, United States, and other nations. For many years postcard collecting experts believed the logo stood for Louis Levy but there was no real supporting evidence and that belief died around 1991. Later research arrived at the conclusion that the initials “LL” stand for (Moyse) Leon and his son-in-law (Isaac) Levy. Leon and Levy began their career as assistants with the Parisian photographic studio Ferrier-Souilier. The pair began their own photographic studio in 1862. Leon and Levy’s studio won a gold medal at the 1867 Universal Exhibition. Leon left the partnership in 1872 and Levy kept the business going and continued to use the “LL” logo. The company was renamed Levy Fils et Cie. Levy died in 1913 and the company was later bought by the printer Emile Crete.

 

Published in: on January 26, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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A FATHER AND HIS FIVE CHILDREN IN WILKES BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA

wildermuth

A nicely dressed family poses for their portrait at the Wildermuth Studio in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. It is immediately noticeable that this family photograph is missing someone. We see dad, but where is mom? It is interesting to note that the children in this family, all five of them, are nicely dressed. One would expect that a mother’s influence would have something to do with the children being so fashionable. In this case, we will never know who is doing the fashion consulting. It is a nice touch that the two youngest girls are wearing identical dresses. We see a few smiles as well as a some affection in this photograph. The oldest daughter has her hand placed on her fathers arm. It certainly appears to be a happy family. The photographer of this image is Martin S. Wildermuth and his career spanned from the late nineteenth century through the early twentieth century. After a time of being a sole proprietor, he joined forces with photographer Joseph Stearns. Post retirement he did some work with the Ace Hoffman company. Wilsons Photographic Magazine (1910) credits Wildermuth & Stearns for published photographs in the journal. He is also cited in the book “Coal Men of America: A Biographical and Historical Review ……..” (1918).  He was one of the photographers that contributed images for the book.  (SOLD)

 

Published in: on January 25, 2016 at 12:58 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A GUITAR PLAYING WOMAN TAKEN ON A RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO CAR

guitar

A young woman plays the guitar as she poses for her portrait by a railroad photographer. The Fallman studio was actually located on a train car. Printing on the front of the cabinet card notes that the photographer utilized a Parlor Photo Car. Some photographers, like Mr. Fallman, would rent or purchase a railroad car and travel from town to town. Sometimes the car would be disconnected from the train and the photographer would operate his studio until business conditions dictated that he move on to another locale. Fallman’s parlor car obviously contained backdrops and props. The woman in this photograph is sitting on a hammock next to a box topped with a couple of books. Preliminary research failed to uncover details about Mr. Fallman. However, the Cabinet Card Gallery possesses a vintage photograph of a cute little girl by Harry Fallman (1853-1907). His studio was located in Eureka, South Dakota. During his lifetime, Harry also lived and worked as a photographer in North Newberg and Portland, Oregon. It is unknown if Harry is the same Fallman who operated the rail car studio that produced the photograph above. To view Harry Fallman’s photograph and to learn more about him (and his celebrity son), click on the category “Photographer: Fallman”.   SOLD

 

 

Published in: on January 22, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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PORTRAIT OF A SERIOUS BEAUTY (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

serious beauty

This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of a very attractive young woman. She is displaying a very serious expression as she looks directly at the camera. She is well adorned with pretty flowers. The postcard is addressed to, and postmarked at Tourcoing, France. Tourcoing is a city in northern France. The postcard has a French stamp.

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Published in: on January 20, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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A BEAUTIFUL TENNIS PLAYER PROPERLY DRESSED FOR A MATCH (1923 REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

TENNIS

This vintage postcard features a very beautiful woman dressed for tennis and holding a tennis racquet. Her tennis clothing may appear to be a bit impractical for the demands of a tennis match, but this is the attire that women actually wore at the time this postcard was published. The postcard is postmarked 1923 and was mailed from Portugal. The card was published by PFB (Paul Finkenrath) of Berlin, Germany. It is part of a series. (no. 3075/4). The Paul Finkenroth company made quality photo postcards and the company was heavily oriented toward export. They were known to be responsive to printing postcards that they’re customers desired over time. They were quite profitable but closed in 1911 when protective tariffs interfered with their business. The company was established by Paul Finkenrath and Paul Grasnick in 1897. The partnership lasted about a year and then Grasnick left to start his own lithography studio. (See comments below concerning information about the publishing house that produced this postcard).  SOLD

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Published in: on January 19, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (6)  
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EROTIC YOUNG LADY DEMONSTRATES THAT SOME THINGS DON’T CHANGE: SEX SELLS POSTCARDS IN THE EARLY 1900’S

german nudeThis vintage real photo postcard features a scantily clad sexy young woman wearing a “come hither” expression. There is little doubt that this postcard portrait was meant to be sexually inviting. This image supports the principle that “sex sells”. Sex sold products in the early 1900’s just as it does today. This postcard is of German origin. It was published by “NPG” (Neue Photographische Gesellschaft). The company was a leading bromide photo printing company for many years. The stamp box of this particular postcard has an interesting story. “NBC” (Neue Bromsilber Convention) was price cartel established in 1909 that continued until the 1930’s. The purpose of the cartel was to ensure that the minimum price charged for postcards was kept at a sufficiently profitable level. A number of postcard publishing companies joined the cartel in an effort to stave off the effect of competition on the pricing of postcards.  (SOLD)

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Published in: on January 16, 2016 at 11:43 am  Leave a Comment  
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TWO YOUNG WOMEN WEARING FANCY HATS IN EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN

bonell

Two young women pose for their portrait at the Bonell studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The women are beautifully dressed and their nice figures are assisted by the corsets that they are wearing. Note their fancy hats. The Cabinet Card Gallery has several photographs by Frederick Bonell. To view these photographs and to learn more about Mr. Bonell, click on the category “Photographer: Bonell”.  SOLD

Published in: on January 14, 2016 at 9:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TWO COUPLES ENJOYING A BUGGY RIDE IN HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

buggy

It appears that the two couples riding in this buggy are having a lot of fun judging by the preponderance of smiles in the photograph. Of course this buggy may in fact be standing still. The driver of the carriage is likely holding the reigns of non existent horses because there is a more than reasonable chance that the buggy is a prop located inside a photographers studio.  The photographer in question is N. E. McLeod who bills himself as a “Rustic & Wild West Photographer”. His location is advertised on the reverse of this vintage real photo postcard is Happy Hollow, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Take note of the women’s hats in this image. The woman in the back of the carriage has a wide brimmed hat and the woman in the front seat is wearing a plumed hat. Also note the lamp attached to the side of the buggy. The internet’s Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture informs us that Happy Hollow was another name for McLeod’s Amusement Park. This site was one of Hot Spring’s most popular tourist attractions from the late 1800 until the 1940’s. It’s location was at the head of Fountain Street, just off of Central Avenue and north of Hot Springs Mountain. Happy Hollow was owned and operated by photographer Norman McLeod from the time of its founding (1888) through 1908. McLeod was born on a farm in Georgia . At the age of 19 he moved to Live Oak, Florida where he learned the photography business. He then attended college in Athens, Georgia. He started Happy Hollow as a photography studio and gradually developed it into an amusement park complex which included a zoo. In 1908 he sold the property. The park became known for taking humorous photos of it’s guests. Props included an old bathtub, a burro, and painted scenery which included a jailhouse and a gigantic angry bear. McLeod and Happy Hollow were nationally known. This postcard has an AZO stamp box indicating it was produced sometime between 1904 and 1918.   SOLD
                                                                                                                                                                                    Norman McLeod

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Published in: on January 12, 2016 at 10:09 pm  Comments (2)  
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A PRETTY WOMAN AND A CABINET CARD ALBUM IN AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS

amesbury

A pretty young woman in a dark dress with a white lace bib poses for her photographic portrait at the Thompson studio in Amesbury, Massachusetts. The young lady is posed behind an ornate chair and alongside an open cabinet card album. The album sits on a stand for easy viewing. The portrait is a product of a photographer named W. C. Thompson. Mr Thompson operated the Opera House Studio in Amesbury, Massachusetts, as well as the Globe Studio which was located in Newsburyport, Massachusetts. To learn more about this photographer and to view more of his photographs, click on the category “Photographer: Thompson”.   SOLD

Published in: on January 11, 2016 at 5:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF AN ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL AND HER HOOP TOY IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA

hoop 2

This vintage photograph features an adorable little girl sitting on a wall and holding her hoop toy. She is wearing a cute dress and is wearing a bow in her long wavy hair. She is also wearing a wonderful smile. The photographer of this image is Marie Gleissner who operated a studio in Vienna, Austria. I was unable to find biographical information about the photographer. It is my assumption that the photographer is a woman (Marie). The photographer did an excellent job posing the little girl and produced a terrific image.

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Published in: on January 10, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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