This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of a pretty young African American woman. She projects an aura of sweetness. This image was created by an unknown photography studio. The AZO stamp box indicates that the photograph was taken between 1904 and 1918. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard portrait features a farm family posing for their portrait in a field. An examination of the faces of this extended family displays the feeling of hard work and determination. The expression of the farmer holding his scythe truly captures the grit of a man facing lots of responsibility and pressure. Note that two of the girls in this family appear to be identical twins. This photo postcard is printed on AZO paper which was issued sometime between 1904 and 1918.
A nicely dressed couple pose for their portrait at the studio of Mrs. Charles Waldack (Mary Tanner) in Cincinnati, Ohio. The gentleman’s pocket watch chain can be seen under his jacket and the woman is wearing a collar pin and necklace. The woman is displaying affection by resting her hand on the man’s shoulder. The photographer, Mary Waldack was born about 1849 in Harford County, Kentucky. Although Mary was quite talented, her husband garnered the most attention. Charles Waldack was born in 1828 in Ghent, Belgium. In 1866 he became well known for using magnesium and gunpowder to make the first underground photographs in America. He took these photographs at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. The pictures were published as stereo cards by E. and H.T Anthony of New York. Charles pursued his photographic career in Cincinnati from 1854 until 1881. In addition, he contributed many articles to photographic literature. In 1881 he took a trip to his native Belgium. He left his wife in charge of his studio. He died a brief time later and Mrs. Waldack managed the business until at least 1893. Mary Waldack is a member of a small group of pioneering women photographers. To view other images by early female photographers click on the category “Female Photographers”. SOLD
A nicely dressed gentleman wearing a bowler hat, poses for his portrait at the studio of Hosea Q Morton in Providence, Rhode Island. The man is adorned with an interesting facial hair style. His whiskers don’t seem to be attached to a beard, mustache or sideburns. He has “free range whiskers”. To view other photographs by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Morton”. The photograph below shows Hosea Morton (on the far left) at a birthday party. He was more than 90 years of age when this photo was taken. His obituary reports that he was born in Maine and lived from 1839 until 1938 The article states that he was a veteran of the civil war. He served in both the 1st (company E) and 6th (company D) Maine regiments. He rose in the ranks from Private to Sergeant. He served between 1861 and 1865 and was a wounded warrior (shot in the neck). In 1870 he was working in a Providence trunk shop. He then worked two years as a salesman and in 1873 he began his photography business. He was still working in Providence as a photographer in 1910 but by 1913 he was residing the National Military House in Malibu, California. He died there in 1938 and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. Morton outlived three wives. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard is one of the most intriguing postcards that I have come across. What is the story behind this photograph? The image captures a simply dressed black woman flanked by two white men dressed in jacket and tie. Who are these men in relation to this woman? Why do the subjects of this photograph want their meeting photographed? One can imagine some interesting scenarios. Unfortunately the circumstances related to this image are lost to history. This AZO postcard was published between 1904 and 1918. SOLD
A young man dressed in winter clothing gently rows his boat down a river. In actuality, the boat and the river were props inside the studio of E. E. Roessler in Carthage, Missouri. Carthage was the site of two battles during the American civil war and in a third incident, most of the city was burned down. The photographer, Edward E. Roessler was born in 1850 and married Annie Befferin in 1896. He robbed the cradle as Annie, an accomplished pianist, was 21 years younger than her husband. The town of Carthage was the site of two battles during America’s civil war. During the war, in a seperate incident, it was nearly completely burned down. This carte de visite photograph was likely taken not too many years after the war. Roessler also worked as a photographer in Shelbyville, Illinois as well as San Bernadino, California. He died in 1935 in Alameda, California.
A young woman poses for her portrait at the Samson & Company Studio in Barmen, Germany. She is wearing a dark dress with a dark polka dot top. The woman looks quite serious. In fact, her expression, in particular her eyes, projects a haunted appearance. One wonders what might be troubling this young lady. Barmen is a former industrial city located in the Bergisches Land region. The city merged with four other towns in 1929 to form the city of Wuppertal. It is interesting to note that the cabinet card gallery has two other images by a gallery named Samson & Company. Both of these photographs are German but they are not located in Barmen. The other two photo studios were located in Duisburg and Karlsruhe respectively. You may view all three images by searching the category “Photographer: Samson & Company”. To complicate matters further, the book “The Lives of Erich Fromm: Love’s Prophet” reports that Fromm’s mother took him regularly to Samson & Company for portraits. The author notes that the studio was located in Frankfurt and catered to Jewish families. Erich Fromm grew up to be a celebrated pioneer psychologist.
Mr Colton Paine Lee sits on a chair beside his large curly haired dog. Both the pooch and his/her master are looking at the camera. Mr. Lee is grinning while his dog is staring quite intently. The name of the photographer or the location of the studio are not identified. Preliminary research found no information concerning Mr. Lee. However, it is possible that the gentleman’s name may actually be “Colton Paine”, while the dog may be named “Lee”. Any assistance from the great genealogical detectives that visit the cabinet card gallery would be very appreciated. SOLD
It appears that the two young women seen in this portrait are dressed and ready for the French Carnival. The festival occurs after the “Feast of Fools” and has been a tradition since the sixteenth century or earlier. The girls in the photograph of this vintage real photo postcard are dressed as gypsies and holding stereotypical tambourines. The girls are about in their teenage years. They were photographed by Monsieur Henry of Chalon-Sur-Saone, France. The city is located in the south of the Burgundy region of that nation. I wonder what the fascination is with gypsies? The obsession is apparent when one looks at postcards from around the turn of the century (1800’s to the 1900’s). An observer of these postcards will see gypsies here, there, and everywhere. Perhaps visitors to the cabinet card gallery would like to hypothesize about this cultural phenomenon. I would appreciate your input. Now, back to this postcard. The previous owner of this postcard translated the message as “Remember with affection your little girlfriend. A thousand kisses, Germaine”. My guess is that the shorter woman in this image is Mlle Germaine. SOLD
This carte de visite portrait features a French foot soldier from the 18th batallion de chasseurs. Chasseur is the French word for hunter. The term was used by the French and Belgian Army to denote light infantry or light cavalry. These troops were trained and utilized for rapid action. The soldier in this image is holding a pair of white gloves. His facial expression exudes everything military. The photograph was taken by the Gabriel Studio.
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