“LUCKY DOG” NESTLES INTO PRETTY WOMAN’S SHOULDER -1906 REAL PHOTO POSTCARD WITH MYSTERY MESSAGE

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This vintage real photo postcard features a very cute puppy nestling into the shoulder af an attractive young woman. The humorous caption under the photo states “Lucky Dog”. The photograph is credited to “The Photographic Company of America” which was based in Chicago, Illinois. The 1900 copyright of the image is registered to the Tonnesen Sisters., The photographer of this postcard’s image is quite well known and well respected. Beatrice Tonnesen (1871-1958) was an American artist and photographer based in Chicago from 1896 through 1930. She pioneered the use of live models in print advertising. In addition, her photos were widely used as calendar art. Her sister, Clara handled the business aspects of Beatrice’s studio. The message on the postcard was written by “Ernest” in 1906 while he was in Adrian, Michigan. The postcard is addressed to Miss Gertrude Butters of Millinucket, Maine, Ernest’s message is quite mysterious and could be used as a lead in a story of intrigue. He writes “Was all packed. Trunk at depot and was going to start this (Friday) morning for Dakota when I received word for Bureau to wait. I wonder if I am a _ _.” Wow! First of all it seems likely that Ernest worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Second, what was Ernest wondering about in regard to his orders to “wait”. Why didn’t he finish his last sentence of his message. This postcard is in very good condition and chock full of history and intrigue. 

Published in: on October 17, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY YOUNG BRIDE (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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This vintage real photo postcard features a beautiful young bride. She is wearing a wedding gown and a pretty veil with a band of flowers. She has dark curly hair.  She also has a  dark complexion suggesting a non American or European origin. I am struck by her young appearance. The postcard has an “AZO’ stamp box indicating that it was produced between 1904 and 1918.

Published in: on October 16, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (7)  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY YOUNG AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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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

Published in: on October 15, 2015 at 12:45 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A FARM FAMILY (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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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.

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Published in: on October 14, 2015 at 11:54 am  Comments (1)  
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LOVELY COUPLE IN CINCINNATI, OHIO (PHOTOGRAPHED BY EARLY FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER)

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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

Published in: on October 13, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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A GENTLEMAN WITH FREE RANGE WHISKERS AND A BOWLER HAT IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

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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

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Published in: on October 12, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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INTRIGUING IMAGE OF SIMPLY DRESSED BLACK WOMAN SITTING ON STEPS WITH TWO WHITE MEN (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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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

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Published in: on October 11, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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YOUNG MAN IN A STUDIO ROWBOAT IN CARTHAGE, MISSOURI (CARTE DE VISITE)

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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.

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Published in: on October 9, 2015 at 9:40 am  Leave a Comment  
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HAUNTED YOUNG WOMAN IN BARMEN, GERMANY (CARTE DE VISITE)

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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.

Published in: on October 8, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MR COLTON PAYNE LEE AND HIS LARGE DOG SIT SIDE BY SIDE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT

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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

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Published in: on October 7, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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