A TOWER OF BABIES: ALSO KNOWN AS THE TOWER OF BABBLE (VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

babies

Take a look at this rare photograph of the tower of babble. Not exactly the picture one would imagine from the book of genesis story about the origin of multiple languages. I am very curious about how the babies that comprise this tower maintain their position. It is possible that they are strapped into their seats by a hidden metal brace. It is also possible that there someone or even a couple of people hiding behind the children holding at least some of them in place. Both these methods were used in photographing young children during this era of photography. Whatever method was employed, the photographer did an excellent job of capturing all the children while they were paying attention to the camera. Note that a least two of the babies are holding toys. This vintage photograph measures about 6 3/8″x 12″. The photographer’s name and the location of the studio are unknown. The image was purchased from an antique shop in Vancouver, Britsh Columbia, Canada.   (SOLD)

babies 2

Published in: on August 26, 2015 at 12:01 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags:

PORTRAIT OF A BEAUTIFUL AUSTRIAN ACTRESS IN VIENNA

austrian actress

This cabinet card features a beautiful young actress. I am hypothesizing that she is an actress based on her wardrobe and her great poise. The young lady is wearing a necklace and a jeweled hair band. Note her interesting footwear. She is standing by a faux pile of rocks in the Schuster studio which was located in Vienna, Austria. This cabinet card is not standard sized. It measures about 3 3/4 ” x 8 1/4″.

Published in: on August 25, 2015 at 11:53 am  Comments (2)  
Tags: , ,

FUNERAL OF A SOVIET PARTISAN COMMANDER (VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

russian funeral

This vintage photograph features the funeral of a Soviet partisan commander. The previous owner of this image states that the photograph was taken in 1943 although this date is unconfirmed. There are many things to note in this photograph. We see the deceased lying in an open coffin surrounded by many members of his community and family. Some of the men are holding rifles. The top of the coffin is in the foreground of the image and laying on it are two crossed rifles, a garland of flowers, and the late officers military cap. A large portrait of the deceased can also be seen in the foreground. This image certainly gives the viewer a real glimpse into Russian history. The image measures 5 3/4 ” x 7″ and is not on card stock. ADDENDUM: The cabinet card gallery is fortunate to have informed visitors who generously leave comments and information about many of this  site’s photographs. Two such visitors have informed me (see comments) that the identity of the man in the large photograph in front of the coffin is not the deceased. Actually, the portrait is of Vladimir Lenin.

Published in: on August 24, 2015 at 11:59 am  Comments (9)  

THE MOST ADORABLE YOUNG SIBLINGS IN BERLIN, GERMANY (CDV)

wertheim

This cartes de visite features a portrait of two very adorable young siblings. Big sister is wearing a sailor dress and she proudly poses next to her younger sibling. The baby is holding a ball and is wearing what looks more like a blanket that a gown. There is an open children’s book on the floor in front of the kids. The children are dark complected and have dark hair. They both look incredibly sweet. This photograph was taken at the Wertheim studio located on Leipziger Street in Berlin, Germany. It is possible that the name Wertheim actually represents a photo studio in a department store. Wertheim was a large German department store chain which had four stores in Berlin. The chain’s most famous store, Leipziger Platz, was constructed in 1896. The store featured 83 elevators and an atrium with a glass roof.   (SOLD)

Published in: on August 23, 2015 at 12:02 pm  Comments (2)  
Tags: , , , ,

DAPPER GENTLEMAN WITH A HANDLEBAR MUSTACHE IN BARMEN, GERMANY (CDV)

green 4

This cartes de visite features a dapper gentleman wearing a three piece suit and a wonderful handlebar mustache. He displays an air of confidence. This cdv portrait was taken by Zeppenfeld & Company which was located in Barmen, Germany. Barmen was pioneering center of the early European industrial revolution as well as the development of socialist theory and the socialist movement. Barmen was the birthplace of socialist Friedrich Engels. This cdv measures 4 5/8″ x 2 1/4″. It is longer and narrower than the typical cdv. The reverse of the image has information about the photographer and it can be seen below.

green 5

Published in: on August 21, 2015 at 11:53 am  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , ,

FLORENCE COLLINGBOURNE: STAGE ACTRESS

collingbourne1

green 2

The beautiful woman pictured in this Cabinet card is stage actress, Florence Collingbourne. Obtaining significant biographical information about her has been difficult and further research will be done and provided in an addition to this blog. However, information from readers about this stage beauty will be appreciated.  The Cabinet card was produced by the Rotary Photographic Company which also produced many postcards with images of theatrical stars. This Cabinet card was published  in London, England. The second image displayed is a vintage real photo postcard also featuring the beautiful Miss Collingbourne (1880-?). The postcard was published by the Rotary Photo Company. The reverse of the postcard has evidence that it once occupied a photo album.

green 3

Published in: on August 20, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
Tags: , , , , ,

A DAPPER MORRIS GASTON FACES THE CAMERA

green

The reverse of this photograph is inscribed with the name “Morris Gaston”, presumably the handsome subject of this portrait. Mr Gaston is well dressed and very poised in front of the camera. He is is wearing a pocket watch and holding a magazine or newspaper. The photograph was taken at the Green & Company studio in Berlin. Unfortunately, the logo on the mat of this photograph does not indicate in what locale Berlin is located. Is this image from a studio in Germany or in the United States? There are several US states that have towns named Berlin and there is even a Berlin in Ontario, Canada. I have been unable to uncover the answer to the location riddle. Perhaps a cabinet card gallery visitor can solve the mystery. The cabinet card measures about 4 1/2″ x 6 1/4″ and has terrific clarity.

Published in: on August 19, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
Tags: ,

IMMIGRANT COUPLE AND A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION

vancouver couple

This vintage photograph features an immigrant couple posing for their portrait at an unknown photography studio in an unknown location. How do I know that this lovely couple are immigrants? I actually don’t know if they are really immigrants. They have an ethnic appearance and are dressed in a fashion that a casting director might hire them to portray a couple “right off the boat”. What is their ethnicity? I would guess they are European but have little confidence in that hypotheses. The couple are well dressed in a “sunday best” sense. The woman has a cute hat, white gloves, and a purse. The couple are posed next to a vase of flowers sitting on a table. Interestingly, the woman has her arm linked around her husband’s arm. She is clearly not afraid of public displays of affection. This photograph was found in a Vancouver antique store but experience tells me that there is a large possibility that the image did not originate in Vancouver.

Published in: on August 18, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  

TEN WELL DRESSED GUYS POSING FOR A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH (REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

ten guys

This vintage real photo postcard features a group of well dressed youngish men posing for a group photo.The men are wearing an assortment of types of hats. Most of the guys are wearing some kind of pin on their lapel but their common bond is unclear. Perhaps they are members of a fraternal organization? The postcard was produced on “AZO” paper sometime between 1904 and 1918. The clarity of the image is excellent.

ten guys 1

Published in: on August 16, 2015 at 12:18 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

PRETTY TEENAGE GIRL WEARING RUFFLES IN LAMAR, MISSOURI

bracelets

A pretty teenage girl poses for her portrait at the E. C.Grant studio in Lamar, Missouri. She is posed as if she is deep in thought. She is well attired and her dress is quite ruffled. The girl is wearing a bracelet on each wrist and is also wearing a ring. Her name is inscribed on the reverse of the  photograph (see below). I believe her first name is Emma but I can not decipher the rest of her name and any help on this endeavor from Cabinet Card Gallery visitors would be welcomed. The photographer of this image is Ezra C Grant (1848-1894). Research revealed that at one time, the address of his studio was “Northwest Corner Square” in Lamar. A book entitled Truman’s Birthplace: Lamar, Missouri, reports that Gustavus Seyffert, the first cousin of the German composer, Richard Wagner, organized the community’s first uniformed band in 1889 and E. C. Grant was one of the players. Ezra Grant died while still a young man and is buried in Lake Cemetery in Lamar Heights. His wife took over his photography business. Belle Grant (1853-?) is listed in the 1900 and the 1910 census as working as a photographer in Lamar. In the earlier census she was residing with her eleven year old son in Lamar.  This image has great clarity. Be sure to note the scalloped edges that border the cabinet card.  SOLD

bracelets 1

Published in: on August 14, 2015 at 12:02 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , , ,
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »