STAGE ACTRESS MISS NINA CADIZ AND HER MANDOLIN (1906 RPPC)

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This vintage real photo postcard features stage actress Miss Nina Cadiz and her mandolin. I am actually not sure that her string instrument is a mandolin and hopefully a musically informed visitor to the cabinet card gallery will correctly identify it. This postcard was mailed from England in 1906. The message on the postcard wishes the addressee a “very happy New Year”. The postmark is December 31, 1906 which may indicate the writer was a bit of a procrastinator. The postcard was published by Stewart & Woolf who were located in London. The postcard was part of a series (116)  and is numbered #50. A portrait of Miss Cadiz can be found in Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. The image can be seen below. Note that the photography studio that produced the portrait is Elliott & Fry, a name that should be familiar to frequent Cabinet Card Gallery visitors. Click on category Photographer: Elliott & Fry to view more of their photographs.

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Nina Cadiz as Felice in 'The Little Minister', by Elliott & Fry, November 1897 - NPG x127904 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

Published in: on August 28, 2015 at 12:04 pm  Comments (2)  
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YOUNG BALLERINA IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

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An adorable young girl wearing ballet shoes, poses for her portrait at the Noble Studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The photographer posed her as if she was dancing. The bright eyed young girl has a terrific smile. The photographer of this image is Thomas Frederick Noble (1866-1932) and he operated a photography studio at various addresses in Grand Rapids. His career spanned between 1890 and 1931. The 1920 US census found him living in Grand Rapids with his wife Pauline (age 50) and two of their children, Fred (age 17) and Pauline (age 15). The 1900 US census reveals that he also had a daughter named Lily. Noble died in 1932 and is buried in Graceland Memorial Park in Grand Rapids.

Published in: on August 27, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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A TOWER OF BABIES: ALSO KNOWN AS THE TOWER OF BABBLE (VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

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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)

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Published in: on August 26, 2015 at 12:01 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF A BEAUTIFUL AUSTRIAN ACTRESS IN VIENNA

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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)  
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FUNERAL OF A SOVIET PARTISAN COMMANDER (VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

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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)

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

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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.

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Published in: on August 21, 2015 at 11:53 am  Leave a Comment  
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FLORENCE COLLINGBOURNE: STAGE ACTRESS

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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.

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Published in: on August 20, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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A DAPPER MORRIS GASTON FACES THE CAMERA

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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)  
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IMMIGRANT COUPLE AND A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION

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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)  
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