This vintage photograph features an African American man and woman. The pair dressed up in their fanciest clothing to pose for this portrait. The man is wearing a plaid suit and a vest. The couple may be husband and wife though the man looks significantly older than the woman. The woman has her left hand on the man’s shoulder in a display of affection. The subjects of this photograph as well as the photographer are unidentified.This photograph measures about 4″x 5″. (SOLD)
PORTRAIT OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLE
A GRANDMOTHER AND FOUR ADORABLE GRANDCHILDREN IN A FAR OFF PLACE (BUT WHERE?)
This cabinet card portrait is of European origin but I am clueless about determining it’s nationality. Hopefully, a member of the cabinet card gallery’s research department (the gallery’s visitors) will leave a comment telling us the photo’s national origin. There is evidence (an inscription) on the reverse of the photograph that will help someone with the identification (see image below). The photograph itself features what appears to be a family of five. Perhaps the adult in the photograph is the children’s grandmother but it is possible that she is their mother. The two girls sitting on the wall look incredibly adorable as they sit nearly on top of each other in a show of affection. The child wearing the fez appears to be a boy. I can not determine what he is holding in his left hand. The object looks like it could be the hilt of a sword (hopefully a toy). Perhaps a cabinet card gallery visitor can determine what exactly the lad is holding. Grandma, or is it Mom, appears quite proud of her brood of children.
HANDSOME GERMAN OFFICER WEARING DRESS UNIFORM IN ULM, GERMANY (CDV)
This vintage photograph is a cartes de visite (pre cabinet card era). The image captures a German officer looking quite handsome in his fine uniform. Note his long coat and cap. He is holding his dress gloves in is left hand. The photographer of this cdv is Emil Burger and his studio was located in Ulm, Germany. Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg and is situated on the Danube River.
SOLD
THREE YOUNG MEN RAISE THEIR BEER STEINS IN AMBERG, GERMANY WHILE THEIR DOG MAINTAINS HIS SOBRIETY
Three well dressed young men raise their beer steins in a toast while their teetotaling dog joins them in a group portrait. These guys definitely exude an air of self-confidence. This cabinet card portrait was taken by the Franz Tausch studio in Amberg, Germany. The city of Amberg is located in the Bavaria region. SOLD
WALTER Q. GRESHAM: CIVIL WAR HERO AND HOLDER OF TWO US GOVERNMENT CABINET POSITIONS (PHOTOGRAPH BY CELEBRATED PHOTOGRAPHER C. M. BELL)
Walter Q. Gresham (1832-1895) was quite an accomplished man in both his military and his political careers. He was an American statesman and jurist. He held offices that included US Postmaster General, Judge on the US Court of Appeals, Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Treasury. He was a two time candidate for the Republican nomination for President (1884 and 1888). He also served as a Union officer in the American Civil War. He entered the army as a Lieutenant Colonel of the the 38th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to full Colonel and led the 53rd Indiana Infantry and took part in the fight for Vicksburg as well as other battles. In 1863 he was appointed Brigadier General and commanded Federal forces in Natchez, Mississippi. In 1864 he became a division commander under General Sherman during the Atlanta campaign. He was forced to leave the army after being shot in his knee; an injury that left him lame for the remainder of his life. He was married to Matilda McGrain in 1858. Gresham is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The photographer of this historic cabinet card is C. M. Bell. Charles Milton Bell (1848-1893) was also an accomplished man. He was the youngest member of a family of photographers that operated a studio in Washington DC from around 1860 until 1874. He established his own studio on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1873. He quickly became one of the most successful photographers in the city. He was noted for his portraits of Native Americans as well as political figures and celebrities. His subjects included President Chester Arthur, Chief Yellow Bull, and Helen Keller. His photographs can be found in many prestigious institutions including The Library of Congress, Harvard University, Dartmouth University, and the Smithsonian. Bell is also known for his photographs of President Garfield’s assassin, Charles J. Guiteau. He was the only photographer authorized by Guiteau and the Government to take photographs of Guiteau and other people playing roles in his trial. Bell also took medical photographs relating to the assassination and assassin.
CUTE LITTLE GIRL IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK
A cute little girl poses for her portrait at the Osborn studio in Binghamton, New York. She is wearing a collar pin as well as a bow in her blonde hair. Her eyes are wide open as she tries to cooperate with the photographer. Emerson Osborn (1843-1916) appears in the 1870 US census and is listed as a photographer. He was married to Hannah E. Osborn (1843-1928) and the couple had three children. Anthony’s Photographic Bulletin (1885) reported that Osborn bought the Singhi gallery in Binghamton and made significant improvements. To see an image from Will G. Singhi’s gallery, place his name in the cabinet card gallery search box. The 1900 US census reveals that Osborn and his son, Fred, were working as photographers but by time of the 1910 US census, Emerson was listed as retired. Emerson died in 1916 and is buried in Binghamton’s Spring Forest Cemetery along with his wife and one of his children. To view other images by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Osborn (Binghamton NY)”. SOLD
EVERYONE IS TENSE IN THIS SMALL FAMILY EXCEPT THE DOG
This cabinet card features a family portrait of what appears to be a very tense family. Dad’s facial expression indicates that he is quite angry. At the very least he seems very stern and is the type of guy you don’t want to provoke. Perhaps he is steamed about having to get dressed up and spend money for a photograph that he views as frivolous. Mom is not dealing with the situation. She is looking down toward the floor but she has closed her eyes. It is as if she wants the whole situation to go away. The couple’s son is adorable and smartly dressed in a sailor style outfit. He is displaying some of his dad’s intensity and looks as if he wishes the photographic session would come to a quick end. The only one in this portrait that seems happy is the family dog. This cute canine is bright eyed and flashing a doggy smile. The individuals in this photograph as well as the photographer are unidentified. This particular photograph is one of those images that tells an interesting story but it is up to the observer to hypothesize the details of the story. Perhaps some Cabinet Card Gallery visitors will comment about their perceptions concerning this emotionally provocative photograph. SOLD
TRAVELERS FROM INDIA VISIT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
This cabinet card portrait features four Indian men posing for their portrait at the Holland studio in Boston, Massachusetts. These visitors are wearing their traditional clothing, including turbans. At least one of the men is barefoot. One of the men is holding a paper while another is holding a book. Could it be a prayer book? These men may be Sikhs. The previous owner of this photograph suggested that the seated men are Sikhs and the other two men are Burmese attendants. Hopefully, someone from the cabinet card gallery’s vast unpaid research department will be able to specify the ethnicity of the subjects of this photograph. It is is interesting to note that the photographer’s studio is located on Temple Place. Could there be a Hindu temple nearby? The photographer of this terrific image is Henry F. Holland (1853?-1911?). He entered the world of Boston photography when he became a partner with George P. Roberts in 1886. Their studio was located at 10 Temple Place (the same address as this image). The partners designed their own back drops and their studio was a great success; at one time employing 25 people. The gallery was advertised as “the finest studio in New England” and Holland’s business motto was “Realism in Photography”. Apparently Holland should have practiced realism in business because the gallery eventually went bankrupt. Speculation is that a poor investment in a printing business led to the collapse of Holland’s studio. His partner, Mr. Roberts, left the firm in 1888, two years before the bankruptcy. Holland was buoyant and by 1891 had established a new photography studio called “Ye Holland Studio” which he opened on Washington Street in Boston. He soon left the studio for his son’s Tom and C. E. to manage. Holland than entered business in another field for which he had much passion. He formed the Freeman-Holland Company and became involved in the electricity business. He became the local general manager of the National Electrical Manufacturing Company. He also combined his interest photography and technology by becoming a photographer of industrial equipment.
ATTRACTIVE WEDDING COUPLE IN BERLIN, GERMANY
The young wedding couple pictured in this portrait are well dressed and quite attractive. The pretty bride looks terrific in her wedding gown and bridal veil. She is holding a bouquet of flowers in her white gloved hand. The handsome groom is holding a pair of white gloves. One suspects that this couple is well-to-do judging by their appearance. This cabinet card portrait was taken by the studio of Otto Witte who operated his photography business in Berlin, Germany.
JAPANESE TEENAGER WEARING A KIMONO IN FUKUI, JAPAN
This vintage photograph features a pretty teenage girl wearing a striped kimono and an obi (sash). She also is wearing a bow in her hair. This photograph was taken by the K. Matsuda studio in Fukui, Japan. This portrait measures 3″ x 4 1/2″. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 