FAMILY FINDS SALVATION IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SALVATION ARMY CABINET CARD

salvation family

This family portrait is a bit unusual because mom and dad are both wearing Salvation Army uniforms and Salvation Army pins on their collars. The two older children are wearing identical outfits that may be Salvation Army issued. This attractive family appears to be in a good mood as they pose for their photograph at the Siegel Cooper Department Store in Chicago, Illinois. To view other photographs by this gallery, click on the category “Photographer: Siegel Cooper and Company”. To peruse other Salvation Army related images, click on the category “Salvation Army”.  (SOLD)

Published in: on April 7, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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PORTRAIT OF AN OLDER MAN WITH BRIGHT EYES AND A LONG WHITE BEARD (PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA)

WHITE BEARD

This cabinet card portrait features a well dressed handsome older gentleman with a wonderful long white beard. The man has striking eyes. They are bright and soft and he projects a certain sweetness and friendliness.  This photograph was produced by the Dabbs gallery in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Benjamin Lomax Horsley Dabbs was born in London in 1839. He immigrated into the United States while still in his childhood. His father was a pioneer in the American photographic supply trade. Dabbs learned the photography field from his father, George Dabbs. Benjamin came to Pittsburgh in 1861 and opened a business selling photography supplies. That same year he also bought a gallery from a Mr. Rorah. He grew the business dramatically and in 1869 he sold his supply business to concentrate on being a photographer. During his tenure as a photographer in Pennsylvania, he was considered by many to be the best photographer in the state. In 1868 Dabbs married Sadie Dickson and the couple ultimately had nine children. Dabbs was a close personal friend of Abraham Lincoln and steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Dabbs drew some attention for his stance on free resittings for customers who were not satisfied with the portraits taken by his studio. Unlike many other photographers, he refused free resittings because “the public do not value what they can get for nothing”. In his later years, Dabbs was debilitated by rheumatism and other illness. He died at age sixty in 1899. His celebrated portrait of Andrew Carnegie can be viewed today at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Art.

Published in: on April 6, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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EXCEPTIONALLY ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL WEARING AN UNUSUAL JACKET

cutie pie

This vintage photograph features an incredibly adorable little girl standing on a chair and charismatically looking at the photographer. Some individuals are amazingly photogenic and this curly haired little girl is one of those individuals. Take note of the little girl’s patterned jacket. The jacket has fringes on both the shoulders and the pockets. She is also wearing a cute hat. The child and the photographer are unidentified. The photographer demonstrated much talent in his production of this 5″ x 7″ photograph.

Published in: on April 5, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  

WEDDING PHOTO OF A SLOUCHING GROOM AND HIS AUSTERE BRIDE

wedding photo

This cabinet card photograph is a wedding portrait featuring a slouching groom and an austere bride. The wedding couple are both adorned with flowers. The groom in this photo is probably trying to project a relaxed appearance but instead comes off as sloppy. He is slouching while leaning on a chair and his hand is partially in his pocket. This is not a spectacular pose. His bride is wearing a pretty dark wedding dress with a long veil. She is also wearing a rather frosty expression. The photographer of this portrait is the Dawson studio which was located in New London, Wisconsin. J. C. Dawson’s studio was in business in New London from 1877  through 1914. After his death in 1914, the studio continued to operate under it’s name with a new proprietor. Dawson also had a studio is Oshkosh between 1891 and 1893. He operated a third studio in Hortonsville in at least 1893. Dawson (1856-1914) was married to Almeda Dawson in 1880. The 1900 US census found him living in New London with his wife, two daughters (ages 15 and 18),  father, and one boarder.  SOLD

 

Published in: on April 4, 2015 at 11:20 am  Comments (1)  
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ADORABLE CARTES DE VISITE: CUTE LITTLE GIRL SHOWING LOVE TO HER PRETTY MOTHER (WHAT IS A CDV DOING IN THE CABINET CARD GALLERY?)

mom and kid

The Cabinet Card Gallery was born in 2008 and at that time I decided not to include any cartes de visites in the collection. I believed that it was important I keep the scope of the gallery narrow so cabinet card aficionados had  a site that specifically catered to their interest. Every once in awhile I would come across a cdv that I wanted to include in the gallery but I always managed to control the impulse. Today the impulse won. This Cartes de Visite photograph is an incredible portrait. The photographer did an excellent job of capturing a little girl’s love for her mother. The little girl, wearing a white gown, is adorable. She is standing on a chair and leaning into her mom. The viewer can see the child’s quest for love and security from the mother that she adores. The child’s mother is a pretty woman and very well dressed. She is holding her hat in one hand and has, what looks like a scarf, draped over her other arm. The photographer of this terrific cdv is the J. E. James studio in Galena, Illinois. James Edward James (1842-1878) was born in Liverpool, England. After immigrating to the United States he served in the 96th Illinois Infantry (Company A) during the civil war. He entered the service as a Private but was discharged as a Commissary Sergeant. He died while still a young man and left his wife Kitty to raise their four children and operate his photographic studio.

Published in: on April 3, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG SOLDIER AND A YOUNG WOMAN IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

officer and lady

This vintage photograph features a uniformed American soldier and a young woman who is likely either his girl friend, wife, or sister. The young man is handsome and his uniform is crisp. His expression has a military air about it. The young woman in this image does not seem very comfortable with the process of being photographed. This portrait was produced by the Johnson studio which was located in San Francisco, California. This photograph measures 3 1/2″ x 5″. A close-up of the soldier and his companion can be found below.  (SOLD)

officer and lady 1

Published in: on April 1, 2015 at 5:20 pm  Comments (1)  
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SASSY LITTLE GIRL WEARING A WHITE BONNET (1904 VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH)

sassy 1

The adorable little girl featured in this vintage photograph has an abundance of attitude. Her posture, positioning, facial expression, and her hand on her hip all indicate that this is one sassy child. She is beautifully dressed and is wearing a terrific bonnet. An inscription on the reverse of the image indicates that the portrait was taken in 1904. Although this photograph is about the size of a cabinet card, it has a paper mat.

Published in: on March 30, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  

PORTRAIT OF AFFECTIONATE BUDDIES IN ASHLAND, WISCONSIN

buddies

This terrific vintage photograph exudes warmth and friendship. These guys look like buddies. They seem to be quite happy to have an opportunity to have their friendship preserved in a photograph. During the cabinet card era men were more comfortable with physical displays of affection between them. At least it appears that way after viewing many cabinet card portraits of pairs and groups of young men. The young men in this portrait appear quite self-confident and charismatic. The photographer that produced this image is either Carl or Christian (Christopher) Raven (1854-?). Both men are listed as photographers in Ashland County, Wisconsin. According to one source, Carl operated a studio between 1905 and 1906 while Christian worked as a photographer between 1897 and 1908. Christian was born in Germany, immigrated to the United States in 1867 and was married to Lizzie Raven. Whichever Mr. Raven took this photograph, he certainly had an eye for creating a spirited image.

Published in: on March 28, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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PORTRAIT OF A COUPLE IN COLDWATER (BETTER THAN HOTWATER), MICHIGAN

coldwater

A well dressed couple pose for their portrait at the Osborn studio in Coldwater, Michigan. Interestingly, this is the second cabinet card gallery photograph to originate from a Coldwater photographer’s studio. This lovely couple assumes the popular at the time pose of the man sitting and woman standing. The subjects also assume the standard “no smile” expression. Note the woman’s large bow and corset assisted figure. Also worth noting is the man’s mustache, pocket watch chain and bow tie. He is also wearing a pin on his vest. Clarence R. Osborn (1865-1950) was a photographer in Coldwater from 1890 through 1935. He was born in Steuben County, Indiana and died in Branch County, Michigan. He is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Coldwater.

Published in: on March 27, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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POSSIBLE MEMORIAL PORTRAIT OF A MAN IN KEWAUNEE, WISCONSIN

tree design

This cabinet card is unusual in that the portrait of the subject (man) is placed over a drawing of a stark winter scene. It is likely that the gentleman’s portrait is framed in this manner because the cabinet card is meant to be a memorial or mourning photograph. I have never seen a cabinet card with this type of border design. The photographer of this image is the Mutzbauer studio in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. The Mutzbauer studio was located in Kewaunee between 1887 and 1896. It later operated in Milwaukee, and it appears to have closed in 1928. The studio was started by Joseph Mutzbauer (1856-1915). He had two children that went into his business, Joseph L. Mutzbauer (1884-1965) and Louise Mutzbauer Macosta (1880-?).   SOLD

Published in: on March 26, 2015 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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