PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN IN A BLACK DRESS INSIDE A BOSTON RAILROAD PHOTO CAR

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Not all photographers of the cabinet card era worked out of brick and mortar photography studios that were situated in towns and cities. Some entrepreneurial photographers thought they had a better idea. These innovative photographers decided to take their studios to the public rather than wait for the public to come to them. Some photographers situated themselves on trains or steamboats while others packed up their studios and took them on the road (via wagon) from town to town. This cabinet card portrait was taken on a studio car attached to a Boston Railroad train. The photograph features a young woman in a dark dress posing next to an ersatz rock. Note the interesting image found below. The photograph comes from the website “Luminous Lint”. The image was taken around 1905 and it shows a group of people in front of a railroad photographic gallery. This train car studio was photographed while in Temple, Oklahoma.  (SOLD)

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Published in: on April 7, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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QUEEN OF THE ROAD: WOMAN DRIVING AN OPEN CAR (1917 VINTAGE PHOTO)

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This vintage photograph captures a woman driving an open car. She appears to be out on a country road. The automobile is a beauty. According to a notation on the reverse of the image, the photo was taken in 1917.  The photo is in very good condition (see scans).  (SOLD)

Published in: on April 6, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  

PORTRAIT OF PRETTY ACTRESS TAMARA DESNI AND A LIFELIKE DOLL (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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The pretty subject of this vintage real photo postcard is actress Tamara Desni (1910-2008). She has an exotic appearance. She was a German born daughter of a Ukrainian born silent film actress named Xenia Desni (1894-1962). Tamara begin her stage and film career as a child in Berlin, Germany. She also appeared in several British made films in the 1930’s and 1940’s.  She also starred in German films. In 1931 she had a major role in the operetta “White Horse Inn” which appeared in London. It was a spectacular hit at the Coliseum Theater. She next appeared in another leading role at the Coliseum in “Casanova”. She then had success in the British films “Falling For You (1933)”, “Forbidden Territory (1934)”, “Jack Ahoy (1935)”, and “Dark World (1935). Desni also played a supporting role in “Fire over England (1937)” which starred Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. She continued her film career through 1950. Tamara Desni’s social life must have been quite interesting. She was married five times. She must have learned from her four mistakes because her fifth marriage lasted half a century and only ended with her husband’s death. Tamara Desni appears in this postcard holding a life-like doll. Desni is flashing a beautiful smile. The photograph was taken by Becker & Maass of Berlin, Germany. The postcard was published by Ross Verlag and was part of a series (No. 6346/1). The company printed real photo postcards of excellent quality. Some consider their portrait photos the finest movie/theater star postcard portraits ever published.

Published in: on April 4, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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DISTINGUISHED LOOKING ELDER GENTLEMAN IN ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA

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This fabulous cabinet card portrait features a very distinguished older gentleman sitting in a chair and holding what appears to be a cane. He is well dressed and sporting a thick mustache and relatively long beard. The photograph was taken by the Hill studio which was located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. There is no information on the reverse of the photograph so the address of the photographer and the identity of the subject is unknown. There were three photographers named Hill in St. Cloud during the cabinet card era. Joseph Hill (1820-1892) was Irish born and began his photography career in St Paul, Minnesota (1858-1867). He later operated studios in St. Peter & Anoka (1878-1879), Brainerd (1881), St. Cloud (1868-1869, 1880-1889). Joseph Hill’s son took over the St. Cloud studio. His son was Eugene S. Hill (1856-1936) and records indicate he took over the studio in 1883. A third photographer in St. Cloud during the 1880’s was someone named M. Hill. It is unknown to me whether he was part of Joseph and Eugene’s family. Whichever “Mr. Hill” took this photograph, it is a beauty. The photograph measures about 3 3/4 ” x 8″.   SOLD

Published in: on April 3, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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WHO IS VERA LYDIA? PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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Who is Vera Lydia? My best guess is that she is a performer of some type. Popular enough to merit her own postcard portrait but not popular enough for me to find information about in an internet search. Miss Lydia was a pretty woman and she had wonderful big smiling eyes. The reverse of the postcard has a French stamp and print that indicates that the postcard was published by a combined printing group in Nancy, France. Hopefully, a Cabinet Card Gallery visitor will be able to enlighten the rest of us about the identity of this intriguing mystery woman.

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Published in: on April 2, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF A VERY HANDSOME YOUNG MAN IN HINTON, WEST VIRGINIA

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A handsome young man poses for his portrait at the Hinton Photo Company in Hinton, West Virginia. The fellow looks quite dapper with his fine suit, bow tie, and nicely groomed mustache. The name of the photographer who operated the studio is unknown as is the year the photograph was taken. However, it is known that this type of photograph would have been taken shortly after 1900. Several photographs by the Hinton Photo Company can be found in the library historical collection at West Virginia University. The reverse of this photograph (see image below) possesses a ghost image of a woman in a fancy dress.

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Published in: on April 1, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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YOUNG COUPLE OUT FOR A DRIVE IN THEIR OPEN AUTOMOBILE (CLIFTONVILLE, ENGLAND) (RPPC)

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This vintage real photo postcard features a handsome couple out for a ride in the English countryside. The couple are well dressed for their ride in a beautiful open car. The reverse of the postcard indicates that the photo postcard was produced by M & S which is the abbreviation for Misch & Stock of London, England. Printed information on the reverse also states that the photograph may have been from the area of Cliftonville, which is a coastal location in the town of Margate. The postcard stock itself, was produced by Crown Studios sometime between 1913 and 1929.
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Published in: on March 31, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF AN ATTRACTIVE COUPLE IN NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA

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This cabinet card portrait features a young and attractive couple posing for their portrait. The pair are beautifully dressed and one wonders if this may be their wedding photograph. The woman is wearing a dark beaded dress and a necklace and collar pin. The young man is wearing what appears to be a tuxedo. Note his boyish good looks. The photographer of this image is E. E. Seavy of New Castle, Pennsylvania. Edgar E. Seavy (1859-1942) was born in Wisconsin, He moved to New Castle in 1890 and operated his photography studio from 12 North Mercer Street with his partner, A. R. Fowler. The cabinet card gallery has some photographs by Seavy & Fowler which can be found in the category “Photographer: Seavy & Fowler”. After just a few years Seavy bought out Fowler and later opened a new studio at 226 East Washington Street. An image of this studio as well as of Mr Seavvy, can be seen below. Seavy’s studio was quite popular in New Castle and in 1908 produced the first color photographs in the town.

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Edgar E. Seavy

 

 

9446                                            Seavy’s Studio

 

Published in: on March 30, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY FASHIONISTA WITH A TERRIFIC SMILE

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty young woman who knows how to dress. She is clearly a fashionista. However, it is unknown whether she is modeling in this photo portrait or is some sort of performer. She has a terrific smile. This postcard appears to be from the 1930’s. The postcard was published by “K Ltd” sometime between 1918 and 1936. SOLD

Published in: on March 29, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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UNHAPPY AND DISCONNECTED COUPLE IN HARRISTON, ONTARIO, CANADA

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This scallop edged cabinet card photograph features a young couple who appear to have had happier days. The couple seem so disconnected and discontent. I can’t decide whether the husband or the wife seems the most miserable. The pair are well dressed for their portrait at the studio of Robert L. Hinde in Harriton, Ontario, Canada. Preliminary research only revealed that Hinde may have operated his studio there between 1890 and 1895. The reverse of the cabinet card has an inscription that states that the lovebirds are Mr. and Mrs. John McJannet.  SOLD

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Published in: on March 28, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (4)  
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