An inscription on the reverse of this photograph reveals that the subject of this image is named Blanche Tuck. She has remarkable curls and looks lovely in her white dress. She is wearing a chain necklace and locket. She has a nice smile and bright eyes. Unfortunately, there is not enough information associated with this photograph to learn more about Miss Tuck. SOLD
BLANCHE TUCK: YOUNG GIRL WITH INCREDIBLE CURLS
YOUNG COUPLE SHOWING SIGNS OF HAPPINESS IN PEORIA, ILLINOIS
A young couple poses for their portrait at the Sunbeam Gallery in Peoria, Illinois. The man and woman in this photograph are showing signs of happiness. Both of them are exhibiting a half smile rather than the typical intense expressions generally seen in cabinet card photography. The pair appear to be resting by a swinging wrought iron gate. The photographer of this image is Max Erler (about 1857-1936). He is listed in the US censuses of 1880 through 1920 as a photographer. He began his own photography business in 1881 and married his wife, Jennie Harris Erler (about 1861-1934). in 1883.
PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG COUPLE IN INDEPENDENCE, KANSAS
A young couple poses for their portrait at the Stone Front Gallery in Independence, Kansas. The photographer was Al Brown. The photographer created a nice scene for this portrait. The young woman, in a very fancy dress, is holding a posted envelope in one hand and a letter in the other. She is standing next to a small table which holds a book and a framed photograph of a child. The husband is dressed in a suit and is wearing a corsage. He has an appearance of being dazed by the process of being photographed. What is that item on the floor leaning on his chair. Is it a large envelope, magazine or newspaper? Whatever it is; it certainly does not enhance the photograph. The couple in this photograph are identified by an inscription on the reverse of the photograph. The woman’s name is Sue Singleton or Sue Singletore (last name not completely legible). The husbands first name is very difficult to decipher. The first letter of his name either begins with an “H” or an “A”.
PRETTY LIGHT HAIRED WOMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
A pretty light haired woman wearing a nice smile and a corsage, poses for her portrait at the Newman studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The leaves on the wall post create an autumn scene. Research found little information about photographer Newman. A photographer directory lists A. Newman as a gallery operator between the 1890’s and 1900. To view other photographs by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Newman”.
LITTLE GIRL POSES FOR PORTRAIT WITH HER DOLL IN A STROLLER
A little girl poses with her doll and toy stroller at C. B. Long’s Elite Studio. The child has a serious expression highlighted by her pursed lips. She is posed somewhat distant from the camera so she and her doll do not fill much of the image. The backdrop seems to somewhat dominate the photograph. Research yielded little information about C. B. Long other than one article appearing in the St. Louis and Canadian Photographer (1900) which announced that Long had sold his gallery in Wesley, Iowa. That information does not necessarily mean that this portrait comes from that particular studio because it was not unusual for photographers to move from place to place during the course of their business career.
PORTRAIT OF A BRIDE AND GROOM IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA
This wedding photograph features a beautifully dressed and handsome bride and groom at the Emory studio in Omaha, Nebraska. The couple are wearing large rose corsages as well as wedding bands. The photographer utilized a wonderful backdrop in posing the newly married couple. A photographer historical directory indicates that Horace S. Emory (1864-1922) operated as a photographer in the 1880’s and 1890’s. He also appears in the US Census in both 1900 and 1920. His occupation is listed as photographer in both censuses. His wife’s name was Mary Emory. The Bulletin of Photography (1922) reported that Emory was working for the Dean Studio in Omaha when he “dropped dead on January 11th. He had just completed taking a photograph”. He was 58 years old.
CARLOTTA BRIANZA: CELEBRATED ITALIAN BALLERINA (PORTRAIT BY FALK)
This cabinet card portrait features pretty celebrated Italian ballerina, Carlotta Brianza (1867-c.1933). Note that the jewelry that is hanging from her necklace is shaped like a horse. It is also worth mention that this photograph is somewhat risque for the era. Brianza was born in Milan, Italy and was the prima ballerina at La Scala before going to Russia. She created a sensation in Luigi Manzotti’s ballet “Excelsior” as the Spirit of Light. She went to Russia in 1887 after completing a US tour. She was acclaimed for her work in “Sleeping Beauty” and “Esmerelda”. She returned to the west in 1891 when she became the prima ballerina for the Vienna Opera. She died in Paris under suspicious circumstances that suggest she committed suicide. This portrait was produced by celebrity photographer Benjamin J. Falk of New York City. To view other photographs by Falk, click on the category “Photographer: Falk”.
DARK HAIRED BEAUTY IN LOVELY DRESS IN CORNING. IOWA
A pretty dark haired young woman in a lovely dress poses for her portrait at the Bender studio in Corning, Iowa. She is holding flowers on her lap and has additional flowers lying at her feet. She is sitting in front of a poorly painted backdrop. It looks like it was painted by a Corning elementary school class rather than professionally done. The history of Corning is quite interesting. The first Europeans that came to the Corning area were a group of French Icarians who arrived from Illinois in 1854. A town was formed and named Icaria. The small and french-speaking community was dedicated to the utopian principles of Etienne Cabet (French philosopher and Utopian Socialist). combined with the democratic principles of the American and French Revolutions. In the 1860’s the community became divided between “traditionalists” and “progressives”. The progressives left town to form their own community, which was close to Corning (surveyed for development in the 1850’s).
SWEET LITTLE GIRL AND HER PARASOL IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
A sweet little girl poses for her portrait at the Rothschild studio in Chicago, Illinois. She is holding a pretty parasol and her curls are covered by a large bonnet. The little girl is identified on the reverse of the photograph as Florence Peterson. It is also noted that the studio was located on State Street and Van Buren. The studio was within the A. M. Rothschild Department Store and the store was opened at the aforementioned address in 1881. The store was bought out by Marshall Fields in 1923. Research was unsuccessful at uncovering information about little Miss Peterson because “Florence Peterson” was a relatively common name in Chicago at the time this image was produced.
EQUISITE PORTRAIT OF A BRITISH SOLDIER IN INDIA BY THE WELL RESPECTED STUDIO OF BOURNE AND SHEPERD
This cabinet card portrait features a uniformed British soldier in India. At least that is the opinion of the previous owner of this photograph. For all I know, this may be a photograph of a French soldier in France. Hopefully, one of Cabinet Cards Gallery’s visitors, knowledgeable about military history and uniforms, will be able to tell us with certainty which nation’s army this gentleman represents. The photographer of this crisp, clear, and riveting image is the Bourne & Sheperd studio. The Bourne & Sheperd studio was established in 1863. It is the oldest photographic studio still in operation. It was the most successful commercial firm in 19th and early 20th century India and it had outlets in Paris and London as well as a mail-order service. Samuel Bourne came to India in 1863 and partnered with an established Calcutta photographer. Charles Sheperd had partnered with a photographer in Agra in 1862. The two men joined forces in Shimla. Among his accomplishments, Bourne was known for his photographic expeditions to the Himalayans and Kashmir. He became celebrated as one of India’s best photographers. While Bourne was off making himself famous, Sheperd wasn’t just sitting home eating curried chicken and naan. Sheperd became known as a master printer. The partners opened a studio in Calcutta which became their flagship. They became the photographers of Indian Royalty and the British elite. In 1870 Bourne went back to England and opened a cotton mill and became a magistrate. In 1879 Sheperd returned to England. The partners continued to operate the Indian studios with continued success for a number of years. Since then, the studio has had multiple owners.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 