THEATER ACTRESS NETTY HUNTER IN RISQUE POSE (1895)

This cabinet card features a pretty young woman in a risque pose. She is identified on the reverse of the image as Netty Hunter. The previous owner of this portrait reported that Miss Hunter was a theater actress but a search found no evidence to support the notion that she had a stage career. In fact, no biographical information could be found about her. The photographer of this image was Jacob Schloss. Schloss photographed many theater celebrities from his studio in New York City. A notation on the lower left corner of the image shows that the copyright date of this photograph is 1895.  A fading stamp on the back of this cabinet card indicates that it was formerly part of a collection belonging to Charles L. Ritzman (943 Broadway, New York City) who collected among other things, photographs of theater actors and actresses.  In sum, although there is evidence that Netty Hunter was a theater actress; the evidence is not conclusive.

Published in: on July 17, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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ATTRACTIVE YOUNG COUPLE FINDS FORTUNE IN CALIFORNIA

In the 1880’s and 1890’s many people came to California to seek their fortune. The couple pictured in this cabinet card found a fortune. The fortune was not gold or money; instead it was E . W. Fortune, a Los Angeles photographer. The couple probably wasn’t disappointed in this excellent image. The subjects are well posed and the photograph has wonderful clarity. The well dressed and handsome gentleman has a neat beard and is holding a book on his lap. He is wearing a pocket watch. The young woman in the portrait has a pretty dress and is wearing a bracelet on her wrist and a pin on her collar. Judging by their general appearance, the couple seems to have been financially well off. The pair are identified on the reverse of the image as Mr and Mrs W. R. Williams. A genealogical investigators heart sinks when he or she sees a name like “Williams” needing to be researched. There are generally just too many “Williams” to sort through, and the researcher ends up with multiple  people who fit the description of their quarry. As expected, research gleaned no biographical information about Mr. and Mrs. Williams. The photographer of this cabinet card operated his studio in Los Angeles, California. The address was 151 South Spring Street. City directories for Los Angeles list Fortune operating as a photographer between 1888 and 1893. He certainly may have conducted his business both before and after those dates but no confirmation could be found.

Published in: on July 16, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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A BOY AND A WHIP: FIFTY SHADES OF GREY IN ROME, NEW YORK

This cabinet card features a boy and a whip. The expression on this boy’s face is a bit worrisome and scary. He seems to be having some fantasies about ways he wants to use the whip. He looks intensely angry, sadistic and vengeful. The boy’s neighbors in Rome, New York likely hid their children, and their dogs and cats when he was around. The school system in Rome probably developed America’s first school based anti-bullying program when this troubled youngster entered elementary school. Perhaps I’m being a bit too judgmental. This little boy in a sailor suit may just be having a bad day. Unfortunately, the subject of this photographic portrait is unidentified so we can’t find out about his journey through life. Did he become a saintly good citizen, or did he become an incarcerated sadistic sociopath? The answer eludes us but it is important to remember that things are seldom so black and white. Keep in mind, there are fifty shades of grey. Hopefully this child’s mood improved over the years. There are some details available about the photographer.  One source states that Bacon operated his studio in the 1870’s from above 60 Dominick Street in Rome, New York. His studio was called Bacon’s Photo Rooms. In addition, G. E. Bacon is listed as a photographer in the Rome business directory (1908). His address in the directory was 138 West Dominick.

Published in: on July 15, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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BEAUTIFUL GERMAN WOMAN WEARING LACE MANTILLA

This exceptionally clear cabinet card features an extremely beautiful woman wearing a lace mantilla. What’s a mantilla? According to Wikepedia, a mantilla is a lace or silk veil or shawl worn over the head and shoulder. Mantillas became popular in Spain toward the end of the sixteenth century. The photographer is Emilie Bieber and she had studios in Berlin and Hamburg, Germany.  Could E. Bieber, be related to Canadian singer and songwriter, Justin Bieber? Afterall, Justin Bieber’s great grandfather was from Germany. Forget it! Lets not go there! Lets get back to the cabinet card. Emilie Bieber was a female German photographer who was later joined in business by her nephew Leonard Berlin-Bieber. To read more about Emilie Bieber and to view other photographs by her studio, click on the category “Photographer: Bieber”.

Published in: on July 14, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (5)  
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FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION MAN WITH A FEATHER IN HIS HAT IN EAST CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

A gentleman poses for his portrait in the full uniform of his fraternal organization. The name of his fraternal organization is unknown to me but hopefully a visitor to this image will be able to identify it. I am sure that the crossed canes (which aren’t likely really canes) on the sash and jacket sleeves will be the major clue in accurate identification of the group. The uniform’s hat has a feather and I wonder if that is a tassel we see over his left shoulder or if it’s a turn of the century mullet. Note the man’s belt buckle and sword. The sword has an elaborate handle. Legibility problems interfere with identifying the photographer who produced this portrait. It is not an infrequent occurrence when fancy script makes it impossible to identify a photographers name on a cabinet card. Sometimes one can find the photographer’s name in such circumstances by researching the studio’s address. Such a search was done in this case but it was not productive.

Published in: on July 13, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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CUTE LITTLE GIRL STANDING ON A CHAIR IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

This cabinet card features an adorable little girl standing on a chair in front of an unusual backdrop. She is wearing a lace bib, a necklace and a wonderful hat. The photographers name is not quite legible. His last name appears to be “Vitaliny”. His studio was located at 233 Montgomery Avenue in San Francisco, California. No biographical information about the photographer could be located.  The photographic card has gold beveled edges and is larger than the standard cabinet card. This photographic is 8.5″ x 6.25″. It can best be desribed as a “Boudoir Card”. An article on types of cabinet cards  asserts that boudoir cards are usually 8.5″ x 5.5″.

Published in: on July 12, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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“LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE” IN MUNICH, GERMANY

The young girl in this photograph looks like the American little girls who get all “dolled up” for beauty contests and the results of those efforts are that the girls look much older than their years. Writing on the reverse of this image indicates that the girl in the photograph is ten years old and is named Traudi. Fortunately, Traudi isn’t made up (cosmetically) to look inappropriately provocative like many of the contestants in the aforementioned beauty pageants. However, our “Little Miss Sunshine”  looks well beyond her years in this photograph. According to the previous owner of this image, the subject is wearing a fancy “Rokoko” costume. She is also holding a fan. This cabinet card may or may not be an example of  “Rokoko” fashion. I’m in way over my head. Fortunately, a number of visitors to the Cabinet Card Gallery are very knowledgeable about the history of fashion and hopefully they will leave a comment confirming or dispelling the Rokoko theory. By matter of explanation, (thank you Wikipedia), Rokoko refers to the late baroque periods artistic movement and style that had impact on fine arts architecture, decoration, interior design, and fashion. The movement developed in Paris, France, and was “more jocular, florid, and graceful” than the baroque influence. The photographer of this image is J. B. Hiebl and his studio was located in Munich, Germany.

Published in: on July 11, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (3)  
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WEDDING COUPLE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

This photograph features a bride and groom on their wedding day. The bride is wearing a beautiful white wedding dress and has a flower bouquet on her lap. The handsome groom is wearing a corsage and has a small pocket watch hanging near the top of his vest. Judging by their fashionable wedding attire, this couple appears to be well-to-do. The wedding portrait photogrrapher was Friesleben of 3932 State Street, in Chicago, Illinois. Louis W. Friesleben is listed by one source as operating his photographic studio from the State Street address between 1887 and 1900. An 1893 portrait taken by Friesleben of Plains Indians, who were part of an exhibit at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago,  is part of the collection of photographs that can be seen in the online National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Published in: on July 10, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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SALVATION ARMY WORKERS: GROUP PORTRAIT

This cabinet card features a group portrait of five members of the Salvation Army. Four men and a woman, most of them wearing Salvation Army badges, pose for an unknown photographer at an unknown location. Three of the men are holding their uniform hats while the woman member is holding a tambourine and wearing her hat. The man on the left in the back row has a special hat (perhaps he holds higher rank than the others) and is wearing a sweater that has embroidered letters that say “Salvation Army” and a religious motto, “It is Finished”. The hats display a slogan that appears to say “Prepare to Meet Thy God”.  The Cabinet Card Gallery has a large collection of Salvation Army photographs which can be viewed by clicking on the category “Salvation Army”.

Published in: on July 8, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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NOVEL MUSTACHE IN WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA

This cabinet card features a gentleman with an unusual mustache. This style mustache could be labeled an “ear muff mustache”. The mustache looks like the man had been wearing ear muffs and they slid down his face stopping in a position where the furry ear coverings came to rest on his cheek and upper jaw, while the head band settled in a spot above his upper lip and below his nose. To view other interesting and unique mustaches, click on cabinet card gallery’s category “mustaches (Only the Best)”. The photographer of this image is T. W. Taylor. In advertising on the reverse of the photograph he has printed the name of his studio, “First Premium Gallery”. It was located at 10 West Gay Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The previous described advertising also indicates that in 1882 the studio won a “prize medal” for its use of Crayons. Thomas W. Taylor (1838-1904) is described by the Chester County Historical Society as operating one of the most prominent studios in West Chester. His photography career was interrupted by the Civil War. Taylor joined Company E of the 124th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. He fought at Chancellorsville and Antietam. He entered the Union army as a private and mustered out as a corporal. He reopened his studio for business in 1863 and worked into the 1890’s.

Published in: on July 7, 2012 at 12:01 am  Comments (5)  
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