A little girl poses for her portrait at the studio of J. K. Cole in New York City. She is wearing a light jacket and holding what appears to be, a walking stick. Her sun hat lies on the floor beside her. She has a serious expression as gazes at the camera. The New York Times (1893) reported that Cole was “shabbily treated by cupid”. The author noted that the 38 year-old photographer did not want this story published and that Cole “admits the truth of the narrative but declares that it is a private affair and refuses to discuss it”. Cole and the young lady in this story, were childhood friends. As they grew older, his friendship grew into love. Five years before this story appeared, they were to be married. However, without notice to Mr. Cole, she suddenly married another man who was “more abundantly blessed with earthly goods” than was Cole. Cole was quite “cast down” but he eventually recovered. Soon after the wedding, Cole’s ex-girlfriend’s marriage ended, after her husband’s mother expressed great disapproval about the pairing. When Cole learned of the separation, he returned to his beloved, and she promised to marry him. As Cole was boarding his carriage to go to his wedding, he received a message from his fiance stating she was ill and needed some days to recover before marrying. Cole sent a firm message back to his fiance stating that the minister was waiting, all arrangements had been made, and that they needed to at once, proceed with the wedding. The messenger failed to deliver the message and failed to inform Cole of his inability to find his fiance. The next day, Cole’s fiance sent a letter to him that was critical of his failure to visit her when she was ill. Cole explained to his girlfriend the confusion caused by the undelivered message of the previous night, and the two decided to reschedule their wedding for the coming evening, just hours away. Cole dressed for the wedding , drove to her home, and waited in the parlor, talking with his future mother-in-law. While they chatted, a little girl ran in the parlor crying out, “Lizzie has gone and run away with her old husband”. Both Mr. Cole and his intended to be mother-in-law, collapsed in shock. Ironically, Lizzie and her ex-husband, remarried using the same minister that Cole had hired to perform his wedding. Apparently, reliability and stability were not some of Lizzie’s greatest assets.
LITTLE GIRL POSING IN NEW YORK CITY FOR PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WAS “SHABBILY TREATED BY CUPID”
A CABINET CARD OF A YOUNG COUPLE POSING WITH CABINET CARDS IN MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
This cabinet card features a well dressed young couple posing for their portrait in the studio of Stephen Piper in Manchester, New Hampshire. The studio was located at 804 Elm Street. The husband is seated, his jacket has just the top button fastened, and he is wearing a pocket watch. His wife is standing behind the table, an ideal position for displaying her beautiful figure (enhanced by her corset). The photographer and the subjects apparently decided to use cabinet cards as props. The young woman is displaying them on the covered table. One wonders if these are cabinet card portraits of family menbers that the couple brought from home, or if they are just cabinet cards of random people that were lying around the gallery. Piper (1835-1903) was a photographer in Manchester from 1866 to at least, 1887. He was born in Sanborton, New Hampshire. His obituary in the Manchester Union Leader nearly filled the entire front page of the newspaper. Even more remarkable for the time, was the fact that his picture was also on the front page. Piper was clearly considered an important citizen of Manchester, at the time of his death.
A GIRL AND HER DOLL IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
This cabinet card features a young girl holding and posing her large doll. The doll is quite beautiful and detailed. The child is posed in a room with what appears to be wicker furniture and a backdrop of curtains. The photographer is Samuel Ardron and his studio was located in Poughkeepsie, New York. He is listed in the Poughkeepsie Business Directory (1896). (SOLD)
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
This cabinet card is a portrait of a nicely dressed older gentleman with a bushy mustache. The gentleman appears quite distinguished and may have been part of the elite of San Francisco. The Rieman and Tuttle Studio produced this cabinet card. George B. Rieman and William Nutting Tuttle (1844-1895) became partners in 1879. The first three letters of Mr Tuttle’s middle name seems to have described his personality. He appears to have been a vagabond photographer; working in a number of studios and having multiple business partners in the years proceeding his venture with Rieman. In 1880, Tuttle left his family in Oakland and sailed to Australia to start anew. Tuttle’s wife, Belle, went to Australia to try to convince her husband to return to California. Her efforts were fruitless. Although Tuttle’s photography studios were very successful and he prospered in Australia, he didn’t support his family back in the United States. He stayed abroad until his death in 1895. The Cabinet Card Gallery has some photographs related to this image. To see other terrific mustaches, click on the category “Mustaches (Only the Best). To view other photographs by Rieman, and to learn more about his life, click on the category “Photographer: Rieman”.
A FAMILY PORTRAIT IN BELLOWS FALLS, VERMONT
This cabinet card features at attractive family posing for their portrait at the studio of Frederick J. Blake, in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Mom and Dad are accompanied by their two sons and three daughters. Blake is listed in the Windham County Business Directory (1884).
TWO ADORABLE LITTLE GIRLS RIDING TO MARKET IN HORSE DRAWN WAGON (GERMANY)
This cabinet card captures two precious little girls riding a toy horse drawn wagon to market. Note the terrific detail of both the toy horse, and the backdrop. The horse appears to be covered with fabric and has leather saddle bags and a tail made from hair. The printed German title below the photograph, “Ruckkehr vom Markt.”, translates to “smooth traffic from the market”. The card is dated 1884 and was photographed in Germany. The publisher of this photograph was E. Linde, who was located in Berlin, Germany. SOLD
A FAMILY OF FIVE POSES ON THE ISLAND OF FOHR (INDOOR FISHERMEN)
A couple and their three children arrive in Wyk auf Fohr, the only town on the island of Fohr. Fohr is the second largest of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea. The family is on the island to vacation. They decide to walk around the town and happened upon a photographer’s studio. The photographers name was Wilhelm Muller. The family decides to go into the studio for a portrait, believing that a photograph of them would make a great souvenir of their trip to the seashore. The photographer had a wonderful beach backdrop, as well as props, including fishing nets and an oar. The resulting photograph makes the family look like they are ready for a day of serious fishing. For some unknown reason, it was decided that mom should pose with an open book on her lap. Is she bored, or is she studying a text on fishing? The family likely had fun on their vacation because the area they were visiting, was a noted resort town. Here is a historical tidbit. From 1842 to 1847, Danish King Christian VIII chose Wyk as his summer vacation spot, which attracted even more tourists. In 1844, Hans Christian Andersen followed the King to Wyk and made the following comment about Wyk’s beach: “I bathed every day and I must say it was the most remarkable water I have ever been in”. SOLD
ELDERLY MAN IN TROY, PENNSLVANIA
An elderly man poses for his photograph at the studio of O. E. Dewey, in Troy, Pennsylvania. The reverse of the card identifies the subject as D. E. Haven and the time of the photograph according to the card stock, is 1887. Mr Haven has an interesting beard that resides mostly on his neck and below his chin. He is also wearing a pocket watch chain that has a charm. The charm appears to be from a fraternal organization and has a non photographic image of what may be, a swan. Orrin Emery Dewey (1858-1887) was born in Sullivan Township, Pennsylvania. Research yielded little about his life but it is known that upon his death, his studio was bought by F. M. Spencer. To view other interesting images of men with beards, click on the category of “Beards (Only the Best)”.
LESTER WALLACK: THEATRE ACTOR AND PLAYWRIGHT
This Cabinet Card was published by celebrity photographer, Napoleon Sarony. His studio was located in New York City. The subject of this portrait is actor, playwright, and theatre manager, John Lester Wallack (1820-1888). Wallack was born into a theatrical family. Wallack served in the British Army before appearing on the Dublin and London stage. His first stage appearance in New York was in 1847 in Boucicault’s adaptation of “Used Up.” Wallack became what many consider, the leading light comedian on the American stage. His autobiography, “Memories of Fifty Years”, was published in 1889. To view other photographs by Sarony, click on category “Photographers: Sarony”. To view other actors, click on category “Actor”. (SOLD)
OLDER BLACK MAN IN YORK, PENNSYLVANIA
This photograph features an older African American gentleman. He is nicely dressed in fancy clothing. Note his long coat. The gentleman appears to be displaying a friendly half smile. He has one hand on his hip; surely, he was told to pose in that manner. The reason for such instruction is not clear. The photographic studio that produced this image is Shadle & Busser of York, Pennsylvania. James Monroe Shadle was born in 1861 in Freeport, Pennsylvania. Oscar W. Busser died of Brights Disease at age 61, in 1921. The studio that bared their names was located at 20 South George Street (1887-1902), 44 South George Street (1903-1925), and 58 South Beaver Street (1925-1936). All of these locations were in York. To view other early photographs of African Americans, click on the category of “African Americans”. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 