This cabinet card is an image of a middle aged woman posing for her studio portrait. She is wearing a beautiful dress. The woman is probably quite wealthy to be able to afford to dress in such fine fashion. She is also well adorned in jewelry. Note her three strand necklace, her earrings, and her large ring. The photographer of this image is the studio of Edouart & Cobb, located at No. 504 Kearny Street, in San Francisco, California. To view other photographs by these photographers, and to learn some of their background information, click on cabinet card gallery’s category “Photographer: Edouart & Cobb.
FASHION STATEMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO: STYLISH WOMAN AND HER BEAUTIFUL DRESS
“A TEACHER OF MINE”: A PORTRAIT OF MR HENRY LUTSCH
This cabinet card photograph is a portrait of Mr. Henry Lutsch. The reverse of the photograph has an inscription stating “Henry Lutsch, a teacher of mine”. There is no other identifying information. The photographer and the studio location are unknown. Perhaps one of Cabinet Card Gallery’s visitors, will be able to provide additional information. They have demonstrated amazing genealogical detective skills in the past illustrated by their informative comments. The only information that I was able to recover, comes from the 1880 U.S. census. Henry Lutsch was born 1n 1869, in the state of Wisconsin. The head of household, at the time of the census was Jacob Lutsch, who was born in Switzerland. Jacob Lutsch was probably Henry”s father. The “Census Place” was Great Bend, Barton, Kansas. The town of Great Bend was settled in the early 1870’s and located in Barton County, Kansas. Interestingly, this cabinet card was originally purchased from a collector in Kansas. Mr Lutsch is a handsome man and he has an admirable mustache which places him in Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of “Mustaches (Only the Best). Click on the category to view some amazing displays of facial hair. Thinking about this cabinet card prompts the question as to why a student would want a photograph of his, or her, teacher. Is the answer to the question as simple as that the student wanted a keepsake from their education experience; like modern day students often want a yearbook upon graduation. Another possible explanation is that the student had a crush on the handsome Mr Lutsch, and wanted a portrait of him in order to hang on to their fantasy, just a little longer.
CUTE BOY IS POORLY POSED IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
A cute long haired boy poses for his portrait at the studio of J. Heberger, in Rochester, New York. The boy is wearing his sunday finest. He is wearing a striped blouse with a big bow. The blouse is almost screaming “notice me”! In addition, he is wearing short pants and high black shoes and stockings. The photographer did a poor job of posing the young boy. The child is standing beside a wicker chair, and due to poor staging, there is an illusion that part of the chair is protruding from the top of the child’s head. The photographer’s lack of experience, or carelessness, significantly detracts from the quality of this portrait. This photograph is not apparently, an adequate reflection of the skills of the photographer. John Heberger is cited in a number of photography journals of his time for his skills and innovations. One article, from 1909, describes his development of a new process for putting pictures on fabrics. Another article appearing in The Photographic Journal of America (1919) describes an exhibit presented by Heberger. He displayed a number of photographs of subjects with obvious physical deformities. He then demonstrated how using modeling and etching techniques, he was able change the subjects appearance, in the photograph, to show them without their defects. One of his examples was a man with a goiter whose eyes appeared to “pop out of his head”. After Heberger applied his photographic magic, the man’s eyes looked perfectly normal on the resulting photograph.
JULIA NEILSON (1861-1957): BRITISH STAGE STAR
Julia Neilson (1868-1957) was an English actress remembered for her numerous performances as Lady Blakeney in “The Scarlet Pimpernell” and for her roles in many tragedies and historical romances. In addition, she is also known for her portrayal of Rosalind in “As You Like It”. She became noticed after acting in a series of plays by W. S. Gilbert in 1888. She then joined the company of Herbert Beerbohm Tree, where she remained for five years. She married actor, Fred Terry and their daughter became a well known actress, Phyllis Neilson-Terry. From 1900 through 1930, Neilson and her husband became noted producers of plays. The photographer of this cabinet card was W. & D. Downey of London, England. To view other p;hotographs by the Downey studio, click on the category “Photographer: Downey”. This cabinet card captures Ms Neilson in her role as “Drusilla Ives” in “The Dancing Girl”. The photograph was taken in 1891.
MINNIE DUPREE: AMERICAN STAGE AND FILM ACTRESS
Photograph 1
Photograph 1 is a cabinet card portrait of Minnie Dupree (1873-1943). She was an American stage and film actress. She was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She made her acting debut in a touring company in 1887. In 1888, she was a sensation in a small role in William Gillette’s New York play. “Held by the Enemy”. This role propelled her into a number of supporting roles with the some of the leading actors of the day. She finally got a starring role in the 1900 production of “Women and Wine”. Many other leading roles followed as well as a number of notable successes. However, critics agreed that her later career was less successful than her early and middle career. Dupree also made a small number of films including “The Young in Heart” (1938). Costars in this film included Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Billie Burke, and Paulette Goddard. This cabinet card photograph captures Miss Dupree holding her had and looking dreamily away from the camera. The photograph was taken by celebrity photographer, B. J. Falk. Falk’s address is listed as 949 Broadway, New York City. However, there is a light stamp over the Broadway address indicating that the studio had “removed” to 13 & 15 West 34th Street, New York City. To see other photographs by Falk, click on the category “Photographer: Falk”.
Photograph 2 is a vintage real photo postcard featuring Miss Dupree. The image provides a wonderful close-up view of the actress. She is wearing a fancy dress that is low-cut. Note her pearl necklace. Her hair is styled perfectly, providing a very fresh and clean look. The photographer credited with this fine portrait is celebrity photographer, Jacob Schloss (1856-1938). His studio was located in New York City (Manhattan). He received his education at the Cooper Union in New York City. He graduated in 1872 as an etcher. He joined Benjamin J. Falk’s photography studio and worked there in the mid 1870’s. He left Falk’s employ to open his own studio (54 West 23rd Street) where like Falk, he specialized in theatrical photography. He tended to favor photographing actresses in costume in front of generic studio furnishings. He produced many cabinet card photographs but also was active in the production of magazine images. By the 1890’s he was particularly known for his photographs of beautiful women, much like photographer Jose Maria Mora. Schloss also was an activist for photographers rights. He was very involved in the movement to copyright images. He sued those who used his photographs without crediting or paying him. He was an active participant in national photographer associations and was an worked as a photographer until the 1910’s. The photograph was published by the Rotograph Company as part of the “Rotograph Series” (no.B1844). The postcard has a stamp stating “From Robert S. Simmons”, whom I believe, but can not confirm, was a well known collector of photographs. (SOLD)
PRETTY WOMAN IN BRUNSWICK, MAINE
A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the studio of A. O. Reed at his studio in Brunswick, Maine. The young woman is wearing a pin at her collar and earrings. Note her styled short hair and her flowery blouse. To view other photographs by Reed, click on the category “Photographer: Reed”.
STYLISH FAMILY IN MINDEN, GERMANY (1905)
A stylish and well dressed family pose for their portrait at the studio of J. Loerb in Porta Westfalica, Minden, Germany. It seems that someone forgot to tell the woman on the right that she was supposed to wear a light colored dress. Oops! Writing on the reverse of the image indicates that this photograph was taken in 1905.
PRETTY LADY WITH EXCELLENT FASHION SENSE IN WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY
This pretty West Hoboken lady dressed cool, before cool was invented. She clearly mastered the layered look, and the combination of textures composing her outfit, is phenomenal. Her very busy, but interesting hat, also adds to her “look”. This woman knew how to put herself together and likely was well aware that she had this talent. She is posed for this photograph in a studio faux park like setting which includes a live plant. The photographer is Charles A. Henkel. His studio was located in West Hoboken, New Jersey, from 1893 through at least 1900. An advertisement in the Photographic Times (1884) indicates that Henkel previously had a studio in Jersey City Heights, New Jersey.
TWO YOUNG SISTERS WEARING EXQUISITE DRESSES IN GOSHEN, NEW YORK
These Goshen girls are likely sisters, and they are wearing identical exquisite dresses as they pose for photographer A. G. Wheeler, in Goshen, New York. Wheeler is mentioned in the book,The Empire State: Its Industries and Wealth (1888). He is described as a native New Yorker who established his Goshen gallery in 1885. The brief biographical sketch adds that, earlier in time, he had a photographic studio in Hempstead, New York.
NICE MUSTACHE IN TRENTON NEW JERSEY
This cabinet card features a well dressed gentleman with a noteworthy mustache. In fact, the mustache is so noteworthy, that it joins other cabinet cards featuring fantastic mustaches in Cabinet Card Gallery’s category of Mustaches (Only the Best). Click on the category and view the other mustaches. The photographer of this image is Henry C. Lovejoy (1838-1901) of Trenton, New Jersey. Lovejoy had a series of studios in Trenton between 1869 and 1900. A Trenton Times (1891) newspaper article interviewed Lovejoy about many issues pertaining to portrait photography. He stated that “the great art, however, is in placing a person in position. This can only be acquired by long practice and experience.” He added “the photographer must also by a physiognomist” because different people will photograph better in different positions. A physiognomist is an expert at the art of judging human character from facial features. Later in the same article, Lovejoy provides interesting comments about post mortem photography (photographing the dead).
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 