Jane Coombs (1842-?) was an American actress who made a sensational debut during the 1855-1856 theatre season. She starred opposite Edwin Forrest at New York’s Broadway Theatre. In 1861 she starred in a production at the Haymarket Theatre in London, England. The New York Times (1864) describes a graceful tribute to “the charming actress”. The Nebraska State Journal (1894) published a very insulting article about the actress. The article reports that a man stole large packages with Miss Coombs name printed on them, from a hotel baggage room. Apparently, he was hoping to find diamonds in the packages. Upon opening the packages he found two thousand billboard portraits of Miss Coombs. The journal concludes that “Anybody who has had the doubtful pleasure of beholding Miss Coombs, will sympathize with the thief, and decide that in this case, his punishment was greater than his crime”. The author of this article, may be gifted with a sense of humor, but his description of Jane Coombs, at age 52, is certainly quite cruel. She certainly does not look unattractive in this cabinet card portrait by Napoleon Sarony. Sarony was a famed celebrity photographer in New York. Other images by Sarony can be viewed by clicking on the category “Photographers: Sarony”.
MISS JANE COOMBS: EARLY AMERICAN THEATRE ACTRESS
FIVE PRETTY LITTLE GIRLS IN ARLINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA
This cabinet card is a portrait of five pretty little girls in Arlington, South Dakota. The photographer, Glendenning, demonstrated talent, in the way he posed the children in this photograph. The girls are dressed in similar dark dresses and two are wearing necklaces with crosses. South Dakota became a state in 1889; therefore this cabinet card was photographed after 1889.
ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL IN WAUBEEK, IOWA
This cabinet card features a very adorable young girl. She is standing on a fur draped chair and wearing a fancy dress. A hair ribbon decorates her hair and adds to her “cutie pie” appearance. Handwriting on the reverse of the photograph identifies the child as “Elva Hemenway”. The 1900 Federal Census identifies a seven year-old named Elva L.Hemenway, who resided in Linn County, Iowa. Waubeek is in Linn County. The photographer is H. L. Warner of Waubeek, Iowa.
PRETTTY WOMAN IN PHILIPPOPOLI, BULGARIA
A pretty and beautifully dressed woman poses for her portrait at the studio of Cavra, located in Philippopoli (Plovdiv), Bulgaria. The street address of the studio was Grand Rue De Chemin De Fer. The woman is wearing a wonderful hat and earrings. A piece of jewelry on her collar features a portrait of an attractive woman. The subject of this photograph is wearing a glove on her right hand and she is holding a second glove in her left hand. Note that she is holding a walking stick with her gloved hand. To view other photographs by Cavra, and to learn more about Philippopoli, click on the category “Photographer: Cavra”.
MAN WITH A BILLY GOAT BEARD
This cabinet card presents a portrait of a middle aged man with a beard that is reminiscent of a beard that is normally found on a billy goat. The gentleman manages to maintain a distinguished appearance despite his unusual facial hair. The name and location of the photographer responsible for this image, is unknown. To view other notable beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”.
TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND A TRICYCLE IN ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI
This cabinet card captures two young children posing for photographer, J. W. Souder, of St. Joseph, Missouri. The children are adorable and they are most probably, siblings. The boy is wearing a bow tie and the girl is riding a tricycle. John W. Souder’s photography business was listed in St. Joseph directories between 1887 and 1896. It is unknown whether he was there during other years.
VERNONA JARBEAU: THEATRE ACTRESS
This cabinet card is a portrait of theatre actress, Vernona Jarbeau. Jarbeau often played comedienne roles. Performing Arts (1887) reported on the success of one of her performances. The writer states that 3,000 people crowded into Philadelphia’s Academy of Music to hear the Duff Opera Company perform Von Suppe’s “A Trip to Africa”. The cast was described as “strong” and included Lillian Russell (see her photographs in Cabinet Card Gallery), and Jarbeau. The article states that Jarbeau was the hit of opera when she performed a song in French. The audience applauded and laughed as loud as they possibly could, despite the fact that very few in the audience could understand what she was singing. This cabinet card image was photographed by celebrity photographer, Sarony. To view other photographs by Sarony, click on the category “Photographer: Sarony”.
MAJESTIC GREYHOUND IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
This cabinet card is an excellent portrait of a majestic looking greyhound (possible whippet) . The dog sits on a bench with as much regal bearing as any king sits on a throne. The photographer of this image is Abner L. Blanks. He is known to have operated his studio in Birmingham, Alabama, between 1888 and 1890, but may have also been in business there during other years.
“A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW” POSES FOR HIS PORTRAIT IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (PHOTOGRAPH BY TABER)
A jolly looking man poses for a portrait at the studio of Isaiah West Taber (1830-1912), in San Francisco, California. The happy gentleman has a wonderful mustache and earns the right to join other men with remarkable mustaches in the Cabinet Card Gallery’s category “Mustaches (Only the Best)”. Taber was a well known daguerreotypist, ambrotypist and photographer who photographed many California notables. Taber was also a sketch artist and a dentist. He was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Between 1845 and 1849, he worked on a whaling ship. He moved to California in 1850 and returned to the east, four years later. Upon his return, he opened a photography studio in Syracuse, New York. In 1864, he returned to California where he worked in the studio of Bradley and Rulofson until 1873. To view images by Bradley and Rulofson, click on the category, “Photographer: Bradley & Rulofson”. In 1871, Tabor opened his own studio and became famous for reproducing the photographs of well known California photographer, Carleton Watkins. Watkin’s business had gone bankrupt, and Taber reproduced his work without giving Watkins any credit. In 1880, Taber took a six week photographic trip to Hawaii. During part of that trip, he fulfilled his commission to photograph King Kalakaua. By 1890, Taber had expanded his operation to include studios in London and other parts of Europe. However, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, put him out of business. The natural disaster destroyed Taber’s studio, gallery and negatives.
A GIRL AND HER DOLL IN NEW MILFORD, CONNECTICUT
This cabinet card presents a very cute young girl holding one of her dolls. The child is nicely dressed. Note her high button shoes. Her hairstyle seems a bit unusual for the time. Her hair appears to be shorter than one might expect based on other photographs of similar aged girls of that era. However, her hair may be pulled back, and not really short. This photograph also presents a clear view of the child’s doll. The photographer of this image is John J. Walklet of New Milford, Connecticut. Wilson’s Photographic Magazine (1899) announces the sale of Walklet’s studio to W. M. Miller. Walklet’s studio was located at 27 Bank Street, according to a New Milford business directory (1891).
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 