Georgie Cooper (1882-1968) appears in this cabinet card by Rose & Company of Denver, Colorado. Georgie Cooper was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. Her mother was an actress, Georgie Woodthorpe (1860-1927). Cooper started as a child actress and appeared as “Little Lord Fauntleroy” with her mother at the Burbank Theatre in Los Angeles, California. She later married actor, Landers Stevens and both were active appearing in films. She appeared in 47 films from 1928 through 1944. The photographer of this cabinet card is John K. Rose. He later took on a partner and started a studio named Rose & Hopkins. This partnership was dissolved in 1901. It is interesting to note that “Little Lord Fauntleroy” had much impact in cabinet card photography. In addition to the existence of a number of portraits of child actors portraying the character; many children’s attire and hairstyle in cabinet card images were based on the clothing and appearance of the “Little Lord Fauntleroy” character. “Little Lord Fauntleroy” was the first children’s novel written by English-American author Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was published in 1885. In regard to fashion, the classic Fauntleroy Suit was a velvet cut-away jacket and matching knee pants worn with a fancy blouse with large lace or ruffled collar. It became a major fad in formal fashion for American middle class children. Most commonly, boy between 3 and 8 years of age wore these suits and a minority of these children also wore ringlet curls. ADDENDUM : I have been informed that that this photograph was taken at a performance in Denver that occurred in November, 1889. The source reports that this information comes from an article appearing in the New York Clipper on 12/7/1889. (SOLD)
GEORGIE COOPER: CHILD ACTRESS PLAYING “LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY”
HANDSOME MAN IN MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Meet Walter Burnham, who is posing for his portrait at the studio of Langley, in Manchester, New Hampshire. The studio was located at 780 Elm Street. Burnham has movie star looks and an interesting mustache which curls upward at each end. The mustache earns him a place in the Cabinet Card Gallery category of “Mustaches (Only the Best)”. Click on the category for other interesting or unusual mustaches.
TURN OF THE CENTURY TOUGH GUY
This cabinet card presents a well dressed man, build very solidly, and with an appearance of being someone that you would want on your side, if fisticuffs were to occur. In short, he looks like a tough guy. There is no identifying information available concerning the gentleman photographed, or the photographer. The gentleman’s mustache qualifies him to join the cabinet card gallery category of “Mustaches (Only the Best)”. Check out this category for some very interesting and creative facial hair styles.
SOPHIE EYRE: STAGE ACTRESS SUFFERS AN UNFORTUNATE DEBUT
Sophie Eyre (1853?-1892) was a moderately successful stage actress. She was successful enough for the New York Times to publish a detailed obituary upon her death from heart disease while traveling in Naples, Italy. Eyre was born in Tipperary, Ireland. She married an English Army officer and went on the stage after his death. In 1884 she took the place of Rose Coghlan in the company at Wallach’s Theatre. In 1885 she appeared in New York in a “feeble and speedily forgotten” piece called “In His Power”. The debut was unfortunate “for the part was bad and the play was worse“. The debut was further spoiled by the “extraordinary stupidity of her maid” who followed her mistress on the stage bearing the train of her gown wrapped in a sheet”. Other New York appearances included “Valerie”, “Diplomacy” (by David Belasco), “She Loved Him”, “Home”, “Central Park: or the House with Two Doors”, and “The Palace of Truth”. During her stay in the United States, she was the subject of much gossip in the newspapers. This cabinet card was produced by Falk, a well-know celebrity photographer in New York City. Additional Cabinet Card Gallery photographs by Falk can be seen by clicking on the category “Photographer: Falk”. (SOLD)
TWO GENTLEMEN LOOKING IMPORTANT IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
This cabinet card is an image of two gentlemen dressed warmly in overcoats, hats, and gloves. They exude an air of importance. The photographer is Mahon & Taylor of Nashville, Tennessee. (SOLD)
TODDLER WITH PRETTY WHITE LACE GOWN IN UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO
This cabinet card is a portrait of a toddler in a very pretty white lace gown. The child is also wearing black boots. The photographic studio is McCannon’s Art Gallery of Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
UNIFORMED FIREMAN IN PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE
This photograph is a portrait of a uniformed fireman. The photograph is by L. V. Newell & Co. in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Research discloses that Newell began his work as a photographer in Concord, New Hampshire in 1856. Six months later he moved to Portsmouth. He was one of 13 children of a prominent farmer. Newell is mentioned in his role as an event photographer, in an 1893 publication of the Grand Army of the Republic (Portsmouth Chapter). The cabinet card gallery has two other portraits of Portsmouth, New Hampshire firemen which can be viewed by clicking on the category “Firemen and Policemen”.
PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN WEARING A PLEATED COAT IN YORK, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card features a very pretty young woman with pulled back hair and a bow. She is wearing a pleated coat. The photograph was taken by Perrtz . To view other photographs by Peertz, click on the category “Photographer: Perrtz”.
FAMILY PORTRAIT: BATAVIA, ILLINOIS
This family portrait cabinet card was photographed by E. C. Pratt of Pratts Studio in Batavia, Illinois. It is difficult to determine the family constellation in this image. Perhaps the photograph includes a young adult woman, her mother, and her grandparents. Note the women’s dresses; they are quite varied and pretty.
WESTERN DRESSED ASIAN MAN: PORTRAIT BY PHOTOGRAPHERS TO THE QUEEN
This cabinet card is a portrait of a formally dressed young man who appears to be of Asian descent. The gentleman may be a visitor to the West; or he may be an immigrant to, or resident of the country where he was photographed. The man is handsome and dressed like a man of means. The photographic studio is A & G Taylor, one of several British studios that claim to be “Photographers to the Queen”. Andrew and George Taylor owned the largest Victorian Photography firms in the United Kingdom. The company was started in London in the 1860’s. This particular photograph was taken after 1886 (determined by the back stamp logo); and at that time, the firm had branches in 36 United Kingdom cities, and in 6 cities in the United States.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 