This Cabinet card pictures, what appears to be, two Native American or possibly African American cowboys wearing their cow punching clothing. The cowboy on the left is wearing a western hat, a neckerchief, and wooly chaps. I do not know what he wearing over his lower arms and wrists. The cowboy on the right has his western hat, neckerchief, and is wearing spurs on his boots. The photographer is Elliott of Marion, Iowa. Marion was established in 1839 and named after popular figure General Marion. The courthouse in Marion was the location of the recruitment of nine full companies which fought for the Union in the Civil War. The area was known as the most patriotic part of Iowa.
TWO NATIVE AMERICAN OR POSSIBLY AFRICAN AMERICAN COWBOYS
YOUNG GIRL WEARING TIC TAC TOE DRESS IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN (1890)
This little girl is posing for the photographer in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The photographer is Wood and the date on the front of the card indicates that the photograph was taken in 1890. This cute but serious little girl is wearing a dress with a tic tac toe design pattern. I think tic tacky toe is a better description but I do wonder if in the 1890’s someone besides this girl’s mother thought the dress was cute. Incidentally, the game of tic tac toe has been around for centuries. To view other photographs by Wood, click on the category “Photographer: Wood”.
Beautiful Opera Star: Emma Abbott (1850-1891)
Emma Abbott was an American opera star and impresario. She began performing as a child and was encouraged by Clara Louise Kellogg to pursue an operatic career. She studied in New York, Milan and Paris and later worked at the Royal Opera in London. In a different company, she had her contract cancelled for refusing to perform in Verdi’s La Traviata on moral grounds. She had her American debut in 1877 and in 1878 founded her own opera company which received great public tribute but did not impress many opera critics. She died suddenly at around 40 years of age from pneumonia. This cabinet card was photographed by the celebrated photographer Joses Mora.
Fireman in Denver, Colorado
This very clear image of a uniformed fireman was photographed by the studio of Mc Donald & Co of Denver, Colorado.
African American Baby in Erie, Pennsylvania (1895)
This Cabinet card of an African American baby (girl?) is a rare find. In my many years of collecting Cabinet cards I have seen few photographic portraits of Black babies. This photograph is from the studio of Pfaff in Erie, Pennsylvania. The reverse of the card indicates the photograph was taken in 1895 when the infant was 13 weeks. The parents were Mr and Mrs Austin Mont. of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Military Sharpshooter in Bangor, Maine
This Cabinet Card subject is a military sharpshooter photographed by Heath of Bangor, Maine. The soldier is wearing medals including one that names him as a sharpshooter. The other medals include one representing Sons of Union Veterans. He also appears to be wearing Medical Maltese Crosses on his collar. Any information from readers of this blog about the type of medals this soldier is wearing, would be greatly appreciated.
African American Man in Checkered Jacket in Cincinnati, Ohio
A young African American man is photographed in the Cabinet Card by H. Mueller of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is wearing a checkered jacket with a handkerchief in his jacket pocket.
Chavita: Beautiful Paris Stage Star
Chavita is captured in this Cabinet Card by famed Paris Photographer, Reutlinger. This beautiful woman is wearing a mantilla and holding a spanish fan. She is wearing a Spanish lace dress and is clearly in a corset. She danced at the opera=comique and was known for her “spicy numbers”. More information will be added when research uncovers further biographical information on this star of the Paris stage. To view other photographs by Charles Reutlinger, click on the category “Photographer: Reutlinger”.
CUTE BABY IN SAN FRANCISCO: “I COULD HAVE BEEN A GERBER BABY!”
This very cute baby was photographed by the Imperial Studio of San Francisco, California. The Cabinet Card is very different from most Cabinet Card photographs of infants. The more typical photo is one in which the baby is wrapped in a blanket and the baby’s whole body is in the image at a far distance. This baby is a adorable and could have been a commercial model if he or she was born in modern times.
FATHER AND TWO SONS IN PHILIPPOPOLI (PLOVDIV), BULGARIA
This Cabinet card image is of a father and his two sons posing at the studio of Cavra in Philippopoli (Plovdiv), Bulgaria. Notice the clothing worn by the three members of this family. The father is dressed in the clothing of a peasant while the two sons are wearing more fashionable attire. Note the cane, the umbrella and the two hats in the image. The city of Plovdiv is in south central bulgaria on the Maritsa River. It is presently the second largest city in Bulgaria. The city was in the possession of the Turks who passed it to Russia in 1877. It became the capitol of Eastern Rumelia (1878-1885) which united with Bulgaria in 1885. To view other photographs by Cavra, click on the category “Photographer: Cavra”.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 