This cabinet card features a man with long flowing hair. He is wearing a western hat. His portrait looks similar to the portraits of Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickok, and Pawnee Bill. Perhaps he is one of these celebrated old characters but it is my hypothesis that he is a member of a troupe of “actors” in a “Wild West” show visiting New York. The New York connection is that this photograph was taken at the James Studio, located in New York City. SOLD
Lina Cavalieri was an Italian operatic soprano and renowned beauty who captivated audiences in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on Christmas day in1874, in Viterbo, Italy, as Natalina Cavalieri, she would go on to become one of the most celebrated and iconic sopranos of her time. Cavalieri’s journey into the world of opera began at a young age when her exceptional vocal talent was discovered. She received formal training in Milan, where she honed her skills and developed a remarkable voice. Her operatic debut occurred in 1892 at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele in Turin, and she quickly gained recognition for her powerful and expressive singing. In addition to her vocal prowess, Lina Cavalieri was known for her striking beauty, and she was often referred to as the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman.” Her enchanting looks and captivating stage presence helped elevate her status beyond the opera world. As her fame grew, she became a sought-after performer in major opera houses across Europe, including La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Cavalieri’s repertoire included a wide range of operas, and she was particularly acclaimed for her performances in works by composers such as Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. Her ability to convey emotion through her singing and her charismatic stage presence endeared her to audiences worldwide. Beyond her operatic career, Lina Cavalieri ventured into the world of acting and appeared in several silent films. Her beauty made her a natural fit for the burgeoning film industry, and she transitioned seamlessly between the stage and screen. Despite her success, Cavalieri faced personal challenges, including a tumultuous love life and financial difficulties. She had an affair with a Russian Prince and was married multiple times. Her marriages were often short-lived. Tragically, Lina Cavalieri’s life was cut short when she perished in an allied bombing run over Florence, Italy. She was killed running from her house to a bomb shelter. Her legacy lives on through recordings of her performances, photographs, and the enduring image of the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” who left an indelible mark on the world of opera and entertainment. Cavalieri’s photograph seen on this hand tinted postcard was taken by Leopold Reutlinger. The postcard has a 1906 postmark from Mexico. The card was published by SIP as part of a series (No. 52/19). SOLD
The caption under the photograph on this holiday greeting real photo postcard wishes the recipient a “Happy Christmas”. Two adorable children are standing under a copiously decorated Xmas tree. The kids are accompanied by a large doll and a toy sail boat. This French postcard has a French stamp affixed to the front of the card. The card has a 1908 postmark. The postcard was published by PC as part of a series (No.4013) and is in very good condition (see scans). SOLD
A boy dressed in jacket and tie, poses with his bicycle, in the studio of I. B. Klopfenstein, in Inman, Kansas. Note the castle in the background. The castle is an interesting choice for a backdrop, considering that the studio and the lad are located on the Great Plains of America. The pasty faced boy looks intently at the camera. His bicycle lacks the accessories often seen in images of people posing with bikes in cabinet card photography. This bike lacks a horn, basket, or repair kit. The photographer, Isaac B. Klopfenstein is listed in a number of state and federal censuses. In 1885 he lived in Lincoln, Kansas but by 1895, his residence was reported to be Inman, Kansas. He was of German heritage and was born in 1864, somewhere in Ohio. The reverse of the cabinet card has a pencilled name that identifies the boy in this photograph. The inscription reveals that he is “Master Charlie Williams”. Research efforts to gather further information about the lad were stymied because of the abundance of people in Kansas named “Charlie Williams” during that era. When was this photograph taken? It is safe to say that the image was produced 1889 or later. The town of Inman, Kansas was founded in 1887 but was originally named “Aiken”. The town was renamed in 1889. The new name was Inman, named after nearby Lake Inman. Who is Inman? Inman was the name of the Army Major who originally surveyed the area. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features a group portrait of the Citizens Band of Newberry, Pennsylvania. The community band members are all wearing full uniforms. This photograph was taken circa 1908. Newberry township is in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Newberry is a section of the town of Williamsport which is in central Pennsylvania. Williiamsport has been the home of the Little League World Series since 1947. The photographer of this band portrait is William Henry Holtzinger (1869-1933). Census data as well as Williamsport business directories indicate Holtzinger was a photographer as early as 1898, and as late as 1932. He died of chronic myocarditis in 1933. Two photographs of Mr Holtzinger can be seen below. (SOLD)
William Holtzinger in his Knights of Malta uniform
Portrait of William Holtzinger, Lucy Long Holtinger (wife), and Arthur Jacob Holtzinger (son)
This ethnographic real photo vintage postcard features a portrait of a young Indian woman husking rice. She is wearing traditional clothing. A basket in the forefront holds her supplies. This postcard was published by the photography firm, Mahatta & Co.. The firm still is in existence. It has been owned by the Mahatta family since it was established in 1915. The photography studio had branches in a number of Indian cities. It is currently operating in New Delhi. The firm’s history is very much intertwined with India’s history. The Mahatta company photographed many famous people including Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Jacqueline Kenney and the Dalai Lama. (SOLD)
A mother and her two children pose pose for a photograph in front of their house. Two cars can be seen in the background. The three family members are standing on a dirt driveway. Mom is dressed plainly. She is wearing glasses. The daughter appears to be wearing a dress that is too short. The little boy is possibly wearing pajamas. His hair is uncombed and he is barefoot. My guess is that the family had little time to prepare to be photographed as not much effort went into looking their best. This photograph was found in the Texas hill country. (SOLD)
This vintage risque real photo postcard features a scantily clad pretty young dancer. Note her long hair and headress.The card was published by Neue Photographische Gesellschaft (NPG) as part of a series (No.553/2). The company was a leading bromide photo printing company for many years.at the beginning of the 20th century. (SOLD)
The subject of the photograph is Horace Porter, who was quite an accomplished man who played an integral part in American history. Horace Porter (1837-1921) is most well known for his activities during the civil war. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel, Ordnance Officer, and Staff Officer in the Union Army. In 1866 he was appointed brevet Brigadier General in the U. S. Army. He was also personal secretary to General and President Ulysses S. Grant and to General William Sherman. Later, he was the Vice President of the Pullman Palace Car Company and the United States ambassador to France (1897-1905). Horace Porter was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He was the son of David R. Porter who who served as Pennsylvania’s Governor. His cousin, Andrew Porter was a Mexican-American War veteran and Union Army Brigadier General. Horace Porter was educated at Harvard University and graduated from West Point in 1860. He was distinguished in the Battle of Fort Pulaski (Georgia), Chickamauga, the Battle of the Wilderness, and New Market Heights. He received the Medal of Honor for his efforts at Chickamauga. He later wrote a memoir “Campaigning With Grant” (1897). The photographer of this cabinet card portrait is Joseph G. Gessford. Gessford (1875-1925) operated a prominent New York City studio located at 288 Fifth Avenue. Gessford was best known as a photographer of celebrities and socialites during the first two decades of the twentieth century. He photographed Mark Twain in 1904, and when the author requested gratis copies of the portraits, Gessford famously replied, “I could no more afford to give you these pictures than you can afford to write books for free.” SOLD
This vintage postcard features a portrait of three Yuma Indians. The Yuma are a Native American tribe that currently live on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation. Their home is located on the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California. This lithographic postcard was mailed in 1925. The writer of the card was on route from San Bernadino, California to Phoenix, Arizona. The writer tells the recipient of the postcard that the lines on the seated man’s face, are not painted, but instead, they are tatoos. This postcard was published by Dean’s News Depot. The firm was located in Yuma, Arizona. (SOLD)
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 