This cabinet card features a handsome and fashionably dressed black man. He appears very confident in his three piece suit with his overcoat slung over his arm. This dapper man seems to be going someplace. The photographer and the location of the studio is unknown as this photograph has been trimmed to fit into an album or picture frame. The man may be a celebrity. The number (805) on the left side bottom of the card likely is a card number, indicating that the photograph is one of a series of photographs. Tobacco companies published cabinet card series, including series of cards featuring famous individuals. Perhaps a visitor to this site will leave a comment providing additional information about the identity of the subject of this photograph.
WELL DRESSED AND HANDSOME BLACK GENTLEMAN: POSSIBLE CELEBRITY
BABY RIDER POSES ON A ROCKING HORSE: KENTUCKY DERBY CONTENDER?
This cabinet card is a portrait of Edwin Jacobs, son of Edwin and Lilla Jacobs, posing on a rocking horse. Note the detailed rocking horse which features reins, harness, stirup, mane and long tail. Young Edwin doesn’t appear to be excited about his opportunity to ride the horse. The photographer is Johns and Faught of Lexington, Kentucky. To view other photographs by this studio, click on the category “Photographer: Johns & Faught”. Kentucky is horse country and of course, the home of the Kentucky Derby since 1875.
AN ARTIST AND HER ART IN CASTILE, NEW YORK
This Cabinet Card is a bit unusual in that it is an image of a woman posing next to framed art. The pose raises some interesting questions. Is the woman an artist proudly displaying her artistic creation? Is the art in this photograph just a prop that the photographer likes to use in his studio work? The questions are unanswerable today but perhaps other images from this photographer will be found that also include art as part of his portraits. Such a finding would indicate that the art is simply a studio prop. The photographer is George L. Washburn of Castile, New York.
PHOTOGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER MAKES GOOD: FAMILY PORTRAIT ENTERS THE CABINET CARD GALLERY
This cabinet card appears to be a family portrait, judging by the similar appearance of many of the subjects in the photograph. This is one very serious and intense family. Were these young men and woman told by the photographer to look dejected and severe? The photographer of this cabinet card has some interesting biographical facts. George Shadrach Lofft took this photograph in his studio in Lapeer, Michigan. In addition to his profession of photography, Lofft was an illustrator who loved to draw pastel and crayon portraits. He had six children and could not support his family as a photographer. In 1902 he moved his family to Philadelphia where he worked for a Dry Plate company. He died in 1937. One of his daughters found great success in the world of literature. Marguerite de Angeli (1889-1987) was a best selling and award winning author and illustrator of children’s books.
BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED WOMAN ON A SWING
This Cabinet Card is a portrait of a young woman sitting on a swing. The props and background of this photograph are exquisite. The woman is beautifully dressed. Hopefully a visitor can explain what she is wearing around her neck. It looks like a kerchief but it is clearly something more complicated. The photographer is Farley and the location of the studio is somewhere in Illinois. To view other photographs by this photographer, click on the category “Photographer: Farley”.
FASHIONABLE WOMAN IN NEW YORK CITY
A young woman in a pretty dress poses for the photographer at the studio of Hargrave & Gubelman in New York City, New York. The Post Office Guide (1890) has an advertisement for the studio which indicates that A. J. Hargrave managed the New York City Studio while Theodore Gubelman managed their second studio, which was located in Jersey City, New Jersey. To view other photographs by Hargrave, click on the category “Photographer: Hargrave”.
MUTTON CHOP MAN AND HIS WIFE AND BABY SIT FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN
This cabinet card photograph is a studio photograph of a young family posing as if they are sitting in an outside garden. The man has some impressive mutton chops that seem to be distracting his wife. The photographer is Smith whose studio was in Detroit, Michigan.
“GOT BUTTONS” PRETTY AND FASHIONABLE YOUNG WOMAN PHOTOGRAPHED AT UNKNOWN LOCATION
This Cabinet Card has no identifying information to reveal anything about the photographer or the subject of this image. Suffice it to say that the image is beautifully photographed and the young woman is quite attractive, well dressed, and projects a quiet confidence and nobility. She also has a lot of buttons.
“BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE”; LITTLE ANNIE POSES IN WINTER COAT AND HAT IN SAGINAW, MICHIGAN
An adorable little girl, named Annie, poses in her winter coat and hat in the Smith Studio in Saginaw, Michigan. The photographer, William L. Smith bought the studio in 1883 and had eleven years experience as a photographer prior to starting his own business.
BROTHER AND SISTER POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHER IN TAMAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA
A brother and sister pose for this cabinet card by Baily, in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. The children look very serious as they stare at the photographer. Note the draped rug separating the siblings. The Cabinet Card Gallery presents another photograph by Baily and it can be viewed in the category “Photographer: Baily”. The description of this other image contains interesting information about both the photographer and the town of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 