A YOUNG GIRL GOES SLEDDING IN TORONTO, CANADA (IMAGE CAPTURED BY NIAGARA FALLS TIGHT ROPE PERFORMER)

A young girl, buttoned up in her fur trimmed winter jacket, poses with her sled in front of a painted winter scene. She is wearing a cute cap with a tassel and is pulling her sled by a rope. The photographer of this image is S. J. Dixon. Dixon’s Electric Light Photo Gallery  was located in Toronto, Canada. The studio was established in 1872. Dixon was very involved in the Photographic Association of Canada, holding a number of offices on the executive committee. He became the organization’s President in 1889. Dixon was a noted athlete and acrobat. The Photographic Times (1891) reported that he walked a three quarter-inch wire stretched across the Whirlpool Rapids at Niagara. “The cable was from 300 to 400 feet above the torrent, and stretched about 400 feet in length”. He completed the “perilous journey” in about 17 minutes. During his tight rope walk, he performed various antics, including lying at full length across the wire. Not surprisingly, Mr. Dixon insured that his feat would be recorded for posterity. J. C. Hemment, a well known instantaneous photographer, photographed Dixon during his mid-air walk. (SOLD)

Published in: on July 18, 2022 at 12:01 pm  Comments (2)  
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LACROSSE : NATIVE AMERICANS MAKING LACROSSE STICKS : VINTAGE POSTCARD : (1911)

This vintage lithographic postcard features a group of Native Americans sitting (one is standing) in front of a teepee and making lacrosse sticks. Sitting in the group is a cute dog. Native Americans are credited with the development of the game of lacrosse. More specifically, the Iroquois Nation were originators of the game. The Iroqouis were in upstate New York and North of the US border into Canada. Lacrosse became Canada’s national sport. The netting on the Native American made sticks was made with wattup (roots) or deer sinew (connective tissue from deer). This postcard is rich in color and represents both Iroquois history and the history of Lacrosse. This card was published by Nerlich & Company (Toronto, Canada). Another version of this postcard has a caption reporting that the cards scene is located on Cornwall Island, Ontario, Canada. The postcard has a U.S. stamp and was mailed from Old Orchard Beach, Maine to Epping, New Hampshire in 1911.  (SOLD)

Published in: on March 29, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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YOUNG MAN WEARING A FUR COAT AND FUR HAT IN SEAFORTH, ONTARIO

The young man in this photograph is well prepared for a cold Canadian winter. He is wearing a fur coat and fur hat. The photographer who took this portrait is William F. Tate who operated a studio in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada. This vintage photograph measures about 6″ x 4 1/4″.   SOLD

Published in: on August 5, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THE MUSKEGON 6: A GROUP OF PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN POSE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT

Six young women gathered at the studio belonging to William McComb (1844-?) in order to have their photograph taken. The studio was located in Muskegon, Michigan. What is the connection between these women? The woman seated in the center front row of the photo has an open book on her lap. Perhaps the young ladies are students. More is known about the photographer than about the young women. William McComb grew up on Prince Edward Island, Canada. He was of Irish descent. By the time he was fifteen years old, McComb had developed an interest in photography. In 1859, he volunteered to become the assistant of a visiting photographer in the area. He learned the business and photography skills necessary to pursue the career of being a photographer. His career path took him to jobs in galleries in Ottawa and Montreal. He then moved to the United States where he met Muskegon photographer, J. D. Westervelt. The two men decided to work together, and the partnership lasted for just one year. In 1879, McComb opened his own photo studio. He soon became the most popular photographer in Muskegon. In 1895, a devastating fire destroyed his studio and it’s equipment as well as his collection of 40,000 negatives. McComb opened a new studio and rebuilt his business. Besides photography, he had a strong interest in weather forecasting and in 1893, he joined the US weather bureau. His duties included raising flags to notify mariners of approaching weather conditions. A photo of William McComb can be seen below. This cabinet card has gold beveled edges.   SOLD

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Published in: on August 1, 2018 at 1:25 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ELDERLY WOMAN WEARING MOURNING DRESS IN EDMONTON, CANADA

This carte de visite portrait features an aged woman wearing mourning clothes. Her black dress, black hat, and sad expression, all suggest that she has suffered a recent loss. Her left hand is placed on a book atop a small table. The book is likely a bible. The photographer of this cdv photograph is J. R. Bentley. He operated a studio in Edmonton, Canada. Research found an ad in “The Photographic News” (1893) in which Bentley advertises the sale of his studio. It is very interesting to note that the advertising on the reverse of this CDV refers to Bentley as a “Portrait, Landscape, & Equestrian Photographer”. I do not remember ever seeing a early photographer refer to himself as a “Equestrian” photographer. I wonder if Mr. Bentley took photos of individual horses, or if he photographed individuals sitting on horses. I hope someday I locate one of Bentley’s equestrian photographs.

Published in: on April 6, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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PORTRAIT OF A LOVELY COUPLE IN LONDON (ONTARIO), CANADA

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This cabinet card portrait features a well dressed and handsome couple posing at Edy Brothers studio in London (Ontario), Canada. The studio was located at 214 Dundas Street. The gentleman is holding some papers on his lap. The attractive young woman appears to appreciate jewelry. She is wearing a necklace and a ring. Edy Brothers Studio was a family run business for several decades between the 1860’s and teh early 1920’s in Brantford and London, Ontario. James Newbury Edy (1843-1890) and William Daniel Edy (1832-1911) were the original partners that started the business. William’s son Leslie Eli Edy (1864-1919) ran the business in the early 1900’s. The next proprietor was Franklin William Edy who operated the studio until it’s closure in 1922.  (SOLD)

Published in: on May 12, 2015 at 12:04 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CLASS PICTURE FROM THE AVONDALE SCHOOL IN NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA (1898)

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This vintage photograph is a class portrait of children from the Avondale School in Nova Scotia, Canada. The image has unusually great clarity. I suggest that the viewer magnifies the image and carefully look at the children’s expressions, their hairstyles,  and at their attire. This photograph really gives the observer an up close look at turn of the century school children. Note the two boys at the end of the first row. They are holding up signs identifying their school and the date (1898). The teacher sits in a chair, hands on his lap, and looking relaxed. I wonder how common male school teachers were during this era. Two of the girls are wearing identical dresses (same pattern). My guess is that they are sisters and their mother made the dresses. This is an exceptional example of a more than a century old class picture.

Published in: on January 24, 2015 at 11:41 am  Comments (4)  
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“LEAN ON ME”: TWO AFFECTIONATE WOMEN IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

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“ Lean on me, when you‘re not strong. And I’ll be your friend. I’ll help you carry on.”  This cabinet card portrait brings to mind the lyrics of Bill Withers song “Lean on Me”.  The image features two affectionate women (perhaps they’re sisters), one seated on a chair while the other is seated on the floor. The young woman on the floor has an open book in her lap and appears to be reading to the second woman. They are posed in an affectionate manner. Both are wearing pretty bows. The photographer is John Harvey and his studio was located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. After studying photography for two years in New York, Harvey established his Fredericton studio in 1883. He and his wife, Martha, ran the studio until John’s death in 1903. Martha Harvey continued operating the studio on her own until she sold it to Frank Pridham in 1917. Pridham and subsequent owners kept the “Harvey Studio” name and the business continues to operate today as one of the oldest photography studios in Canada. 

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Published in: on December 8, 2013 at 11:42 am  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A TEENAGE GIRL IN MONTREAL, CANADA

montreal girl_0003A girl, who appears to be a teenager, poses for her portrait at the studio of L. E. Desmarais & Cie in Montreal, Canada. The street address of the studio was 17 St. Laurent. L. E. Desmarais was listed in a number of Montreal city directories between 1870 and 1895. Two other photographers with the same last name were also listed, Ovila Desmarais (1864-1875) and Oliver Desmarais (1871-1878). It is likely that all three men were related.

Published in: on November 4, 2013 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT BY FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER MADAME GAGNE IN MONTREAL, CANADA

MADAME GAGNE_0002This cabinet card portrait features a well dressed woman and was produced by a female photographer in Montreal, Canada. Madame Gagne ran a photography studio in Montreal in the 1880’s and early 1890″s. Gagne had studios at other locations in Montreal including 897 St. Catherine (circa 1885) and1823 St. Catherine (date unknown). She was located at the 211 St. Laurent address in 1895. She did a great deal of portrait work for the Chinese community. William Notman was the Montreal photographer associated with taking portraits of the elite. It is likely that Madame Gagne was married to fellow Montreal photographer, Edouard Gagne. The McCord Museum in Montreal has some of Madame Gagne’s work in their collection of historic local photographs.

Published in: on October 23, 2013 at 12:01 pm  Comments (1)  
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