This striking carte de visite (CDV) features a well-dressed gentleman posed in a confident and composed studio portrait by E.R. Curtiss (1836-1906) of Madison, Wisconsin. The sitter stands in a classic mid-19th-century pose, one hand resting on a book while the other is held behind his back, projecting an air of quiet authority and intellectual refinement. The gentleman’s appearance is particularly appealing, with softly curled hair, a neatly groomed mustache, and a full beard that frames his face. His expression is calm and direct, with a steady gaze that gives the portrait a strong presence. He is dressed in a dark, well-tailored coat with a velvet collar, buttoned vest, and bow tie—attire that reflects the formal style of the late Civil War to Reconstruction-era period. The reverse bears an ornate backmark for E.R. Curtiss, Madison, Wisconsin, featuring an American eagle motif and decorative scrollwork. He operated a photo studio in Madison, Wisconsin. Curtiss was born in Southington, Connecticut and married Eva A. Lingenfetler of Fonda, New York in 1859. An interesting physical characteristic of this example is that it is printed on slightly thinner cardstock than is typically encountered with CDVs. Based on the style of dress, pose, and mount design, this CDV likely dates to approximately the late 1860s to early 1870s. The condition of this cdv is good overall. The image remains clear with good contrast and detail. There are scattered small surface specks and light marks visible. The corners show light wear and the mount exhibits typical handling wear for its age. The reverse shows moderate soiling and spotting but retains a strong, legible backmark. The thinner cardstock is intact with no structural issues. Overall, this 150 year-old photograph is a solid and displayable image with appealing subject matter (see scans).
This carte de visite is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $18.00 at auction
Interested collectors may view the listing here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/336575595451
This cabinet card portrait is likely a family portrait, judging by a strong family resemblance among a number of the individuals in the photograph. The woman sitting on the right side of the bottom row is holding an open photograph album. She is also arm in arm with the woman sitting next to her. This image is difficult to analyze in terms of the exact family constellation represented. Are these people siblings? Like many other photographs of this era, it is impossible to confidently hypothesize about the exact relationships between the subjects. The photographer of this cabinet card is Edwin Rodney Curtiss (1836-1906) and his studio was located in Madison, Wisconsin. Curtiss was born in Southington, Connecticut and married Eva A. Lingenfetler of Fonda, New York in 1859. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 