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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PROSPECTORS ON HORSEBACK: COWBOYS FEELING VERY AT HOME ON THE RANGE

This vintage real photo postcard features two riders on horseback. Who are these cowboys? They may be cowpokes, ranch hands, or prospectors. They are equipped with some tools of their trade. One rider has a shovel and a rope, while the other cowboy has a rope and an unidentifiable tool.  The men are riding in the brush. This is not a studio photograph. These wranglers appear to be the real thing. The velox stamp box on this postcard indicates that this photo was taken sometime between 1907 and 1917.

Published in: on March 24, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A MAN AND A HORSE

“A horse is a horse, of course, of course.” This horse, of course, is not “Mr Ed”. However, this cabinet card photograph features a man and his horse. In the background are two men and a dog. The photographer and location of the studio are not identified. It is my strong opinion that the image is from a European studio. (SOLD)

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Published in: on January 28, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A MAN AND HIS HORSE AND WAGON (VINTAGE OCCUPATIONAL REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

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This vintage real photo postcard features a man and his horse and his partially covered wagon. Judging by the man’s clothing; he is a working man. Perhaps he is a delivery man of some sort. He is wearing a white shirt, bow tie and smock. I believe that he is wearing long heavy gloves. The gloves probably pertain to his occupation. The stamp box on the reverse of this postcard indicates that when it was published, the postcard postal rate was 1 cent. The one cent rate was in effect until World War I when it was raised to 2 cents on a temporary basis (1917-1919). The rate was again raised between 1925 and 1928. The rate became permanantly two cents in 1951. As a result, the stamp box in this case, is not helpful in establishing the date that this postcard was produced. However, the style of the front of this postcard indicates that it was produced not long after the 1900’s or 1910’s.

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Published in: on December 5, 2016 at 8:37 pm  Comments (2)  
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FOUR BLACKSMITHS, A HORSE, AND A PORNOGRAPHER IN EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO

This cabinet photograph looks like a scene from a Clint Eastwood western feature film. It is as if the four men are looking into the street to watch Clint challenge four outlaws to a gunfight. More likely, this photograph captures a portrait of four men who work in an East Liverpool, Ohio blacksmith shop. Note that two of the men are holding  tools of their trade and also take notice that there is a tool box in the center of the image.  In additon, two of the men are wearing aprons and all four men are wearing what appears to be appropriate blacksmith garb. In the center of the photograph is a pretty horse. The photographer of this wonderful portrait is Culbertson’s Art Studio. The Culbertson studio is associated with the seamier side of photography and created quite a scandal in East Liverpool. Harry and Leon Culbertson were brothers and at one point were business partners in the Culbertson Brothers photography studio. On 5/10/1892, Harry was arrested on a charge of taking lewd and indecent photographs. His legal defense was that the photographs were “purely works of art”.The Lowell Daily Courier (Lowell, Massachusetts) reported the story on 5/13/1892. Culbertson claimed that two unknown young woman came to his studio and induced him to photograph them “undraped”.  He left town shortly after his arrest.

Published in: on February 22, 2015 at 3:18 pm  Comments (3)  
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PORTRAIT OF A MAN FOLLOWING THE ADAGE “HOLD YOUR HORSES”

horse frontThis cabinet card features a bearded old man holding a chain in order to control his horse. There are two men and a dog in the background of this unusual outside photograph. Although the gentleman handling the horse and the photographer are unidentified, the style of the cabinet card indicates that it is likely of European origin. To view other cabinet card images of horses, click on the category “Horse”.

 

Published in: on May 18, 2014 at 12:21 pm  Comments (1)  
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THE BLACKSMITH SHOP: THREE MEN LET THE HORSE OUT OF THE BARN

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Two blacksmiths and a well dressed man and his horse pose at the doorway of a blacksmith shop or stable. Stenciled on the door next to where the blacksmiths are standing, is the word “GRAPE”. One has to wonder whether “Grape” is the name of the horse. The photograph was purchased in the town of Brocton, New York. However, it is unknown whether this image was photographed in the Brocton area.  The photograph measures 6″ x  6 3/4″.    This is a terrific photograph of days gone by.    SOLD

Published in: on March 2, 2014 at 11:12 am  Leave a Comment  
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TWO SUPERVISED YOUNG CHILDREN ON HORSEBACK IN UNADILLA, NEW YORK

kids on horsesA  uniformed adult holds the reins of two horses occupied by child riders. The kids are wearing riding outfits and are on what appears to be wooded residential property. The photograph was produced by the Wheeler studio in Unadilla, New York. Unadilla is a town located in Ostego County in upstate New York. Research yielded little information about the photographer. It appears that his name is A. Wheeler and he sold his studio to C. H. Phelps in 1900.

Published in: on January 3, 2014 at 12:18 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF A LADY RIDER WITH HER HORSE AND INDIAN GROOMSMAN

RIDER IN INDIAA woman in her riding habit and holding a riding crop, poses with her horse and servant. The servant is wearing a turban and holding the bridle of the lady’s mount. It is likely that this photograph was taken in India. The subjects and the photographer are unidentified.

Published in: on February 21, 2013 at 10:19 pm  Leave a Comment  
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OLD MAN AND HIS HORSE AND BUGGY IN NUNDA, ILLINOIS

horse buggy_0001This cabinet card photograph features an old man sitting in his horse drawn cart. Note that the cart has only two wheels. The cart seems to be on a road in front of a fenced house. The gentleman is wearing a derby style hat. The photograph was produced by the Cone studio in Nunda, Illinois. The township of Nunda was established in 1849 and was originally called Brooklyn. In 1850 the name of the town was changed to Nunda to honor a community leader whose birthplace was Nunda, New York. The photographer of this photograph may be Joseph C. Cone. The Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois (1890) reports that Cone was a Union soldier for three years in Company C of the 103rd Illinois Infantry and became a photographer in Farmington, Illinois. The book also states that he was married to Maria Union. Farmington and Nunda are 190 miles apart and it was not uncommon for photographers of the era to frequently move their businesses from community to community in order to find better economic opportunities. However, Joseph Cone’s identity as the photographer of this image is purely speculative.

Published in: on February 10, 2013 at 12:01 am  Comments (2)  
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