This vintage real photo postcard features a lovely well dressed couple with a sense of humor. The gentleman in the photograph wrote a very funny message on the reverse of the card. The man, Joe, writes that the pair are being photographed on a mountain, twelve hundred feet above Portland, Oregon. He then demonstrated his flair for humor by suggesting to the postcard’s recipient, “If you have any rats in your smoke house, just put this (photo) in there and I will insure you no more rats will bother”. This postcard was sent to a woman in Latham, Kansas, and was postmarked in Eads, Colorado. The card was written and mailed in 1908. Joe and his “lady friend” were photographed at 10 Minute Photos, by Cal Calvert. The studio was located in Council Crest (Portland, Oregon). Council Crest Park is a city park in southwest Portland. Council Crest is 1071 feet above sea leveland is one of the hightest points in in the Tualatin Mountains. The park offers a great view of Portland. The couple in this photo may have taken a street car to the park. The Portland Railway, Light and Power Company opened a street car route (Council Crest Line) to the park in 1906. In 1907 the company opened an amusement park at the site. Research found information related to the photographer who took this photograph. Charles E. (Cal) Calvert operated his studio at Sixth & Ankeny from 1906 through 1930. In 1907, with the opening of Council Crest Amusement Park, he operated a studio and postcard stand on it’s grounds. He also ran a studio at the Washington Street entrance to Portland’s City Park in 1910. Cal was known for his use of rustic props and for his creativity. One of his sets involved subjects appearing as if they were flying an airplane over the city of Portland. A postcard employing this setting is part of a collection at the Portland Art Museum. SOLD
A bearded gentleman poses for his portrait at the D. C. Herrin studio in The Dalles, Oregon. The subject is wearing overalls and his attire indicates that he is a workman of some type. He is resting his hand on a wicker chair and is striking an unusual pose in that his feet are crossed at the knee. The gentleman looks rather bored as he endures the process of having his portrait taken. David C. Herrin began his photography career in Medford, Oregon (1888). He and his photographer wife, Margaret, operated a studio in The Dalles from 1892 through 1898. The couple moved to Portland, Oregon in 1899 and joined Frank G. Abell for establish Abell & Herrin photography studio. David Herrin died in 1909. An interesting side note concerns the name of the town that hosted the above photographic session. The city of “The Dalles” is named after a rock. Dalle is a French word meaning flagstone. The name of the town refers to the basalt rocks carved by the Columbia River on which the town is located. This cabinet card is in very good condition (see scans). 
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 