A sad child poses for a portrait at the studio of J. S. Fritz, in Reading, Pennsylvania. The frowning child is standing on a bench and wearing a fancy outfit. Note the large bow and the unattractive hat. The name of the child, “Jemil Arman”, is penciled on the reverse of the cabinet card. Research yielded no information about Jemil Arman or photographer, J. S. Fritz. It is possible that a legibility problem may have resulted in an incorrect interpretation of the subject’s name. ADDENDUM Additional research resulted in discovering information about photographer, John S. Fritz. He was born on his father’s Pennsylvania farm in 1861. He left home at 15 to work in Philadelphia and while there, learned photography. He then worked with his brother in law as a traveling photographer. He left the business to pursue other occupations and he worked in both Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. He returned to photography and at some point operated a photography studio located at 852 Penn Street in Reading. He was married to Elizabeth Apffel and had at least three children. (SOLD)
ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL : FANCY CLOTHES : READING, PENNSYLVANIA : CABINET CARD
The subject of this photograph is a darling little girl with sausage curls under a fancy hat. She is seen faking a walk in a faux park. The little girl is holding a parasol. The photographer of this image is John D. Strunk of Reading, Pennsylvania. He was quite prolific and talented. This cabinet card photograph is in very good condition (see scans). (SOLD)

YOUNG WOMAN READING A BOOK IN A GARDEN
This vintage real photo postcard features a young woman sitting in a yard chair with an open book on her lap. She is well dressed in a striped shirt and a long dark dress. Her lace collar has a pretty bow. Her hair is relatively straight and combed to the sides. One observer of this photograph labelled it a Gibson hairstyle. Although the message on this postcard is not very clear, it appears that the writer is stating that she doesn’t like the way her hair looks because it makes her look “soft”. She cutely points out that in regard to her negative feelings about her hair, she needs to accept her hair as it is, because “I haven’t any other”. (SOLD)

HANDSOME SOLDIER AND HIS PRETTY WIFE IN READING, ENGLAND (VINTAGE RPPC)
This vintage real photo postcard features a lovely couple. The handsome gentleman is in his crisp British military uniform and holding his hat at his side. Beside him is his pretty wife who is wearing an attractive long white dress along with a necklace and collar pin. The couple’s portrait was taken at Ward’s Studio in Reading, England. The postcard has excellent clarity.

AN ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL AND HER DOLL IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
This image is a post cabinet card era portrait of a sweet adorable little girl holding her doll. The child is well dressed and flashing a wonderful smile. This photograph was taken at the Hafer studio in Reading, Pennsylvania. The photo joins one of many images from Reading that can be found in the Cabinet Card Gallery. Edward Egleman Hafer (1843-1925) was a portrait painter in addition to being a photographer. He was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania and settled in Reading in his mid teens. He began his photographic career in Reading at the studio of Captain F. M. Yeager for whom he worked between 1872 and 1874. He then bought Yeager’s business and remained at the same address (433 1/2 Penn Street) until 1900. Hafer was married to Amanda Nagle Hafer (1853-1920). The 1920 US census indicates that he was still working as a photographer at a very advanced age. He eventually retired in 1920 and died in Mount Penn, Pa in the year 1925 at the age of 82. He is buried in Reading’s Charles Evans Cemetery. This photograph measures approximately 7″ x 5″.

CHARMING LITTLE GIRL WITH POISE GALORE IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card portrait features an adorable little girl while sitting on a platform covered with fake grass. The youngster exhibits a lot of poise for a child her age. Note her lace collar and the multitude of buttons on her jacket. She is holding her bonnet on her lap. The photographer of this image is Frank W. Cole (1857-1912) who operated a studio in Reading, Pennsylvania. Cole was born in Bethlehem, Pa. and learned photography there. He came to Reading in 1883 and opened a photography studio at the address printed at the bottom of this cabinet card. He closed the studio in 1885 and went to work for another photographer (Saylor). According to the information aforementioned, this photograph was taken between 1883 and 1885. A Christmas/New Year’s message on the reverse of the photograph (see below) reveals that this charming girl’s name is Emily.

PORTRAIT OF A FIREFIGHTER IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
The cabinet card gallery has over a dozen photographs by photographer John D. Strunk. This image joins two other fireman portraits by the prolific Mr. Strunk. This cabinet card features a fireman wearing his dress uniform. Note his brass butons and his badge. To view other photographs by this photographer and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: Strunk”. (SOLD)

NICELY BUT BLANDLY DRESSED COUPLE IN READING PENNSYLVANIA
A nicely but blandly dressed couple pose for their portrait at the Strunk studio in Reading, Pennsylvania. The couple do an excellent job of hiding their emotions as they pose for this portrait. John D. Strunk was a talented and prolific photographer. The Cabinet Card Gallery has a large collection of his photographs. To view these images and to learn more about him, click on the category “Photographer: John D. Strunk”.

TWO YOUNG GIRLS PARTICIPATE IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
Two cute young girls pose for a portrait capturing their participation in a religious ceremony in Reading, Pennsylvania. Note the crucifix and other religious objects in the photograph. The girls are well dressed and adorable. The photographer of this cabinet card portrait, John D. Strunk, was quite prolific and talented. To view more of his photographs, click on the category “Photographer: Strunk”.

SMARTLY DRESSED COUPLE IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card by John Strunk features a well dressed couple. Strunk must have been very productive at his studio in Reading, Pennsylvania. The cabinet card gallery displays multiple photographs created by him. It is interesting to note that his work is usually very professional and often has unusual content. Check out his work at the cabinet card gallery category “Photographer: Strunk”. This particular photograph does not fall into the unusual class. However, this couple appears to be “ethnic”. What does “ethnic” mean in this context? The couple, simply stated, have an appearance that may indicate that they are immigrants to the United States. Obviously, this hypotheses is little more than a guess, considering the absence of identifying information about the pair.
