YOUNG BOY IN SUIT : DORÉ GALLERY : SAN FRANCISCO : CABINET CARD c1890s

This handsome 1890s cabinet card portrait captures a young boy dressed in a refined double-breasted suit with brass buttons, short trousers, and dark stockings. A large white collar and a ribbon-style bow tie accent his formal ensemble. His neatly parted hair and composed facial expression give him the appearance of a thoughtful, well-mannered child, likely from an affluent San Francisco family. He stands confidently with one hand tucked into his jacket in a pose that evokes dignity and early Victorian formality, leaning gently on a faux balustrade surrounded by foliage in an elaborately staged studio setting. This photograph was produced by Cobb’s Doré Gallery, located at 1144 Market Street, San Francisco, as indicated on both the front and reverse of the mount. The studio succeeded the earlier firm Edouart & Cobb, one of the better-known names in late 19th-century California photography. Doré Gallery was active in the 1880s and 1890s, during the heyday of elaborately posed cabinet portraits. The backdrop features what appears to be a painted garden scene with a Mediterranean-style colonnade, adding a romantic flair to the image.  (SOLD)

Published in: on September 11, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MYSTERY ACTRESS IN SAN FRANCISCO: ETTA ?????

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CABINET CARD 1

CABINET CARD 2   (SOLD)

These two Cabinet cards present quite a mystery. The dramatically dressed and attractive young woman in Cabinet Card 1 is simply identified as “Etta”. She appears to be an actress and my research reveals a large number of actresses named Etta who were stage performers around the turn of the century. I have been unable to determine this actresses identity, but a leading candidate might be Etta Butler (1879-1903). Etta Butler was a well-known actress and impersonator. She began her career at age 19 with the Tivoli Chorus in San Francisco. A year later she became a member of the “Around New York in Eighty Minutes” company. She was later featured in Frohman  comedies. She was last seen in “The Liberty Belles” at the Madison Square. Because of her popularity and promise, she was retained by David Belasco in a long term contract. She died of Typhoid fever in Roosevelt Hospital, in New York City at age 24. This mystery lady was photographed by Bradley and Bulofson of San Francisco, California.

Cabinet Card 2 has an inscription on the reverse signed by “Etta”. Are these two cabinet cards, taken by the same photographer, portraits of the same woman? One can see enough resemblance between the two images to hypothesize  that they are likely the same “Etta”. Take a look at another cabinet card by these photographers by clicking on the category “Photographer: Bradley & Rulofson”. That very same click will provide the reader with additional information about the photographers of this image.  (SOLD)

Published in: on January 16, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (14)  
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BOUDOUIR CABINET CARD :FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER :J. B. MONACO : STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA

This vintage photograph is a Boudoir Cabinet Card. Boudoir Cabinet Cards are larger than the typical cabinet card. This photograph features a portrait of fashionable girl who appears to be in her teenage years. The identity of the girl is written on the reverse of the photograph. Her name appears to be “Eda Lestora”. What makes this photograph special is the photographer who took the photo. The 5″ x 8.25″ image was photographed at Monaco’s Excelsior Art Gallery at 183 Main Street in Stockton, California. J.B. Monaco (1856-1938) was a noted photographer in San Francisco but had satellite studios. A collection of his photographs can be found at the San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library. In 1875 Monaco arrived in the United States as an immigrant from Switzerland. His name was originally Giovanni Battista. He joined his brother in Eureka, Nevada. Louis Monaco operated a photo studio there and J.B. joined him in the business, thus launching a career as a photographer that would span 62 years. In 1887 J. B. moved to San Francisco where he was soon joined by his brother who died in 1897. During J. B.’s career, he distinguished himself with his earthquake and fire photographs. These images have been described as  dramatic and journalistic. He documented much of early Nevada and Northern California history. His portraiture work of prominent San Francisco individuals and their families is considered to be exceptional. During his career, Monaco was described as the “Dean of North Beach photographers”.  SOLD

Published in: on January 12, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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ELEGANT LADY IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA : EDOUART & COBB : CABINET CARD

A beautifully dressed elegant lady poses for her portrait in San Francisco, California. She has long tight ringlet curls. A family of four could live under her tent-like dress. This cabinet card was produced by the studio of Edouart & Cobb. Edouart (1818-1892) was born in England and was the son of the famed silhouetist, Auguste Edouart. He was educated in England and between 1848 and 1850, he was a painter and daguerreotypist in New York City. He arrived in San Francisco in 1852 and worked as a landscape artist. By 1860, he opened a photographic studio where he was known for his watercolor photographs. In 1869 he joined David Cobb (1841-?) in a partnership in a photographic studio. The studio was located at 504 Kearny Street in San Francisco. Their partnership lasted until 1881. Cobb was active in San Francisco between 1863 and 1865, as well as between 1869 and 1889. In 1866 he worked in Grass Valley California. This is an early cabinet card.  SOLD 

Published in: on November 29, 2023 at 9:48 pm  Comments (1)  
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PROBABLE UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS : STAGE BEAUTY : BRADLEY & RULOFSON : SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

This cabinet card photograph features a pretty young actress. At least, this is likely a stage beauty rather than a “civilian”. This photo was taken by the San Francisco gallery belonging to well respected photographers “Bradley & Rulofson. Their studio took many photographs of stage actresses when they came to San Francisco. Henry William Bradley (1813-1891) and his partner William Rulofson (1826-1876) were partners in a photographic studio that photographed many notable Californians. Bradley was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. He opened his San Francisco studio in 1850 and took in his partner in 1860. When he retired in 1878 his studio was considered the best on the west coast and won first prize at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. Mr Rulofson had quite a controversial and interesting life and associated with many famous people including Ambrose Bierce.  Rulofson died in a fall from the roof of his studio and was heard to say during the descent, “I am killed”.  (SOLD)

Published in: on November 12, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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LITTLE GIRL AND HER DOLL : SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

This cabinet card features a pretty young girl posing for her portrait while she holds her doll. The girl has a serious expression as she looks into the distance. She is wearing a necklace and has a bow in her hair. The photographer is Oscar Victor Lange (1853-1913)  of San Francisco, California. He was a leading photographer in San Francisco and also was known as a landscape painter. He was born in Hoboken New Jersey to German immigrants. His family name was “Fahrenberg”. His father was a portrait painter and his family moved around alot. The 1860’s found them in New Orleans and in the 1870’s the family lived in Texas. During the 1870’s Oscar moved to San Francisco where he worked with Ernest W. Newth producing stereographs. At this time he changed his last name to “Lange”. In the 1880’s Oscar opened his own San Francisco studio on Market Street and during the 1890’s he relocated to Montgomery Street. Lange was known for his urban architectural photographs and also for his portraits of railroad workers. He is also noted for his astronomical photographs taken with the University of California. Lange died in 1913 from tuberculosis. This cabinet card has some extra features. Note the maroon mount and the gold trimmed edges. (SOLD)

Published in: on October 28, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PHOTO OF A TROLLEY TURNING AROUND AT POWELL AND MARKET STREETS IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

This vintage real photo postcard captures the “turning around” of a cable car in San Francisco, California. A caption on the front of the card discloses that the trolley is turning around at Powell and Market streets. Three conductors are doing the turning. Interestingly, the street sign in the photo is for Eddy Street. A sign on the trolley announces that the cable car is part of the Washington & Jackson Streets line. The car itself is numbered 518. Signage in the photograph advertises Florsheim Shoes, Paul’s Flower Stand, Hotel Powell, a cafeteria, and a liquor store. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle (1915) reveals that the flower stand still exists and has celebrated it’s 100th birthday. The stand was started because the founder of the next-door bank (Bank America) wanted a fresh flower in his lapel every day. In regard to the Powell Hotel; it was opened as the Hotel Turpin in 1908 and sold in 2014. The  was redone and renamed. It is currently named the “Axiom Hotel”. The reverse of this postcard is illuminating. The card was postmarked in 1948. The sender of the card had written a message to his parents in Middletown, Ohio. The sender is a soldier and will soon leave for Fort Worth, Texas with a Marine Sergeant and three other men. The postcard is clearly meant to be a way of keeping in touch and calming any worry experienced by his parents. This real photo postcard is in excellent condition (see scans).

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #2901

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$36.00

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #2901

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$44.50

Published in: on November 5, 2019 at 1:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A LOVELY COUPLE IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

This cabinet card portrait features a lovely couple posing for their portrait at the Philadelphia Gallery in San Francisco, California. The gentleman is wearing a three piece suit and a pocket watch. He has a handsome mustache and is holding a walking stick. The woman is well dressed. She is wearing a collar pin and earrings. She is holding a small bouquet of flowers. This cabinet card has great clarity and is in very good condition.

Buy this original Cabinet Card photograph (includes shipping to the US) #2455

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$28.50

 

Buy this original Cabinet Card photograph (includes international shipping outside the US) #2455

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$36.50

Published in: on June 29, 2018 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THE POWELL STREET CABLE CAR (TROLLEY): BUSY STREET SCENE (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)

trolley

This vintage real photo postcard features the Powell Street Cable Car Trolley on it’s turn-table at Powell and Market Streets in San Francisco, California. This image offers a great look back at early San Francisco history. There is a lot happening in this photograph. Look carefully and you will see two conductors working to turn the trolley around. Actually one seems to be doing all the physical labor while the other checks out the action on the street. In addition to the pedestrians in the image, you can also see a woman and her child boarding the cable car as it turns around. It is also interesting to note the businesses that appear in the photograph. The Clinton Cafeteria and the Owl Drug Company are clearly seen. Preliminary research reveals that the Clinton Cafeteria was located at 18 Powell Street. The book, San Francisco Art Deco (2007) asserts that the restaurants basement dining room had marble floors and potted plants. From six to eight PM the restaurant offered self served diners live dinner music provided by a string orchestra. The second business in the photograph, The Owl Drug Company, was a drugstore chain headquartered in San Francisco. It was established in 1892 and was a subsidiary of Rexall. The photographer of this photograph is Alexander J. “Zan” Stark (1889-1967). He was born in Michigan and moved to California in his early twenties. Zan Stark was a postcard photographer. He worked out of his studio in Mill Valley.  He used the professional name of “Zan of Tamalpais” between the 1920’s and the early 1950’s. This postcard is credited to Zan (no. 316). The stamp box on this vintage postcard indicates that it was published on Eastman Kodak paper  sometime between 1939 and 1950.   (SOLD)

 

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Published in: on October 27, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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MR AND MRS SPRINGGAT POSE FOR THEIR PORTRAIT IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

elite

Being in San Francisco in the 1880’s or 1890’s was a prime time for exciting and interesting experiences. Mr and Mrs Springgat were in San Francisco during this era and decided to document their presence by having their portrait taken at the Elite Gallery. The reverse of this cabinet card reveals that the studio was operated by Mr. Jones and Mr. Lotz. To view another photograph by this pair’s gallery, click on the category “Photographer: Jones & Lotz”. The reverse of the cabinet card also informs us of the identity of the couple seen in this image. Preliminary research failed to find information about this couple.

elite 2

Published in: on May 12, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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