PORTRAIT OF TRIPLETS OR 3 IMAGES OF SAME BABY : POMONA, CALIFORNIA : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card portrait features a photograph of adorable triplets. However, it is possible that these are three images of the same child. I see differences between the three children’s faces and hair. What are your thoughts? This photograph was taken by the Hugo Schwichtenberg studio located in Pomona, California. Schwichtenberg (1867-1938) was American born but of German heritage. After about eight years of working as a travelling photographer up and down the Pacific coast, he came to Pomona in 1893 and established his studio. He experience much success in his business there. It is interesting to note that Schwichtenberg’s interest in photography began when he was young. At age twelve, he constructed a wet plate camera. He gained his photography knowledge from self study. His father was not a photographer but was instead a member of the ministry.  SOLD

Published in: on June 11, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TRIPLETS : IDENTIFIED YOUNG GIRLS RECEIVING FIRST COMMUNION : FRENCH RPPC : 1913

This vintage real photo postcard features three adorable young girls posed for a religious ceremony, probably their first communion. They are beautifully dressed for their special day. Their dresses are identical. These girls are likely triplets. They are identified on the reverse of the postcard. The girl in the center is holding rosary beads. All three of the children are wearing necklaces. This postcard has the photographers stamp on it’s reverse. The stamp reveals that the photograph was taken at a private studio in Paris, France. The photo was taken at the Groysillier studio.    SOLD

Published in: on March 5, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THE FAMOUS HANNA TRIPLETS IN BOONTON, NEW JERSEY (PHOTO BY WENDT)

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This cabinet card portrait features “The Famous Hanna Triplets”. The girl’s names were Ida, Iva, and Eva. The sisters were involved in show business from the age of ten months. A 1967 interview with Iva during her retirement revealed her perspective on the triplet’s popularity. She stated “there weren’t too many triplets in those days who survived…so I guess you could call them freaks who weren’t freaks”. The girls worked for Ringling Brothers and the A. B. Marcus Musical Comedy Company. They performed as dancers. At age 20 they retired as they began to marry. Eva married a noted clown. “Bumpsy” Anthony (1900-1989) was inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame. In 1956, at age 50, the triplets had a reunion dance performance. Triplets are quite rare and it is not surprising that these beautiful performing girls became well known. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that triplets are born in about one of one thousand births. Only about 10% of these births are identical triplets. In 2015 only four sets of identical triplets were born in the US. It appears that the Hanna girls were identical triplets. The photographer of this historic image is Frank Wendt (1859-1930). In 1893 Wendt became the successor to his mentor, Charles Eisenmann (1855-197). Eisenmann was a famous New York City photographer known for his images concerning “human oddities” and circus perfomers. A collection of his work can be seen at the web site of the “International Center of Photography”. Wendt continued Eisenmann’s work photographing “human oddities” but he also photographed many “normal” celebrities.Wendt moved the studio to New Jersey in 1898. Author Jim Linderman maintains that Wendt has been unfairly placed in the shadow of Eisenmann.

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Published in: on March 3, 2017 at 11:09 am  Comments (5)  
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