YOUNG COUPLE FORMAL POSE : FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER : MRS R. L. BRITTON : WALLA WALLA

This charming and evocative cabinet card features a young couple—possibly newlyweds—posed in a classic late‑Victorian formal style. The gentleman stands with one foot upon an elegantly turned rocking chair, wearing a suit, light-colored tie, and a broad-brimmed hat. The lady stands beside him, elegantly leaning her arm on the same chair, dressed in a fitted blouse, belted skirt, gloves, and an ornate hat adorned with soft fabric details. Behind them, a painted studio backdrop hints at a window with draped curtains and floral décor.  The lower margin of the mount bears the imprint “Mrs. R. L. Britton. Walla Walla.”, indicating it was produced by a woman photographer operating in Walla Walla, Washington—an intriguing and relatively uncommon attribution for the era. Despite searching through records of cabinet-card–era women photographers, I found no specific mention of Mrs R. L. Britton. She was a professional photographer in Walla Walla, WA, at a time when women in photography were still emerging as studio operators. This cabinet card appears to be from the 1890’s. (SOLD)

Published in: on May 29, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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BAD HAIR DAY IN WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON

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She woke up in the morning and looked in the mirror. “Oh no”, she exclaimed! “I’m supposed to go down to Winchester and Bardo’s studio for a cabinet card portrait and I am having the worst hair day of my life”. Always a quick thinker, she took her shawl out of her bedroom chest of drawers, and placed it strategically over her head, covering most of her wild locks of hair.  She looked in the mirror, exited the front door, and with some apprehension, walked to the photography studio on First Street, in Walla Walla.  On the way to the photographer, she was approached by an inquisitive out of town visitor who asked her why the town was called Walla Walla.  She explained to the visitor that proud Walla Walla residents like to say that their town was so nice, that they named it twice.  She added that if the truth be told, Walla Walla is a Native American expression for “place of many waters”.   (SOLD)

Published in: on August 31, 2023 at 8:39 am  Leave a Comment  
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