This vintage real photo postcard is striking. The photograph features a young attractive Native American woman. This photograph was taken by J. L. Blessing. His studio was located in Salamanca, New York. Blessing was no amateur, as is apparent in this 1908 photograph of the Native American woman seen below. She is from the Seneca tribe and her name is Ah-Weh-Eyu (translation: Pretty Flower). Her English name was Goldie Jamison Conklin and she was from the Allegany Reservation in Western New York. She was born in Salamanca in 1892 and died in 1974. She was quite beautiful and worked as a model for the Cattarugus Cutlery Company of Little Valley, New York. She helped advertise the company’s line of “Indian Brand” knives. She was often photographed by Jesse Lynn Blessing who operated the Blessing Studio in Salamanca. His father was J. H. Blessing (1851-1920) who started the studio. According to an entry on geneology.com by J. L. Blessing’s grandaughter, Mr Blessing “was asked to work with Disney Studios by Walt Disney but decided to take over his father’s studio instead”. The woman who wrote the message on this postcard could not help but comment about the Native American beauty appearing on this postcard. The writer states “The Indian girl on this card lives here in Salamanca. Isn’t she pretty?” SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 