Portraits from the first 100 years of photography
I bought this photograph from a neighbor when she had a yard sale. I asked if she knew anything about it, and she replied that she had bought it many years earlier from another neighbor across the street. That neighbor had had a shop nearby which sold old books and antiques. We both agreed that... Continue Reading →
This photo postcard likely dates to the final years of Imperial Russia (1910-1917). It came to me from modern-day St. Petersburg. The back has some standard lettering but no personal information: I'm guessing that this family is at their dacha, or summer house in the country, because of the trees in the background. Their... Continue Reading →
The family in this photograph seems to be enjoying ample privacy and personal space at their secluded cottage. I searched online for pictures of old houses in the area around Forres, a town in northern Scotland, but didn't see one that looked exactly like this one. Maybe the house still stands, and maybe someone visiting... Continue Reading →
At the top of this cabinet card photograph is a painted sign: John Rigby, Boot & Clog Maker. Under that is another sign: Longshaw Post Office. Wikipedia describes Longshaw as "a small residential and agricultural area within Billinge Higher End at the western boundary of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England." Historically,... Continue Reading →
This postcard was sent from Helsinki (Swedish: Helsingfors), the capital of Finland, to the Finnish port town of Hanko (Hangö) on February 16, 1915. At that time Finland was a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire. Because Russia was engaged in the First World War, the card had to be cleared by a wartime government... Continue Reading →
This cabinet card came to me from Spokane, Washington, but it has nothing written or printed on it to indicate its origin. The costumes might be Norwegian (or Norwegian-American). The faded sepia print doesn't do them justice, but it's all that remains of their beauty and artistry.
This carte-de-visite may be the only photo from South America in my collection. The family isn't named, but a stamp on the back identifies the studio. It looks like Compania Fotografica, Rivadavia 420, Buenos Aires: Avenida Rivadavia is a major thoroughfare, and 420 is in the heart of the downtown area, surrounded by museums and... Continue Reading →
Does anyone have any idea what this family is up to? The photo came to me from Oregon, but their clothing looks European. Also, the brick wall in the background looks very old. As in ancient. My guess would be that this family was in France or Belgium, but that's just a guess. The photo... Continue Reading →
The back of this cabinet card is blank, so I can't say for sure that the sitters are father and daughter, but it's a safe bet. At first I thought he might be wearing a clerical collar, but they always clasp in the back, rather than the front. His suit is simple but well-tailored. Her... Continue Reading →
This multi-generational portrait was made at Atelier Fritz Tschira in the scenic town of Osterode am Harz. Osterode is at the edge of the Harz mountains, which are the highest in northern Germany. The postcard isn't dated, but my guess would be late 1920s. If anyone has a different guess, based on clothing or hairstyles... Continue Reading →
When I start researching a foreign photographer, I never expect to find much. I can usually find a few references online, and sometimes studio addresses or dates of operation, but that's generally it. On the other hand, some studios are well documented in their own countries, and the E. Bieber studio in Hamburg is one... Continue Reading →
This carte-de-visite may have been made at High Brooms Brick and Tile Company, founded in 1885 in Southborough, Kent, England. It's hard to tell what the father is sitting on, but we can see he's wearing gaiters of some sort below the knees, probably to keep his legs dry or clean. The photographer is identified on... Continue Reading →
Tokens of Companionship 
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