Portraits from the first 100 years of photography
This photograph has an inscription on the back which is written mostly in Finnish: I was able to read enough of the Finnish words to guess that the men were cutting wood to heat a sauna. After I published this post, readers in Finland confirmed that guess. Luisella from Tra Italia e Finlandia helpfully typed... Continue Reading →
The back of this photograph is signed in ink. Part of the name looks like Arivash, but I can't read the rest. There's also an inscription in pencil which is legible. The inscription: Москва 1925 год. Горькое время студенческое в материальном отношении и счастливое в моральном положении. Это не для всех, а только для... Continue Reading →
The unidentified woman in this photograph is wearing a drop-waist dress and a Marcel Wave hairstyle, hallmarks of the flapper era of the 1920s. The photograph is about the size of a postcard, but was printed on plain photo paper, rather than postcard stock. It came to me from a dealer in Pennsylvania who often sells photos... Continue Reading →
This photo came from a collector of banjos and musical ephemera in Boston, Massachusetts. The names of the men in the photo are written on the back, along with the following inscription: Andenken an den Touristenverein Waldfreunde (Feuerbach) im Jahr 1922 This translates roughly to "Souvenir of the Waldfreunde touring group in the year 1922." ... Continue Reading →
This portrait was probably taken in the 1920s (see comment by my dream walden below). The sitters aren't identified. They're dressed identically, but I don't know if their clothing can tell us anything about them. A stamp on the mat below the photo tells us the studio belonged to a photographer named Hanson: The mat... Continue Reading →
This formal portrait has a handwritten inscription on the back: "Rudolf Holsti, Tallinna, 1923, helmikuussa." Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, and helmikuussa means in February in Finnish. Rudolf Holsti (1881-1945) became one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Finland after that country declared its independence from Soviet Russia in December 1917. He... Continue Reading →
This snapshot was for sale in a shop near Bellows Falls, Vermont, called The Big Red Barn. The names of the women in the photo are written on the back, along with the location: Elliot Elm Cafe, Brattleboro, VT. I haven't found any information about the Elliot Elm Cafe, but the Elliot Street Cafe was located... Continue Reading →
Along the bottom edge of this photograph are the words "Tompkins Square Citizenship Aid Class," followed by "Intermediate." On the chalkboard at the back of the room, the teacher has helpfully recorded the date: Tuesday, March 15, 1921. The photo may be examined in higher resolution below. I've divided it into two parts. Click on... Continue Reading →
Exactly 91 years ago today, a group of marvelous children appeared in Kladno, Czechoslovakia. Witnesses told of fairies, a knight, a princess, and even a jester! A few locals managed to get their picture taken with the fantastic troupe. Then the magical visitors went back to the world they had come from, and the day... Continue Reading →
Built in 1914 at Swindon Works in Wiltshire, England, the steam locomotive Princess Victoria (4048) remained in service until 1953. On February 28, 1922, HRH Princess Mary was to marry Viscount Lascelles, future Earl of Harewood. A locomotive was required for the royal train. The logical choice would have been an existing engine in the... Continue Reading →
The back of this postcard has a greeting which begins in German, "In friendly remembrance," and is signed "Magda e Prinz. 25. Januar 1925." Page last updated: May 16, 2019.
This postcard is inscribed "1926 Carnaval. LIX" lower right. The reverse is a standard back with no additional information. I'd love to know something about the people in this remarkable portrait!
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