Who Were They?

Lost and forgotten photos from the past

I would really love to see the rest of this dress, because it has so many features just in this tiny portrait. We have large decorative buttons that appear to be velvet covered, a large bow at the center of the neckline, and frilly lace standing up under the young lady’s chin. I like to …

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Today let’s take a quick look at this young fellow. He is aged approximately 8 years old and was named James. You can just see it in pencil, written below the oval. It is a shame that whoever wrote that didn’t include his surname. There also is not a photographer’s backmark, and while it was …

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  This is Grandmother Ridge, Caroline Elizabeth Ridge – Jane Bucks’ mother. She looks a bit like she doesn’t trust the photographer. I did find a Caroline Ridge, married to James Ridge, living in Maryland during the 1850 census, and one of their children was named Jane. James Ridge (about 1809) Caroline (about 1814) Riley …

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Today’s photograph is a tintype in an embossed card holder virtually identical to the one of our previous baby. The only difference I can find – outside of the quality of the embossing – is that this paper sleeve has the mark “Patent Applied For” while the baby photo does not. This particular photo does not …

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I found these two mounted tintypes in an online auction and loved the fact that they are clearly mother & daughter AND that the subjects are in the exact same pose.  They even have matching embossed stars on the border around the photos. I asked some very knowledgeable friends of mine about the coat that …

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