Who Were They?

Lost and forgotten photos from the past

Boots

Mrs Marvel

1 comment

September 30, 2012

 

Spot #29 and the final image in the Leather CdV Album is a tintype in its paper sleeve, showing a young man in a fine suit of clothes and nice boots. Although the back of the paper sleeve just has a piece of tissue holding the tintype in place and no photographer information, I’m thinking this is an 1870s or even 1880s image, based on the backdrop used. It looks like the walls in a fine drawing room.

I hope you have enjoyed all the images. Our good friend Iggy (aka Intense Guy) has found some traces of the family this could have been from, but no firm decendents yet. Perhaps one day it shall happen. Until then, if you would like to see all the images in the album, click on the category Leather CdV Album.

At play

Mrs Marvel

10 comments

September 28, 2012

Hello? Hello?

I love this little snapshot of a little boy calling on his play phone. When the photo was cropped some of the writing on the back was removed. However I am able to make out “….phoning to his grandma and grandpa! Say hello to him!” What with the way children love to talk and of course emulate whatever their parents are doing, having a play phone is a great way for them to develop language skills.

Also written on the back was: Identification: Rose & Fred Wilson, Belden Resort, Belden Calif.” The Belden Resort is still in existence in northern California on the Feather River, 28 miles east of Quincy. It is situated east of Chico, which is about 50 miles east of Sacramento, our state capitol. The river runs through mountain passes and it looks like great fishing.

This is a proud Sepia Saturday post, where the theme is generally kids at play, football or soccer, round glasses and winter coats over short pants. Click on over, you will be happy you did!

 

Another doppelgänger

Mrs Marvel

2 comments

September 28, 2012

 

 

They say everyone has a twin out there somewhere, and this man’s modern twin is without a doubt Gene Hackman.

 

If there was going to be a movie about the people in the Leather CdV Album, Gene would definitely be cast as this character, whoever he was. As noted by T. L. Darnell the photographer, clergy photos were half price, so perhaps this is the right honorable Reverend Mr. So-and-so of Cumberland, MD.

Long nose

Mrs Marvel

1 comment

September 26, 2012

 

 

In the days before rhinoplasty was readily available for all who had self image issues, people just lived with their flaws. It doesn’t mean they liked them or didn’t try to change them – the advertisements for shaping implements for women’s bosom and bottom are hilarious and copious – but here is a man with a rather long nose and he proudly sat for his portrait, and apparently gave out the images. Imagine what we would be like if we didn’t have the ability to surgically change our features…  It’s quite a compelling thought.

The photographer for this aquiline gentleman was J. T. Blume of Bedford, PA. This CdV is in spot #27 of the Leather CdV Album.

Großfater

Mrs Marvel

5 comments

September 25, 2012

This 1890-1910s cabinet card also came from my Denver trip and features a young girl, her grandmother and grandfather, and an uncle. There was writing on the back in a beautiful German hand identifying them and also giving us Onkel Emil and Helene as two of the names. On the front under the photo it says “Me” under Helene. I am a bit loose with the dating on this because the style of mounting is more similar to post 1900 photo mounts and the photo also appears to have been taken in a home setting, versus a studio setting. The individuals are seated on some type of high backed bench and the wall is papered and adorned with objects I can’t quite identify…candle holders? religious icons?

Had I realized the pricing noted on the backs of these photos in Denver was wrong I would have purchased more! They all stated very clearly $5, but then the shop only charged $1. I put back so many others that appeared related to this one, and then my friends called me from the restaurant (where ARE you???) and I didn’t get time to return. Ah, regrets…

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