Who Were They?

Lost and forgotten photos from the past

Another fascinating stereoscopic image from about the 1890s, this time showing an intimate moment between man and wife. The card is #17 in a series and entitled “last in bed puts out the light.” As before, I pulled one piece of the image to manipulate a bit so we can try to see better what …

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     This photo has caused quite a lot of consternation for me. At first blush I took this to be an 1860s photo based on the square corners and size of the image (quarter sized in the center of the mount). The card borders are also consistent with those in use mid-1860s. BUT! The hair …

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    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 …

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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 …

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Today’s photo from the Leather CdV Album is a fine image of a young man posed quite attractively, presumably so he could impress the ladies he visited and thereby left his visiting card. The square corners of the card indicate the 1860s but this is mid to late century (my guesstimate) due to the entire …

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