Category Archives: Types of Subjects

March 14, 2016

On the Omnibus of 1904 Paris

By C.E. Ryan
"This is getting to be a serious affair". 1904 postcard. Private Collection.

“This is probably going to get serious”. 1904 postcard. Private Collection.

I would call this series How to Discreetly Show Interest in a Gentleman on the Omnibus.

The cute series starts out quite innocently…and ends with the sure promise of a second meeting. I am missing #5 of the 6 postcards though. I wish I had it! But the story is quite simple, really, and the person who sent these postcards could not resist putting words into the gentleman’s head!

So I added what she’s thinking before the translated comments.

Both models were sitting on chairs, with the design of the omnibus line added later. The third has a misspelling too! But the line did exist, and if you’re curious to see what omnibus these two would have been on, here’s an image of the Madeleine-Bastille line omnibus of the era:

Paris-Tramway-Omnibus-Madeleine-Bastille

Source: famillefine.free.fr

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Couples, Postcards

March 10, 2016

Here’s to the girls of the American Shore

By C.E. Ryan
Here's to the girls of the american shore

1909 postcard. Private Collection. Click for larger image.

Well, if there ever was a better excuse to drink..! This gent was colorized with red hair too. Is he supposed to represent an Irish immigrant? Aw, sure look it!

The photo of this gent (with, again, an attitude-lol-) was taken by Theodor Eismann, New York. The postcard was copyrighted in 1909 and sent the following March.

I’ve decided to take a picture of it instead of a scan, the golden tones come out better.

In fact, I ordered this card last July 1915, but the seller had misplaced it. I had completely given up on it but was very surprised to find out Marilyn of Etsy’s VintagenutsInc decided to send it to me at no cost when she found it again last month. So very nice of her!

 

8 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Humorous, Postcards

March 5, 2016

It was all dull and boring until…

By C.E. Ryan
jackdaw-copyright-c-e-ryan

click for larger image.

Combine inspiration from my little debacle with the Prince of Wales’ photomontage, a boring Saturday, and this is what you get.

Our Victorian gent on this CDV had too good of an expression to leave him be, so a jackdaw flew in and perched on his head. His face brightened. I think he likes it. ;)~

Here’s the original vs. the retouched:

Hm…don’t know if I am in the mood for this…
Ooh!

And well, if you’d like to see this gent retouched but without the bird, here he is:

cdv-russian-copyright-caroline-ryan

Staring at the viewer and a hint of a smile make a huge difference. Click for larger image.

 

russian-carl-anderson-back

Original front and back. 1870s-80s CDV. Private Collection.

Photographer: Carl Anderson (a British expat photographer?). Wenden. Russia.

 

 

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in CDVs, digital art, Teens

March 4, 2016

Edward, Prince of Wales, on a Montreal street. Or is it?

By C.E. Ryan
rppc-montreal

Edward, Prince of Wales photomontage. RPPC. Private Collection.

When I got this photo postcard I was excited about two things; it combines early 20’s men’s fashion with a beautiful street view of Montreal. I had no idea who the man was, although he looked vaguely familiar.

But when I posted it here, Kate of the Photobooth Journal, mentioned his uncanny resemblance to King Edward VIII…Well, yes, it happens to be a photo of King Edward VIII! At least from when he was Prince of Wales, and…it is a photomontage!

The Prince of Wales did spend a few years in Canada in the early 20’s, but he did not pose for this street candid!

Here’s the original of the Prince on a boat. I was shocked, and then I laughed. I got duped by an early 1920’s “photoshop”! They even changed his cane’s position! Still a beautiful, expertly done photograph. I’m impressed.

 

edward-exact

Source: kingedwardviii.tumblr.com

 

 

rppc-montreal-back

You can also see the sign for the Allen Theater, once at 698 St. Catherine West (now a less grand Five Guys burger joint). The Allen was bought and renamed The Palace in 1922. St. Catherine West was a hub of movie-going and nighttime entertainment.

Restored image © Caroline E. Ryan

RPPC: AZO squares 1926-1940s. (Data from Playle.com, but this shows AZO squares were available in 1923)

7 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Gentlemen, Image Restoration, RPPCs

March 2, 2016

Trio by the river

By C.E. Ryan
trio-coats-oxford

Snapshot. Private Collection.

A trio of buddies posing together in the sun by a river, with two in long coats, the third in an Oxford suit.

I’d date this 2.5 x 4.5″ snapshot to be from the 30’s or the early to mid 40’s.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Groups, Others