An endearing expression. Cabinet photo circa 1900. Private Collection.
This young man’s expression is so cute, cute, cute. And his bowtie is crooked. He wants to smile, yet he looks like he’s checking out something or is interested in the process.
This picture portrait came out wonderfully, didn’t it?
No name or photographer logo.
Detail of RPPC. Private Collection.
I thought him older but the note on the back of this RPPC reveals he was 15 and a half at the time the picture was taken. Must be the classic menswear and the serious expression.
He’s wearing a coat that still would be stylish today. On his head a russian style fur hat and yes, this is a swastika tie pin on him. I like pictures that prompt me to do research. This pre-dates by two decades Hitler’s defamation of the symbol. The swastika bears so many meanings and was used in surprising ways.
Looking at the style of house behind him the boy was American, and this is not common knowledge, but apart from being an ancient Hindu symbol of good luck, the swastika has U.S. roots too.
The Navajo tribe used it (how they came about to using it would be interesting to find out too), and the 45th American National Guard infantry unit adopted the symbol in the 1910s as a tribute to Native Americans. That’s right, they wore a swastika as their patch, at least until Hitler unfortunately adopted it in the 30s. They then replaced it with a Thunderbird. Also, aviators used to pin it on as a lucky charm.
Why Raymond wore it? For the same reason mentioned: a good luck charm.
Raymond in the snow. RPPC. Private collection.
To his grandmother -aw.
Raymond may look all grown up on this picture, but when you still count your age in half years…!
RPPC: AZO 1904-1918
Detail of student by Albert Eisele. Cabinet photo/CDV. Private Collection.
I am thrilled to add this card to my collection. It feels like a CDV but the dimensions are narrower and longer (2″ x 5″), and best of all, it came with the original sleeve and envelope, something which is quite rare to find. And it doesn’t hurt that this is a looker!
Photographer: Albert Eisele. NEUWIED a. Rh. Germany.
John D. Rockefeller’s ancestors are from Neuwied. I learn something new every day.
Digital restoration work titled A Tall German Student With Book by Caroline C. Ryan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Velox Snapshot. Private Collection.
A candid of a curly haired boy violinist in pajamas sitting in contre-jour by a tall and narrow window.
There’s some light reflection to the bottom, some fog and a ghost-like anomaly…maybe cigarette smoke…maybe not.
Digital restoration work titled The Boy Violinist In Pajamas by Caroline C. Ryan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
1880s teens. 1/6th plate tintype. Private Collection
This is one I acquired recently and there’s everything to love here; how the boy’s frock coat with the short bowler contrasts with the young girls’ elaborate Victorian fashion with the pleats and patterns. The details are amazing too, like the lace collar of the girl in the back and the feathered derby of the one in the front (I want it). The young ladies are all wearing their neatly brushed hair down.
Also, the two front girls are sitting high on the bench; they must be wearing bustle dresses.
These four most likely were brother and sisters who were close in age, or maybe fraternal twins with siblings, or perhaps siblings with cousins. One thing’s for certain, they were all very photogenic and made a gorgeous group portrait.
Some pictures make me want to stare for ages. This is one of those. I have it framed by my computer.
Here’s a CDV of the same era with another teen boy wearing a similar short bowler I find very stylish.
Digital restoration work titled Beautiful Victorian Teen Sisters And Their Cute Brother In A Bowler by Caroline C. Ryan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Bowlers And High Collars 