October 23, 2015

Slick’s five friends were cool kids

By C.E. Ryan
Slick's Friends. RPPC. Private Collection.

1910s-20s Slick’s Friends. RPPC. Private Collection.

Who was ‘Slick’? He had some photogenic friends. The two with the hat tucked behind the ears look like brothers, maybe even twins. The one on the left was quite relaxed while the one on the right was a bit like “hmm ok, I guess it’s going to come out like it’s supposed to come out…”. They all posed outdoors on a log bench in front of a wall of vines, leaving us with a slice of everyday fashion from the era, and wondering what they were really like.

RPPC: CYKO 1904-1920s

6 Comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Groups, RPPCs

October 21, 2015

Up Close II

By C.E. Ryan
Up close in checkered cap. Snapshot. Private Collection.

Up close in checkered cap. Snapshot. Private Collection.

I just received this one in the mail. He looks like he’s got a trick or two up his sleeve! When I first saw it I was happy to have another amateur close-up from the late 10s or 20s. It must have been his favorite cap to wear too. It looks like it was due for a wash!

And then I realized it came from the same seller I got another up close portrait from last June, but only recently posted (seen below). The format is similar although the first had its edges trimmed. One difference is that it’s much more sepia toned than the second one. Now, how did that happen? They both do have album glue residue on the back.

But they are positioned to the left, and at the same distance to the ‘shoreline’, the sun hitting them from high above. I think these two were playing with the same camera! Here’s them side by side:

Related?

Related?

The more I look at them the more I see some facial features they seem to share…Were they related? Well, this fine duo wished to record themselves up close on a beautiful day, and aren’t we glad they did! Their personalities shine through.

4 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Gentlemen, Others

October 20, 2015

A Fashionable Edwardian boy

By C.E. Ryan
Well dressed Edwardian boy. Cabinet card. Private Collection.

1890s-1900s well dressed Edwardian boy. Cabinet card. Private Collection.

This little boy was extremely well dressed with his wool overcoat and cap with the double-breasted gingham suit. Every single piece of his outfit looks new. With the lack of backdrop and the picture looking so crisp, it feels modern made too.

He’s wearing his gloves instead of holding them. His parents must have loved how this portrait came out. While the photograph was decently preserved, the card itself is less so. It is dark green, clipped at the bottom, and has no photographer info or name.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Boys, Cabinet Cards

October 18, 2015

That nagging woman again!

By C.E. Ryan
1880s tintype. Private Collection.

“I’m just going to pretend she’s not here.” 1/6th plate tintype. Private Collection.

In fact, posing like this I’m sure these two had the best of relationships. They weren’t going to pose like all the others; too boring! I think this is a small horse whip she’s teasingly tickling him with from behind the tree, or is it an arrow? But what is he reading, a love letter? For his own sake it better be hers!

How would you caption this one?

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Couples, Humorous, Tintypes

October 17, 2015

A tiny remnant of our friendship

By C.E. Ryan
1

1″ x 2.5″ photo strip. Private Collection.

Those tiny photo strips feel so fragile in hand. One wonders how they survived a hundred years without being destroyed. I love these two. Obviously they were quite close. Yet we don’t know their names or a shred of their lives.

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Groups, Photobooths