My grandfather. Family photo.
Once in a while I do love to post family photos. I think this one is precious, but then this is because my grandfather was the sweetest person and he loved me dearly. I miss him so very much. He was a soldier, a volunteer fireman, and an excellent craftsman. His hobby was making straw baskets and he made *many*. He taught me how too, when I was around 8!
He also had orchards and made his own cider. And drank much of it. lol
Zuli, David and a lady friend. Cabinet card. Private Collection.
My 200th post!
Zuli is one gorgeous lady. David is in a bowler and high collar with dark gloves, but the ladies…look at the ornate big ‘Merry Widow’ hats! There’s a whole cake on top of Zuli’s head! What a cute and uncommon name too. The ladies in these pictures are always the stars, but I love group pictures of handsome gents with their pretty women. ;)
David’s last name was Strader, Miss Zuli’s last name was Frop. The name of the second woman in glasses is illegible. I think she looks like she was related to David -maybe his sister. There’s a number too: 5-10. May 1910?
Summertime75 posted a funny article from 1908 on the ‘Merry Widow Hat’ trend that swept the nation. It’s worth reading for a good laugh. People of the day found those large hats rather ridiculous! This was an upper society trend. Those hats were quite expensive and a status item.
Another funny N.Y Times article dated June 14, 1908 describes a stampede when at the end of the Broadway show (which inspired the trend) 1,200 souvenir hats were supposed to be handed to 1,300 awaiting women.
Photographer: Emery’s. 162 Main Street. Blank back.
1900s-1910s RPPC. Private collection.
This sophisticated New Yorker posed all smile in a slim fitting coat with a black cane in hand, the other hand in the coat pocket. The striped shirt adds a bit of pattern to the overall crisp look. A very classy and artistic portrait. No busy backdrop. Just him and it works.
Photographer: Strauss Studio. Brooklyn. New York.
RPPC: AZO 1904-1918
Digital restoration work titled The Brooklynite Dandy by Caroline C. Ryan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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.
Kissing her bare back. Postcard. Private Collection
These Jacques Biederer real photo postcards are blank on the back and slightly vary in size from one to the other. There are traces of album scrapbook on the backs. These were highly collectible back in the days, as they are today.
In the following 4 postcards I found online she’s wearing the same thigh high stockings and shoes, and he the same suit and tie:
Apparently these two were a favorite of the photographer. I found them in several series.
Something that took me aback and kind of bothers me…a lot. These postcards go for a mint, however I’m amazed there isn’t a regular Wikipedia entry for this talented photographer (and his brother). It’s a sad fact and should be fixed!
Bowlers And High Collars 