April 26, 2016

I found him again, with chicks

By C.E. Ryan
postcard-easter-chicks

PC Paris #2963. Young man with chicks. RPPC. Private Collection.

That was way too easy. :)

Do you remember when I posted the beautiful couple on the bicycle? That was last September. I hoped to stumble upon this 1920’s postcard model again, but I did not hold my breath. So when I spotted him after eight months of casually scouring seller stocks, I was thrilled to finally add another one of his cards to this collection. Unlike some others he is near impossible to find. Unfortunately, there is no information about postcard models of the period. I would have liked to find out who he was.

While I understand the models who posed for the more risqué cards had to hide their identity and are now essentially uncredited, I don’t see why there is absolutely no information about the models who posed for tamer photoshoots. Frustrating!

This was of course an Easter postcard (I edited out the French greeting for this blog).

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Gentlemen, Postcards

April 20, 2016

On the Packard arcade studio car

By C.E. Ryan
packard-duo-1

Duo on prop Packard. Arcade studio RPPC. Click to enlarge. Private collection.

Another  studio arcade real photo postcard to add to this collection. Photographers sometimes used real cars, but since Packards cost a fortune, the next best thing would have been to have one painted! These two caught my eye with their similar pose and expression. The dotted tie with the tweed cap of the gent in front is a nice combo too.

rppc-packard-duo

Close-up. Click to enlarge.

RPPC: AZO triangles. 1904-1918

Photographer: Slater’s Interurban Post Card Studio. 430 Superior St. Toledo, Ohio.

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

April 15, 2016

The Weeping Ghost was my friend

By C.E. Ryan
The Weeping Ghost. 1890's-1900's cabinet card. Private Collection.

The Weeping Ghost. 1890’s-1900’s cabinet card. Private Collection. (Click for larger image)

I’m in love with this cabinet card. On the left, a young man is weeping, holding a handkerchief to his face as he fades into the backdrop and chair, while the other one is engaged, solid, to lend an ear at his disembodied friend. Those Victorian sensibilities!

I am not 100% certain the ghostly effect was meant to happen, but I would not be surprised if it was intended because it all feels perfect as is. The light, airy lace curtains on the sides help give this photograph an ethereal effect. I could write a story inspired by this beautiful photograph.

Close-up.

Close-up. Click to enlarge.

On the close-up you can better see the expression of concern. And here’s the whole card as is:

the-weeping-ghost-3

8 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Cabinet Cards, Groups

April 15, 2016

This cap has a few stories to tell

By C.E. Ryan
snapshot-sailor-candid-portrait

Sailor close-up portrait snapshot. 1940’s. Private collection.

Another photogenic sailor, with the handy comb in the breast pocket -you know he had just used for this shot- and a cap atop his blonde head that has definitely seen better days!

Although it may seem that way, I don’t specifically look to collect sailors. But this is a nice close-up, ladies and gentlemen.

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Military, Others

April 11, 2016

The bowler hatted benefactor

By C.E. Ryan
RPPC vignette. Private Collection.

RPPC vignette. Private Collection.

This is one of the first RPPCs I got. I had to have at least one vignette portrait of a gent in a bowler. This one wrote to a lady named Roxie. He made good on a promise and gave her something -with the postcard picture of himself- that would help her father ‘next spring when he plants corn’. What it was is lost to time, but this seems like it was a thoughtful message and nice gesture. And maybe getting into the good graces of the father does help. :)

 

 

rppc-euclid-back

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