Leonard Spiller (1890-1952) Cabinet card. Private Collection.
When I first saw this photograph I thought the boy looked familiar…then I see he’s IDed. Success! What a lovely photograph too, very clean which is always a plus. This cabinet card was taken on June 11,1903 when Leonard Spiller was 13.
And this is the second photograph I have of him, the first a CDV taken in 1910 when he was a student at Cambridge. I learned some more about his family too. Leonard was the son of John Spiller, a consulting analyst chemist and once the President of the Royal Photographic Society (1874-1875) in London.
Leonard came into this world late in the life of his father John (1833-1921) who married Emma (born Davenport), his second wife. Leonard had much older half siblings from his father’s first marriage to Caroline Ada Pritchard: Ethel Mary (1857-?), Arnold John and Claude Pritchard (1870-1938).
I found some photos of his family from the same seller. A photo gallery of Leonard and family members after the cut.
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4 Comments | tags: 1900s, Acton, edwardian, edwardian boy, edwardian collar, edwardian family, Emma Spiller, England, Ethel Mary Spiller, europe, Islington, John Spiller, Leonard Spiller, London, Norfolk jacket, reverend Leonard Spiller, RPS President, smiling, UK, vicar Leonard Spiller, victorian, victorian family | posted in Cabinet Cards, Teens
Super tiny photo booth style strip. Dated 1915. Private Collection.
A cute early example of a photobooth style photo strip. Look at this one with the wide engaging smile. And he looks younger with his hat on!
Apart from the subject, what makes this photo strip interesting is that it is dated 1915 on the back in pencil. This means this strip was taken a good eleven years before inventor Anatol Josephewitz (later Josepho) patented his machine and opened the infamous New York based automated Photomaton Studio dubbed “Broadway’s greatest quarter-snatcher”. As many as 7,000 New Yorkers a day stood in line to experience his machine, and by the end of the first year Mr. Josepho had made a swell million dollars (in yesterday’s money!) contracting his machine for expansion Ok, I’m getting sidetracked here..!
I’d like to find out why strips like this one existed before the era of the Photomaton, but info on photo strips taken prior to Josepho’s invention isn’t readily available online. This particular example is very tiny. Each photo is about 1 inch by 1 inch. I think these were proofs for larger versions to be ordered, but the portrait poses look informal, like taken at a photobooth…
4 Comments | tags: 1910s, 1915, Anatol Josepho, cute, edwardian, handsome teen, photo strips, photobooth, photomaton, smiling | posted in Photobooths, Teens
Tintype. Circa 1900
Well, I missed out on this one. But look at these four with their drinks and bills attached to the front of their hats or coat lapels.
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2 Comments | tags: 1900s, drinking, edwardian | posted in Groups, Tintypes
1/6th plate tintype. Private Collection
I imagine these lovebirds were on vacation by the seaside on a summer day, and took a souvenir picture of them together at the local photographer.
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2 Comments | tags: 1890s-1900s, beautiful couple, boater hat, bowler, edwardian, fashion, lady straw boater hat, summer, summer love, victorian | posted in Couples, Tintypes
RPPC. Private Collection.
Three tight buddies in gloves, overcoats and American Boston shoes (sometimes called Bulldog shoes) which made their debut in 1910. I have nothing more to say about this one. This sweet photo speaks for itself, and of course I love the fashion!
Detail after the cut.
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Leave a comment | tags: 1910s, American Boston shoes, bulldog toe, edwardian, fedora, jaunty cap, overcoat, trio | posted in Groups, RPPCs
Bowlers And High Collars 