1880’s 1/6th plate. Private Collection.
He’s resting his hand on a fringe chair so popular with photographers of the Victorian era. The fringed support area was adjustable and most often used for people to rest their arms on while seated. He looks taller than average for his era too.
(Click for larger image)
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.
Circa 1892. Cabinet Card. Private Collection.
I was on a frustrating hunt for a caped gentleman and was happy to finally find this fellow (I don’t know why those are hard to find!). There’s this cloudy effect going on and it looks like it is original of the photo, but it could be some discoloration due to time. Intentional or not, I do think it makes this cabinet card look like the man was standing outside on a foggy morning! The gentleman is IDed as Dean Smith on the back.
A close up of Mr. Smith, and a little more on J.H. Kent the photographer after the cut.
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.
Late 1860’s CDV. Private Collection.
A CDV in exceptionally clean condition. It looks as good as new. The young gentleman has the typical stately pose of the era with his arm lightly rested over the column’s foot. He is wearing high shine square toe shoes and a three button baggy overcoat over a large bowtie in fashion at the time. By looking at his hairstyle, the CDV design and the lack of tax stamp this picture was most likely taken between 1866-1870. This sitter is (omg) giving us a hint of a smile. Detail after the cut.
Bowlers And High Collars 