Spoiler…I’ve since found proof that this is not Sarah (Thomas) Selleck but I’m leaving this post as it was originally written. Click here to see a photo of the true Sarah. This cased ambrotype was picked up by a fellow collector in Connecticut. I loved the subject’s expression and pose and decided to add it … More Sarah A. Thomas…Is it you?
The young woman in this cabinet card photo, Miss Anna Price, wore a dress with tight sleeves and small pointed puffs at the shoulders. This helps to date her portrait from about 1889 to 1891 when she would have been 14-16 years old. Sarah Anna Price was born in 1875 in Tonica, Illinois. She married … More The Best of the Best
Unfortunately this carte de visite has no identifying writing. I often buy unidentified photos in the hopes of being able to date them. Since this cdv has no lines along the border of the photo I suspected it was one of the earliest versions from 1858-1862. The fashion fit my dating hypothesis, as well as … More R.A. Lord, Photographer
The polka dot dress! The swiss waist belt! I swooned when I saw this lovely CDV photograph. Written at the bottom is “Yours Truly Fannie I. Champlin.” Frances “Fannie” was born in Montville, Connecticut in 1850. She was the daughter of Frances Elizabeth (Smith) and Captain Frederick W. Champlin, a seaman. By the time this … More Fannie Champlin
If you’re confused about why you’re looking at a photo of a young man when the title of this post is Lucretia A. Richmond, let me explain. Upon purchasing this tintype I found a piece of paper affixed to the reverse. It reads “L.A. Richmond Belleville Kansas.” Also written in the upper corner is 165 … More Lucretia A. Richmond
Without a location, it was impossible to identify the sitter in this tintype, who according to the writing above her head was Alma Sargent. Based on her tight-fitting bodice lined with buttons, Alma sat for this portrait in the mid to late 1880s. Sources: 19th Century Card Photos Kwik Guide by Gary W. Clark
Charlie Nelson, the sitter in this photograph, was a butcher, which is why I decided to add this small cabinet photo to my collection. I’m not a fan of eating meat so you would think that a photo of a butcher would be the last thing I’d be excited to find. It’s my memories of … More Charlie with the Good Hat
the rescued photo 