Cabinet Photo of a Woman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1880s or so.

This is an interesting cabinet photo of a woman from Lancaster, PA., probably dating to the 1880s or later.   It was taken at the "Fowler" Gallery, 12 West King street.

It's hard to put my finger on why I like this picture, but I do.  Maybe it's the choker with the cameo (or whatever) in it.  Perhaps it is just the way she looks. 

Any rate, its for sale, and you can click on the title to go to the listing if you want to. 

Seattle Washinton, Japanese Pagoda Lantern, Mt. Baker Park Early 20th Century Postcard

This is a postcard of the Japanese Lantern in Mt. Baker Park, Seattle, Washington.  It was a gift from Kojiro Matsukatu of Kobe, Japan to Seattle, I believe in 1912.  This card dates to sometime before 1920. 

There are many versions of this card - early cards like this one with slightly different captions, and cards from later times with a very similar view.   In my research I found the donor's name was actually Matsukata, and he lived from 1865-1950.  There is an interesting wikipedia write up about him.

Click on the title to go to the listing, if you so desire.

Breakneck Mountain, Hudson Highlands, New York, Early 20th Century Postcard

This is an early 20th undivided back postcard of Breakneck Mountain in New York.   Undivided backs were not produced in the United States after March 1907, so this card is well over 100 years old.   It is in good condition, but there is fading on the back, and indications that it was kept in an album at one time.

Breakneck Mountain is still a tourist attraction of sorts, along the Hudson River.   It has an elevation of 1,260 feet, and looks like a very nice place for a summer visit. 

Click on the title to go to the listing.

Philip Eden, University of Wisconsin, Class of 1872

There is a bit of information about this person written in flowing penmanship on the back of this CDV; his name, Philip Eden, and the fact that he was a graduate of the "Class of '72 (that would be 1872).  The photographer's information is also there, one N.P. Jones of Madison, Wisconsin.

So I googled Philip Eden, Class of 1872, and I found some interesting information.

There is a Philip Eden listed on Page 110 of the University of Wisconsin Madison 1872 class album, with a short handwritten biography.  Some of the information they recorded are things no one today would think to put in a college year book, and some of it I found odd.  And it was all written in that wordy, cumbersome & formal 19th century style.

Here are some interesting facts about Mr. Philip Eden, represented in the picture above.  He was 27 years old when he graduated from college:

• 
  
  Born March 5, 1845, Mineral Point, WI
• 
  
  He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighed 136 lbs
• 
  
  He was well porportioned
• 
  
  He had a Grecian nose
• 
  
  He had a gentlemanly manner, with eloquent speech
• 
  
  He possessed some fortitude
• 
  
  He had no particular field of study
• 
  
  His favorite Poets: Milton, Whittier & Burns
• 
  
  His favorite Novelist: Dickens
• 
  
  His favorite Historian: Macaulay (Yikes!! I actually read Macaulay when I was in college to try to get a feel for 19th century views of European History)
• 
  
  He was a Republican
• 
  
  He favored tarrifs for collecting revenue
• 
  
  He was a Methodist, and did not use tobacco or spirits
• 
  
  He had a "medium" mind
• 
  
  His personal expenses were about $250 a year
• 
  
  At 17 (that would have been 1862) he learned the capentry/cabinet making trade
• 
  
  He also taught school
• 
  
  He entered the University of Wisconsin in the Fall semester of 1869
• 
  
  He was also a member of a fraternity, but I could not read the writing

In 1862, when Mr. Eden was 17 and learning capentry, there was a widespread and bloody civil war being fought in the USA, and he would have been of prime military age - but there is no mention of any military service.   I'm fairly certain that had he served in the Union Army it would have been noted, he would have considered it a high honor (after he was out, of course, probably anything but, while he was in, I speak from some experience) - I'm wondering how he managed to avoid it.

Its not every day you find this much information about someone in a random 19th century photograph.  I find it facinating.

Circa 1880s CDV of a man from Sing Sing, NY

This is a CDV portrait (about 2 1/2 X 4 inch albumen print mounted on cardboard) of a rather stern looking fellow from the late 19th century.  Based on the thickness of the cardboard, the semi-elaborate graphics on the back and the round corners, we feel this is at least from the 1880s, possibly 1890s.  If I were expert on clothing styles, I might be able to be more exact.

Printing on back indicates photographer was a C. Smith of Sing Sing, N.Y.  It's possible (even probable) that the gentleman in this picture was a local citizen.

Click on the title if you're interested.