American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography Online

Interesting and eclectic selection of cased images, CDVs, cabinets cards, albums, miscellaneous photographs, and ephemera. Some signed by notables. 

Includes: Photograph album containing appx. 400 silver gelatin photographs (circa 1940-1953) of various sizes belonging to a British diplomat (not identified but some descriptions suggest he was a senior member of the Embassy or Consulate )taken in Cairo, Kabul (Pakistan), and Ethiopia (before and during WWII), some interesting photos of tribesmen, (some with guns), camels, Bedouins, embassy group shots, pyramids. Many described on the reverse identifying the persons, places and date. For example: Sir Geoffrey Jackson (1915-1887) near pyramids in 1940. [Later, as British Ambassador to Uruguay he was kidnapped by guerrillas]: building temp. bridges and roads in Dessie (Ethiopia) June 1941; Sanbatta Inf. AA Gun outside Combotcha; Arab giving Nazi salute; Waldia tribesmen; welcoming ceremony for Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen [later Emperor Amha Selassie I, the son of Haile Selassie] at Dessie, 31 May 1941, Assab harbor- sunken ships [the entire Italian garrison at Assab surrendered to the Allies (i.e, the 3/15th Punjab Regt.) on 11 June 1941]; returning evacuees; Group shot with Col. Alex S. Lancaster [only man to win the MacGregor medal twice]; Sir Giles Frederick Squire D.P. Kabul 1948; Group shot of the Pakistan tennis club members at Kabul, 1949, all identified on reverse (many countries represented, including US 1st Sec. and Commercial Attache; Jeddah Pakistan Legation. 14 August 1952; Jur (tribesman) doing a war dance, etc.  

200+ CDVs including tradesmen; Canova monument (Tomb) by Calor Ponti; Shelly B. Percey; Hayden Coffin; Signed CDV of “W(alter) R. Irwin, Washington DC.” (Irwin was a Special U.S. Indian Agent); Tom Thumb family; Louis Napoleon; Heinrich Mucke; Oscar von Redwitz, etc. Backmarks include Bogardus, Morse (San Fran), George Marth Washington, C.D. Frederick’s N.Y., Brubaker, Houghton, MI, and others.  
Signed cabinet cards of Michigan Legislators taken by J.H. Scotford, Lansing, MI. Includes Wm. M. Kilpatrick (Senator), Charles Upson (Atty Genl, MI, U.S. Congress 1863-69); John C. Patterson (MI Sen.); Moreau S. Crosby (Lt. Gov. MI); Charles F. Gibson (Sen.); W.E. Ambler (Pres. Pro tem Sen); A. Chase. 6 others of similar maker quality not signed or identified.

Mounted (cabinet and other sizes) photos of people with dogs, dolls, etc. 2 photos monkey grinder w/ monkeys.

Quarter plate daguerreotype of a woman in thermoplastic case by Littlefield, Parsons & Co. (1857). (Heavy oxidation of the image.) The scene depicted on the case is known as “General Marion's Invitation to Dinner." (Case heavily worn, detached at hinges (one hinge missing) with some chipping at top edge and on right side, but image is intact on both sides). -- Quarter plate ambrotype group shot (2 men, woman, boy). -- Ninth plate daguerreotype of boy (heavy oxidation to image). -- Dried flowers placed inside a quarter plate Union case. Loose note reading “Flowers gathered on the 24th birthday of My dear departed Angel child. How often have I wreathed her joyous brow with the choicest flowers on this her natal day.- but alas! All that I can do now in commemoration of that event is to lay them away in darkness, emblematic of my sweet flower that perished in her bloom. Her Mother. May 24th [18]64.” 

[With:] Scarce 19th century 7 x 6 3/4 in. ornate, heavy brass (or brass colored) table frame or case depicting a gated door that has a lock latch. The words “Entrée Defendue” are mounted on top of the gate. Behind the door is a recessed compartment designed to house a hard image. The recess space is appx. 1/2 x 3 1/2 and 1 in. deep, with a slightly smaller removable brass housing frame to hold the image in place. The reverse side of the gated door is padded with a blue fabric. The reverse side of the case has a mounted, curved brace to stabilize the image on a table. The French phrase "entre défendu" translates to "entry forbidden" or "access prohibited." In the context of a daguerreotype case, it likely suggests a scene depicted on the case that relates to something forbidden, off-limits, or dangerous. No makers mark can be seen.  Fine condition.