This Cabinet card is an image of Sir Charles Skelton. Research about this interesting man reveals that his name shows up in all sorts of places. He was a busy man with many interests. He died in 1913 after suffering a stroke. He was considered a modern puritan. He was very engaged in and financially supportive of the Methodist New Connexion Body in Sheffield, England. He was also very active in the big spending highway committee of the Sheffield City Council. He was a major proponent of the use of granite in highway and transportation construction. This was a controversial issue and a anti-granite association was formed to oppose him. In 1895, he became Mayor of Sheffield. In 1897, during a visit from Queen Victoria, Skelton was knighted. Sir Charles Skelton is cited in many varied publications. In 1897, he was mentioned by the British Medical Journal as active in advocating the study and eradication of Tuberculosis. In 1904, The Zoophilist and Animals Defender, reports that Skelton was an active advocate of the antivivisection organization. (Vivisection is conducting surgery on animals for simply experimental purposes). Skelton was a man before his time; if alive today he would be anti animal testing and a member of PETA. It is written that “he was one of the really big men of the City” who was known for his integrity, thoroughness, and “unswerving honesty of purpose”. The man was a non conformist; he opposed militarism (the boer war), and was a teetotaller and opposed liquor traffic. The photographer of this image is J. Crosby of Rotherham, England. Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire. Rotherham and Sheffield are about four miles apart. The reverse of this card has an inscription stating “Uncle Sir Charles Skelton”. (SOLD)
SIR CHARLES SKELTON: MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
HANDSOME SOLDIER AND HIS PRETTY WIFE IN READING, ENGLAND (VINTAGE RPPC)
This vintage real photo postcard features a lovely couple. The handsome gentleman is in his crisp British military uniform and holding his hat at his side. Beside him is his pretty wife who is wearing an attractive long white dress along with a necklace and collar pin. The couple’s portrait was taken at Ward’s Studio in Reading, England. The postcard has excellent clarity.
TWO ADORABLE LITTLE BOYS AND A NAUTICAL THEME IN SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND
This cabinet card portrait features two adorable little boys dressed in sailor suits sitting on a faux mast. Nautical themes such as this one were popular during the cabinet card era. Interestingly, the producer of this image, was located in a seaside town. Maddock Brown & Company operated in Southport, England. SOLD
FLORENCE COLLINGBOURNE: STAGE ACTRESS
The beautiful woman pictured in this Cabinet card is stage actress, Florence Collingbourne. Obtaining significant biographical information about her has been difficult and further research will be done and provided in an addition to this blog. However, information from readers about this stage beauty will be appreciated. The Cabinet card was produced by the Rotary Photographic Company which also produced many postcards with images of theatrical stars. This Cabinet card was published in London, England. The second image displayed is a vintage real photo postcard also featuring the beautiful Miss Collingbourne (1880-?). The postcard was published by the Rotary Photo Company. The reverse of the postcard has evidence that it once occupied a photo album.
STAGE ACTOR: JOHN HARE LACKS “THE LEADING MAN LOOK” IN A PORTRAIT BY THE PACH BROTHERS
This unusual looking gentleman is an English actor and theatre manager named John Hare. John Hare (1844-1921) was born in a town called “Giggleswick”. This is an appropriate name for the birthplace for a man who began his acting career in comic roles. Giggleswick was located in Yorkshire, England. Hare began his acting career in Liverpool in 1864. He is often associated with the plays of T. W. Robertson. Hare managed the Court Theatre (1875-1879), the St. James Theatre (1879-1888), and the Garrick Theatre (1889-1895). His greatest success as an actor was in the play A Pair of Spectacles (1890). This portrait of John Hare likely captures the actor in wardrobe and makeup for one of his productions. However, it is possible that he aged poorly which can be hypothesized because photographs taken of the actor in earlier years show a man with a significantly more pleasing appearance.
A WIDE-EYED GIRL AND HER DOLL IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
This cabinet card photograph features a curly haired little girl holding flowers and standing on a chair next to her large doll. She is wearing a lace dress and a humorous wide eyed expression. She looks like she is having fun at her portrait session. There is an object on the arm of the chair. It is likely the child’s hat which was removed for the photograph. The sweet girl in this image was photographed by Ward’s studio in Reading, England. Reading is a town located in the county of Berkshire.
WOMAN IN DEEP CONCENTRATION STUDIES A PHOTOGRAPH IN LINCOLN, ENGLAND
George Hadley of the Castle Studio produced this portrait of a woman in deep concentration. She is studying what appears to be a small framed photograph. One of her hands rests on a table. The table top holds an inkwell. Printing on the reverse of the cabinet card indicates that the studio had won prizes at exhibitions at Cornwall (1884), London (1884), and Northampton (1884). The studio was located in Lincoln. Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.
TWO GIRLS PLAYING A BOARD GAME ON SEVEN SISTERS ROAD
This cabinet card photograph captures two girls playing a board game. It would be nice to see the kids of today spending a little time playing board games instead of isolating themselves in front of their computer or video game system. Hopefully, a member of the “vast unpaid research department” of the cabinet card gallery will leave a comment identifying the game that these girls are playing. This photograph was produced by The Eclipse Photo Company which was located at 103 Seven Sisters Road. Where is Seven Sisters Road? Printing on the reverse of the photographs states “103 Seven Sisters Road N.” What is “N”? Perhaps “N” means North or the abbreviation for a City or Province. Research reveals that a “Seven Sisters Road” exists in London, England.
SMILING LITTLE GIRL HOLDS HER DOLL IN DOVER, ENGLAND
An adorable and sweet looking little girl poses with her beautiful doll in this portrait by W. H. Broad of the Townwall Studio in Dover, England. She is sitting near a careful arrangement of fern or some other plant leaves. The child’s expression could be described as “frozen in happiness”.
ATTRACTIVE VICTORIAN COUPLE IN NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND
Studio Karoly produced this cabinet card portrait of an attractive couple in Nottingham, England. The gentleman in the photograph has a terrific mustache, striped pants and a polka dot tie. Note his pocket watch and pocket handkerchief. He is fashionably dressed and so is his wife. She is holding flowers and is wearing a very busy hat. The photographer, Frederick Karoly is mentioned in The Law Times (1894) in regard to his entering bankruptcy. A photograph of Karoly’s appears in The Photogram (1895) in an article about artificial light portraiture.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 