If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
The mysterious packages kept arriving, some from eBay, others from the Home …
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Just as underclothes are shielded from public view, the evolution of men's most intimate apparel is shrouded in secrecy. But the story of men's underwear is about more …
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
The meerschaum pipes carved in Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century are among the most bizarre and improbable concoctions in decorative art. Some feature …
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
While researching her book, "Killer Stuff and Tons of Money," Maureen Stanton came across all sorts of characters. For years, she shadowed her antiques-dealer friend …
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Vintage kites from all over the world hang from the ceiling and walls of Richard Dermer’s popula…
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: My Afternoon with the Ace of Swords
“When I got this sword, it was completely covered in blood rust.” Sword maker Francis Boyd is showing me yet another weapon pulled from yet another …
'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong
Have you heard? There’s a new swell in town named Gatsby, and he’s bringing flapper flair back into fashion. Baz Luhrmann’s latest cinematic spectacle—his take on “Th…
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
It’s not unusual for men of a certain age to have a soft spot in their hearts for the look of vintage guitars and the sound…
Forget TV Pickers, Meet the Real Mavericks of the Antiques World
Long before Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz swaggered into the spotlight with "American Pickers," writer Maureen Stanton …
Coveting The Craziest Cat-People Collectibles
The memes are endless—Grumpy Cat, Nyan Cat, Keyboard Cat, Maru, and all the Lolcats. Last year even witnessed the first ever Internet Cat Video Fe…
Macabre Photography Trade Card - late 1890s / 1900s | Fabulously Freaky!4 of 12 |  |  |
crabbykins loves this.
lisa loves this.
ho2cultcha loves this.
pwsest1944 loves this.
bratjdd loves this.
AmphoraPottery loves this.
vintagemad loves this.
madvan loves this.
chevy59 loves this.
Hardbrake loves this.
purpledog loves this.
mrmajestic1 loves this.
jojomang likes this.
JohnKratz loves this.
jericho loves this.
BELLIN68 loves this.
officialfuel likes this.
vetraio50 loves this.Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate
Posted 11 months ago
rniederman
(95 items)
Here's another vintage photography tradecard that is certainly out of the ordinary - actually I'm somewhat surprised; what was the artist thinking? Although Pomeroy was a well known portraitist, this classic morphing image tradecard notes, "babies and children a specialty." Let's face it, this is macabre and I cannot imagine it brought in much business. Imagine the 'buzz' around Rochester, NY when this appeared.
Create an account or login in order to post a comment.
Trade CardsVictorian trade cards are an early form of collectible advertising. Popular…
CamerasAntique and vintage cameras are valued by collectors for many reasons, from…
I agree this is just to morbid for me and gruesome looking to love or like . It is a oddity but just not my taste . You did find a unusual piece though .
Hi AR8Jason - I can't blame you. When I first saw this image, I had mixed feelings about the tradecard, but as a vintage camera collector and historian it has a small place in my collection. In reviewing the card closely, I think the photographer was trying to comment about life in some way. What's interesting, is the huge subcollecting theme of post-mortem daguerreotype images (which I don't collect). But as always, thanks for looking!
Hi Manikin ... yep, I think this will be the prevailing opinion. Yet it is a rare item which is definitely out of the ordinary. Hmmm ... maybe I should have waited until Halloween. Anyhow, thanks for looking!
Just letting you know, I also have viewed this, and as unique as it is, I wouldn't click the loves or likes. It is a truely a important piece of the photographic history and should be treated as such.
I so agree with you Kerry it is important part of our history so it is nice it is being cared for . I can not imagine a parent taking their child their for a photo by this ad but maybe they did . Thank you for nice reply rnieder !
Hi kerry10456 ... thanks for the comment. You nicely summed up my feelings about this being a piece of history; hence the reason to share whether pretty or not.
Hi vetraio50 and thanks for the 'love.'
Obvious subject matter for art, without light no darkness- without life no death. to me, a very positive message for a generation that saw a lot of death and horror. it was telling you to see life (hold one foot away...) and be encouraged. today we just live in denial because everything happens over there somewhere... Art is much darker today
Hi scandinavian ... you bring up a couple good points. I'm so close to this stuff I never consider it as art. Moreover, I think you're right in that this type of imagery might have been viewed differently back in the late 1890s / early-1900s. As an example (in addition to post-mortem images), a lot of photographers obsessed with ghost images; but all of these were hoaxes. Yet your point is certainly worth thinking about. Thanks for the comments!
Hi Jericho ... your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Again, it's a point of view I wouldn't have considered. Thanks!
Thanks, JohnKratz, jojomang, and mrmajestic1.
I appreciate this as art, as well. I wouldn't want to stare it on my wall all the time but I think it holds an interesting place as a piece of advertising art.
Thanks, purpledog and bratjdd.
thank you for sharing- great art provokes good conversation
This is in deed different and a nice addition to any photography/ camera collection. I would like to ask you several question regarding early 19 century American Photographers. About 20 years ago I obtained photo album from the Elmira, New York area and it is from the Civil War years. If you so choose please e-mail me at goldendigor@gmail.com, this is not any inquire or an attempt to sell you anything. The photo in this album all bear the photographers water mark on the back or front. There is about 20 or so photo in good shape from at least 15 different Photographers. Thank You Hardbrake
Great conversation everyone. I'm not a fan of the subject matter, but I'm definitely fascinated that it exists. What was the thought process tht led to giving the green light? Definitely a conversation piece (good or bad).
Thanks, hardbrake, chevy59, madvan, and vintagemad. I agree this has been a great discussion and it nice to know many collectors recognize this as an interesting item regardless of the subject matter. For me, this thread has also brought about some interesting perspectives I wouldn't have thought about ... thanks!
Thanks, AmphoraPottery!
Thanks, bratjdd!
Thanks Lisa, pwsest1944, and ho2cultcha!
Thanks, crabbykins!