19th C. Cabinet Photo Info

Hey Guys,
I recently discovered 2 19th C. cabinet photos (no info/names with them) at an antique mall, and wondered whether there is anyone who could tell me if they might be able to be identified, and how to research this info. They have the photographers studio info on the bottom, like the ones Ive seen posted. I dont know if they are ballplayers, but they are well dressed (street clothes) and seem "well to do". Is there any chance in your opinion, that they could be ball players? I know this is kind of a wide open question, but they are only around $10 each, so would it be something to take a gamble on? Interested in what you guys think. Thanks!

Need a little more information than that...
Do you have pictures of them?

Hi Brandon,

They're not ballplayers. You'll run into cabinet cards mostly in antique stores and they're quite plentiful.

Some are collectible if the subject is interesting (clothes, mustaches, instruments, military, etc.) but most are only "worth" a couple of bucks.

Rob

caramelcard wrote:Hi Brandon,

They're not ballplayers. You'll run into cabinet cards mostly in antique stores and they're quite plentiful.

Some are collectible if the subject is interesting (clothes, mustaches, instruments, military, etc.) but most are only "worth" a couple of bucks.

Rob

Not sure how you can say they aren't ball players unless you've seen them...

I've seen plenty of images that fit that description and are of ball players. Most of those are worth well over $10 - especially if it from a well known photographer / studio like Horner or Falk.

I think he meant to say that it is highly unlikely. I'll agree with that.

pro9 wrote:I think he meant to say that it is highly unlikely. I'll agree with that.

I'd buy that explanation. It's true that it's highly unlikely.

Hi Brian,

Didn't mean to be short.

I meant it's highly unlikely. I've looked for years and years through stacks and stacks and stacks and stacks and stacks and stacks and stacks and stacks of cabinets and never a one baseball player besides maybe a couple of local high school teams or subjects. Still looking though!

What happened to me is that I just start collecting cabinets or cdvs or tintypes or whatever of basic subject matter. I just like old paper.

Rob

I will see if I can get some decent pics. They are in a glass front case so maybe I can get the salespeople to take them out and let me take pics for research purposes. I will post them if I am able to get them. Im going up there tomorrow for my weekly search (lots of stuff comes in, sometimes vintage baseball) so I will keep u posted. As some of you stated, theres a microscopic chance they are anything special, but for some reason they jumped out at me.

What happened to me is that I just start collecting cabinets or cdvs or tintypes or whatever of basic subject matter. I just like old paper.

Rob, cabinet cards are bad, very bad, you should stop collecting them.
Besides, your name is caramelcard, not cabinetcard.

Well, I checked it out, and after closer examination, I really think they are doctors or lawyers. The photographer studio on one is Goldsmith of St. Louis, and I couldnt find info on them, so I figure its nothing special.

Random cabinet card collecting is indeed very bad for you. It makes you

Anyone else want to dress up in period late nineteenth century clothes this Halloween and have a series of cabinet photos made of us?

There is a tintypery in the historic area of my town, and I am probably going to have pics like that done! We went and checked it out yesterday in fact. As soon as I get em done I will post pics.

browncow75 wrote:There is a tintypery in the historic area of my town, and I am probably going to have pics like that done! We went and checked it out yesterday in fact. As soon as I get em done I will post pics.

I'm sorry, your town has a what?

I can't even get a Dunkin' Donuts and you've got a zombie Matthew Brady strapping people's necks to a post to take tintypes?

I can't imagine what kind of business they do unless it's part of some historical recreation gift shop in a tourist trap.

Still though, I'm tempted to fly (or rather, take a buggy) to your town square and put on my Sunday best and have my picture taken if I can stand still for nigh on 3 hours.

Hey Chris,
Yup, Its in the historic area, the old "Main Street" in St. Charles, Mo.
The entire street has homes built starting around 1820. Its a beautiful area, Brick and Stone homes that have been converted to shopfrontsand restaurants, many with residential apartments above them. The tintypery rents out the clothing, anywhere from the 1820's era, all the way up to the early 1900's. Its REALLY a cool deal for anyone, like me, who is interested in history. Its also 2 streets away from the Missouri River and "Frontier Park" Where Lewis and Clark first crossed into Missouri during the expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase. Here's a link.
http://www.historicstcharles.com/visitors.aspx