For sale is a late 1800s SET of Four Different CABINET CARDS WEDDING PHOTOS. These photos were taken by Genelli Gallery, M. W. Starks proprietor, 607 Fourth St, Sioux city, Iowa. The back of one of the cabinet cards has two names written on the card which suggests these cards feature the wedding of Mr. GUSTAV A. HAGLUND and his bride, BRETTA SARAH PEARSON. The two larger cards measure about 6 1/2 inches by 4 1/4 inches. The two smaller format cards measure 4 1/4 inches by 2 1/2 inches. It’s uncommon to find a series of related cabinet cards. A great photography collectible.
The gentleman in the photo resembles Paul Neuman. There was a Gustav Adolf Haglund who was born on April 30, 1875 that may be the man in the photo. However, I could not find any record of this Gustav marrying a Bretta Sarah Pearson.
Cabinet cards were made from the 1860s to the early 1900s. The cabinet card was an albumen print on thin paper that was mounted on thicker paper. The cabinet card reached its peak popularity in the 1880’s but continued to be used in the early 1900’s. Starting in the 1880s, cabinet cards use beveled edges which may have a gold or silver color. A cabinet card with a scalloped border indicates a cabinet card made between 1886 and 1900. The borders on a cabinet can also help date the photo. Early cabinet cards had no borders. A single line border dates to 1885 – 1900. Embossed patterns for a border were used from 1894 to 1900. Lastly, an artistic underscore is from 1886 to 1896. The color of the cardboard mount is a important. The darker colored cardboard mounts, such as brown, burgundy, green, or black were use during the 1880’s and 1890’s. The imprinted photographer’s marks or any artwork on the back of the cabinet card also help in dating the cabinet card. In general, the fancier or more elaborate the design the later the date of the photo.
