Photographs of musicians is a collecting sub-genre in antique photography collecting. This particular group is a strange lot. Odd, awkward expressions. Stiff stature. Of course, this isn't uncommon for the time. However, I've seen enough antique photos to know that these fellows look stiffer and odder than the norm.
I find antique photographs of lower class people quite interesting. They have a Dickensian character that is not found in formal cabinet cards taken in a studio. But, we shouldn't romanticize this. No doubt, this was a hard life. "People's History of the United States" by Zinn comes to mind.
We have also sought out antique photos of women with long hair, preferably really long hair. This one is a nice example, although there are many good ones out there.
Photos of minorities are relatively uncommon in photo collecting. You do find them from time to time, but they aren't "run of the mill" like photos of white folk. I can go to an antique store and look through 500 cabinet cards, and I probably won't find a single photo of a minority. So, it's interesting to find these photos when you do find them. This cabinet card from Baltimore shows an Asian man, probably Chinese.
One of the sub-genres of my collecting involves rats. I have a brood of 9 pet rats who reside in a 5-foot tall rat manor. I couldn't be happier to have these curious little buggers as pets. People who don't own rats usually aren't familiar with their docile demeanor, curious personalities, and overall friendliness to humans. Anyway, I saw this Victorian trade card at an antique show and picked it up, because it shows a rat riding a frog.
Overall, I haven't been able to find very many collectibles with rats so if anyone out there comes across something cool, let me know. I'm especially interested in antique books about rats and rat-catching. I have a great rat catching book in this blog's archives.
At times, it's unclear whether an antique photograph depicts someone post-mortem. This is one such example. Judging from the somber expressions and the all black dress, I suspect that the baby is deceased. The baby is also "set-off" from the rest of the family with white dress. Whatever the case, a striking photograph.
Original one-sheet film poster from the movie "Jack the Ripper" (1959). I so prefer the term "ladies of the night" when referring to prostitutes. It's so much friendly than our lingo today. You know, "bottom bitch," "ho," that sort of thing.
My apologies for the brief hiatus. My brother was in Atlanta for 10 days, having flown in to visit from Seattle. We visited some interesting sites, such as the world famous Clermont Lounge. Truly the John Waters of bars/strip clubs. Anyway, for the moment, behind on my FP scanning, but enjoy this delightful image.
FringePop is a showcase for uncommon and esoteric cultural artifacts. The focus is on unusual items from both popular and fringe culture, with an emphasis on subversive pieces. The items shown are from the author's personal collection, unless otherwise noted.
I am a pop culture buff and collector, who focuses on the odd, subversive, and fringe elements of Western culture. In 2005, I edited a book for Feral House called "Sin-A-Rama: Sleaze Sex Paperbacks of the Sixties." The vintage oddities in my collection include victoriana, sideshow, medical, and kitsch. I am also an amateur sewer, making clothing from vintage mod patterns.
