And Sylvia the Dog

A couple and a dog. The man wears a World War II naval uniform and stands with a woman in white in front of a house; they hold a rather small, very sweet dog.

On the back of the photo is written, “Mary, Myself, and Sylvia (the dog).” The back is also stamped “Bicknell Photo Services / Jun 30 1942 / Portland, Maine.” Other numbers are on the back in different pen and handwriting; I don’t know what they are, and wonder if they are related to the military, and if this photo was carried by the man when he went to war.

(The back of the photo is shown with the listing because it is so interesting, however it is not part of the reproduction.)


[the specifics]
This photo is available in two sizes:

a) The photo, with its original border, is 5 x 7 inches (vertical). The reproduction is printed on 8 x 10 paper.

b) The photo, with its original border, is 2.5 x 3.5 inches (vertical). The reproduction is printed on 4 x 6 paper.

Buy this photo at the Camera Obscura Etsy shop.

Double Happiness (double exposure of little girl)

A fortuitous accident led to this double exposure of a young girl in a white dress in front of a white wooden fence in front of a house with storybook shutters and climbing morning glories. This is one of my favorite photographs in my entire collection. It so surreal, and so evocative.

In the main exposure she smiles, with her arms at her sides; in the double-exposure she’s smiling just a bit less, and it looks like her hands are on her hips -- tired of being photographed? The focus of the original is soft, the image very light and ethereal. It always reminds me of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Date unknown.


[the specifics]
This photo is available in two sizes:

a) The photo, with its original border, is 5.625 x 7.75 inches (vertical). The image area, not including the original border, is 4.25 x 6.25 inches. The reproduction is printed on 8 x 10 paper.

b) The photo, with its original border, is 2.75 x 3.875 inches (vertical). The image area, not including the original border, is 2.125 x 3.125 inches. The reproduction is printed on 4 x 6 paper.


Buy this photo at the Camera Obscura Etsy shop.

A young girl and a younger boy

A particularly lovely tintype of what is probably an older sister and younger brother. The boy sits with crossed legs and wears a ribbon tie and fantastic striped stockings; the girl rests her hand on his arm. They look alike – so serious, as children often do in tintypes.

Date unknown.


[the specifics]
This photo is available in two sizes:

a) The tintype, with its original border, is irregularly shaped but approximately 3 x 4 inches (vertical). This reproduction is professionally printed on 4 x 6 paper.

b) The tintype, with its original border, is irregularly shaped but approximately 5.625 x 8 inches (vertical). This reproduction is professionally printed on 8 x 10 paper.


Buy this photo at the Camera Obscura Etsy shop.

Previews: Future Etsy Listings

The following are photos that will be listed as reproductions for sale in my Etsy shop within the next few weeks. Should you have any information or guesses about dates or locations, please leave a comment!



A young women with three small children on the beach. A nanny and her charges on summer vacation? The child on the right holds a flower. Date and location unknown.





Connor and a friend. And some horses. What happened to Connor's nose? Date and location unknown. 1950s?





A beautiful hand-tinted portrait of a woman in a hat and a coat with fur trim, sitting on a rock, surrounded by standing stones. Date, location unknown.




A mother and child. Haunting.

Two Women and a Fountain

Two women in white stand on the edge of a shallow pool – a fountain? – holding hands. The composition of the photo is beautiful and the feeling, while slightly precarious, is happy and balanced.

Around the early 1930s. One woman is named Mary, and they’re in Ohio.


[the specifics]
This photo is available in two sizes:

a) The photo, with its original border, is 3.5 x 6 inches (horizontal). This reproduction is professionally printed on 5 x 7 paper.

b) The photo, with its original border, is 5.25 x 9 inches (horizontal). This reproduction is professionally printed on 8 x 10 paper.

Buy this photo at the Camera Obscura Etsy shop.

Bathing Beauty

A black & white photo of a young woman posing in fashionable swim attire -- a day in the back yard. Just look at her wonderful handbag.

The original photo is out of focus, but that lends a sweet softness to her girlish features and pixie-haircut.

Date unknown – early 1950s?


[the specifics]
This photo is available in two sizes:

a) The photo, with its original border, is 3.5 x 3.5 inches. The image area, not including the original border, is 3.125 x 3 inches (horizontal). The reproduction is professionally printed on 5 x 7 paper.

b) The photo, with its original border, is 5.5 x 5.5 inches. The image area, not including the original border, is 4.5 x 4.75 inches (horizontal). This reproduction is professionally printed on 8 x 10 paper.

Buy this photo at the Camera Obscura Etsy shop.

A Grand Day Out

Twelve young people on an outing in their automobiles. Five sit in one car while the other seven pose on and around it (their own car just visible in the background). The couple sitting on the running-board is especially wonderful.

Notable for the tires of the automobile, the calm and dignified expressions on their faces, and the fantastic chance positioning of the house and people in the distance just over the rear tire (see detail image).

Date unknown.


[the specifics]
This photo is available in two sizes:

a) The photo, with its original border, is 3.75 x 6.5 inches (horizontal). The reproduction is printed on 8 x 10 paper.

b) The photo, with its original border, is 2.5 x 4.375 inches (horizontal). The reproduction is printed on 5 x 7 paper.

Buy this photo at the Camera Obscura Etsy shop.