Cabinet Card Photo - Actress? "The Original"

Hello,

I'm a bit confused about some antique writing on the back of this cabinet photo
I recently purchased. I purchased a large group of photos and this one has sorta
some weird things going on.

Photo By: Duryea
Location: Brooklyn, NY


Question:
What the heck does "With Best Wishes, of "The Original"." Mean?

Guess it could just be a victorian joke? or nickname?


Any help would be appreciated!

 

I would guess a gift from the lady in question - the "original" of the photograph.

 

I suppose that an "actress" of the time might be so memorable and popular that she had a nickname like that, but it sure makes searching difficult.

As for your photographer, he was much easier to find. Sanford B. Duryea, born in what was then Queens County, Long Island in 1833. Was retired by 1900 (living in Los Angeles) and died in 1903 (back in Brooklyn.) His studio seems to have been at that 253 Fulton Street address for a long time, given directory listings. The last one I found was in the 1890 directory as both a listing and an advertisement - in addition to "Photos and Summer Rates" he also sells "Crayons, Oils and Water-colors."

So your card would likely be from the 1890's at the latest.

 

I think that, based on hairstyle and the puffy shoulder tops, this photo is from early to mid 1890s.

She could be an actress... I don't recognize her but of course don't know all of them. "The Original" could also be the name of a character in a play rather than somebody's nickname... but also could be as moreotherstuff suggested, and just referring to herself as "The Original" for some other reason.

 

Scantic - You might be interested in the brief bio on Sanford B Duryea's Find-A-Grave record. His was apparently a family of photographers and he and a brother went to western Australia in the 1850's to set up studios before returning to Brooklyn for the same purpose.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=81739656&ref=acom

 

She's a cutie... with remarkably pointed ears.

 

I'm betting she was just a good-looking young lady, well-known to the person she gave the picture to.

 

Hadn't noticed that... a Spock-ette!

 

Not only "pointed" ears, but to me it looks like the cartilage of the ear swoops in a slight longish curve across the edge of her face all the way to the small tuft of (sideburn-ish) hair coming down from her hairdo.

 

Thank you so much for all of the help!

 

Haha it really does make searching impossible! "The Original" is just way to common of a phrase! Thank you so much in helping date it! That really does help a great deal. Wasn't sure if it was early 1900's or not with her outfit.

 

Haha it's sorta perplexing really. Because I was wondering what she herself put it in quotes on the back. I find that part odd. You would think if she was referring to the photograph or something of that nature, quotes wouldn't be added.

 

Thank you for this!

Seems to be a remarkable family of artists!

 

Very pointed lol Pixie type ears.... I like to call them bat ears as well

 

You would think that... but it seems that lots of people use quotation marks inaccurately, so who knows? They could also have been used for emphasis, or to indicate some kind of inside joke?

 

Oddly enough, I'm finally reading Roots, Shoots and Leaves. The use of quotes, commas, etc has changed radically over the centuries and even in the last 30 years. She may have been quoting something someone else called her, or it may have as Fig says, a joke. It's a perfectly acceptable use of double quotes to my eyes, but I've read a lot of Brit Lit and some things rub off.

 

I'm not seeing "actress" there in her expression in particular-she's a bit timid, just a mama's baby homebody I'd guess, kinda cute but that's about it. I'd expect to see a lot more self-confidence in a posed expression of an actress. She'd make a big hit at any trekkie event.

 

Spock's great-great-grandmother.