Collection of 18 original Imperial Russian Cabinet Cards and Cartes de Visites, c. 1880 - 1910
A coherent and historically interesting group of 18 original Imperial Russian photographic portraits, dating from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century. The collection comprises original albumen prints mounted as cabinet cards and cartes de visite, together with one larger-format group photograph, and is now housed together in a simple card folder with protective sleeves.
The photographs appear to document members of a Russian military family or closely connected social circle across more than one generation. Most images depict uniformed male figures, ranging from boys and adolescents in cadet or school-style uniforms through to adult officers in formal military dress. Several portraits show mature officers, and a small number include family members, notably a formal studio portrait of an officer with a woman and infant child.
The group comprises approximately six cabinet cards (c. 6.5 x 4.25 inches), eleven cartes de visite (c. 4 x 2.5 inches), and one larger photograph (c. 5 x 7 inches) depicting a posed outdoor group of around sixteen men, some in uniform and others in civilian dress.
Studios and locations represented (as printed on mounts):
A notable feature is the variety of period studios, spanning the Russian Empire and Russian controlled Poland. Identifiable imprints include A. Baculev, Samara; J. Tyras-Polski, Photographie de la Cour, with locations listed such as Varsovie (Warsaw), Lodz, Odessa and Woronege; S. Janecki of Kielce with branches noted at Busko and Pinczow; J. Daniloff, Moscow; I. Kurbatov, Moscow; E. Ovcharenko, Moscow; Steinberg (Shteinberg), St Petersburg, Nevsky Prospekt 50; and a French language mount for W. Dubransky (Dubranski), Zhitomir, Rue Kiefskaia. There is also an Odessa studio card referring to Deribasovskaya Street.
Several versos include imperial crests, medals, and award references typical of late Imperial Russian studio photography. A number of photographs bear handwritten dates, including 1886, 1893, 1894, and one possibly 1904, providing a clear chronological framework.
Uniforms visible across the collection are consistent with late nineteenth-century Imperial Russian military dress, including high-collared tunics, shoulder boards, and formal officer attire. The presence of boys in uniform suggests cadet or preparatory military education, a common feature of officer households and military circles of the period.
Condition is generally very good for the type, with clear images and good tonal range. Some mounts show expected edge wear, surface soiling, foxing, or staining to versos. One photograph shows heavy surface wear and is in poor condition, but remains legible and historically useful. The remainder range from good to very good.
An attractive and well-documented group of original Imperial Russian photographs, of interest to collectors of military history, Russian and Eastern European photography, and late nineteenth-century studio portraiture.