Hmmm, well do most people identify people going from left to right? Is it possible that the original image was reversed? (Yes.) But the long and short of it is we don’t know which lady is Freda and which is Anna. How wonderful though, that we do have the first and last names for this snazzy trio. They are identified on the back as:  Bill Hartwick, Freda Smith, and Anna Frank. The young lady in the front, Freda or Anna, dressed in a long skirt and matching jacket with wide plunging v-neck collar, wears a small animal fur (poor guy) fastened around her shoulders. Her hat is very elegant with a large brim that’s turned up on one side and with a feather (poor bird) jaunting out from the other. The lady behind her (Anna or Freda) looks to be a little older, and is also very chic, wearing a double-breasted coat with large buttons, and a high collar, possibly of fur. And her brimless hat (not a cloche) is the perfect compliment. Bill appears in a suit with double-breasted jacket, tie and derby hat, and carrying a small box-like object. (Whatever this is, it seems a might too narrow, too plain, and maybe too small to be any type of box camera.)

It would be doable – to narrow down and maybe identify where this photo was taken, and who exactly these people are. But, it would be extremely time-consuming to compare census records in various cities with the names, and estimated birth dates, so we won’t (alas) go there…but maybe someone working on their family tree will be able to recognize any or all of these three people.

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard. AZO stamp box. Circa late 1910s – early 1920s.

Price:  $15.00