It’s that time again. The time of the week where I post some great vintage photos from the deep dark archives of eBay. These days I look for a theme in the photos, and I think that this week’s collection must be forgiven, because its mind is elsewhere. Perhaps dwelling on matters that aren’t broached in polite company. I really tried to pare these down this week, but still ended up with nine. Sorry about that. I’m obsessive.
Misusing the Electric Implement
This would normally be a straight-forward picture, as it certainly appears, until one regards the electrical device. The transphosphorstylus here is plainly being misused. One does not hold it like a potato. – Auction Here
– Expires When it Expires
St. Petersbourg
I can’t really put my finger on what is wrong here. Which of these two is made of wood? Shockingly expensive for what it is. – Auction Here – Expires 8/2
Clown Dance?
The Person selling this gem titled it “Clown Dance”. Probably thinking that the nice clowney was on stilts. You can see the clown dance, can’t you? Dance as the girl wakes up and starts screaming. It’s too late for her. The one in her lap will keep her in the chair. – Auction Here – Expires 7/31
Take Me Home
Both parties are obviously in peril. – Auction Here – Expires 8/2 – This seller is located in Porkopolis, Ohio, United States. Porkopolis.
Double Exposure
I don’t usually go for double exposures, because there are lots of them and let’s face it, they’re mistakes. Lots of vernacular vintage photos have the shadows of the photographer in them, too. It’s an artifact of the way photos were created then. The first one you find might look sinister or unusual. Then you see hundreds more and the effect is spoiled. Every once in a while, though, a really delicious one shows up. That’s the case here. – Auction Here – Expires 7/31
My OCD is to Blame
A spectacularly obvious fake spirit photo by George and Craig Falconer, circa 1930. You can see the halftone dots on the picture they must have cut from a newspaper or magazine. She looks like a romance novel heroine, poor dear. I wasn’t going to post this, seeing as how there are a ton here, but my OCD made me. For the sake of completeness. More here and here and here. – Auction Here – Expires 8/4
Lovely Mary Duncan, 1929
Hot dog! You may remember Mary Duncan from her lead role in The Shanghai Gesture. Here she is as photographed by William Mortensen (bio) (google image search) – Auction Here – Expires 8/3
They Don't Build Them Like That Anymore
Ah Yes. The more clever of you will have already deduced the purpose of this evil mechanism from the indicators at the top, which are labeled “Occupied” and “Free”. The rest of you will need to learn to use your imaginations. – Auction Here – Expires 8/6
Stop, Pelican
Stop! (I adore vintage photos with dates on them. The serrated edges of this snapshot say 1960s to me, and so it is: January 1960. Somebody is late taking their decorations down.) – Auction Here – Expires 8/4
Arcade Card Original
I always like to end with a pinup. This is an original proof for an arcade card. The seller speculates that the photo originated from Alta Studios in San Francisco, CA, which is now famous for its “artful nudes” from the 1920s that a person could mail order. The cards made from these originals were dispensed from machines at arcades, and are also known as Mutoscope cards or Exhibit Cards. Auction Here – Expires 7/31
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