humorpage5

Humor, page 5
Ladies showing legs and various other bits

Only when I started to sort out my material did I realise stereographers' obsession for revealing ladies' legs and other naughty bits. As early as 1870 Photographic News published a report of a man arrested for selling 30 vulgar slides to soldiers, sailors and schoolboys - so if you don't come into one of those categories this page may not be for you. Some of these are mechanically produced views - presumably to keep them in pocket-money range. They are often not in particularly good condition - presumably because they have been taken into battle/up rigging/to school. The pricing of these views is loosely based on the principle of 'more flesh, more dollars'. I find this a sad comment on me, you, and the world in general.

In Victorian England even the legs of tables were covered with a cloth down to the ground in case the sight inflamed the passions of men. Playboy these are not, social history they are. I will try to refrain from sexist comments that might get me in trouble with the Thought Police. I have included the odd view of men showing legs to provide a sense of balance. Some of these bear the name of a previous owner 'John Farrow'. If you know him, avoid him. If you are him - see a shrink ASAP. If you can't afford it, I'll start a fund.

The 'S.P' views are real photos - not mechanically produced.

'Hosiery going up'. Presumably there is also a 'Hosiery going down'; I shall eagerly search for it but might keep it to brighten my (impending) old age.
Condition. Some lifting of the images where the glue hasn't taken.
Order #17801.
Price $5.

'The Fensor'. Publisher couldn't spell or attract half-decent models apparently.
Condition 6.
Order #17802.
Price $5.

'The Fenser'. Still misspelt - but differently.
Condition 6.
Order #17803.
Price $5.

Keystone. 'Oh, you're a Peach'. Mush admit she isn't bad. Man looks like Nicolas Sarkozy after a very heavy night (allegedly).
Condition 8.
Order #17804.
Price $12.

British & Foreign View Co. Stamp on back indicates that this was originally sold by an opticians in Leamington !!!
Condition 5.
Order #17805.
Price $6.

'It makes a new woman of you'. Am I missing something?
Condition 7.
Order #17806.
Price $4.

Untitled.
Condition about 5 with stain on left image.
Order #17807.
Price $5.

Anglo-American Stereoscopic Co. 'I'll bet you don't'. Nice studio pose.
Condition 7.
Order #17809.
Price $8.

'Cinderella'. Can't imagine her in a fairy coach.
Condition. Fading.
Order #17810.
Price $4.

'Phantom banjo'. This scans appallingly as it is a 'ghost' view. Actually I think it was just a bad exposure and the photgrapher didn't want to waste it so made up the 'phantom' title.
Condition 8.
Order #17812.
Price $10.

Excelsior. Oh dear! (my comment, not title). Any grannyphiles out there?
Condition 7 (slight dents).
Order #17813.
Price $8.

'Taking it easy'.
Condition 7.
Order #17814.
Price $10.

'Hows This?'.
Condition. Slightly light.
Order #17815.
Price $8.

'Bei der Toilette'. A better quality view on polished mount.
Condition 7/8.
Order #17816.
Price $18.

Anglo American Stereo Co. 'Lace my ?????'. Lady has had a very bad hair day. Small amount of ankle showing. If you're turned on by this - get a life.
Condition 7.
Order #17817.
Price $8.

'Taking in a reel'. Nice girl and good bit of reflection work in two mirrors.
Condition 7/8.
Order #17818.
Price $12.

'Pickwich in the wrong room'.
Condition. Images 8, mount trimmed at bottom edges to fit in a narrow viewer.
Order #17819.
Price $8.

'In der Hangermatte'. Translates as 'In the Hangermatte'. If it had one 't' then it would be a useful little device for storing your clothes in a caravan - but it hasn't.
Condition. Surface wrinkles from bad mounting.
Order #17821.
Price $4.

This untitled view is of two men or two amazingly butch women. Either way I'm sure it will float someone's boat.
Condition 8.
Order #17822.
Price $6.

'How nice'.
Condition 7.
Order #17823.
Price $4.

'Hallow E'en part, boxing match, England's advantage'. US flag sash makes up for lack of exposed flesh. Looks like a pirated view, probably originally Graves of Philadelphia by the shape of the blanked-out logo on the right image. John Farrow owned this one - wonder if he's still writhing in the fires of Hell.
Condition 7.
Order #17824.
Price $6.

Griffith & Griffith, copyright 1897, William H. Rau. 'Well, what are you looking at?'. Again, formerly owned by Mr Farrow.
Condition. Slight production fault at bottom of right image. Mount trimmed at bottom edges to fit narrow viewer.
Order #17825.
Price $8.

'The surprised bathers'.
Condition 7/8.
Order #17826.
Price $8.

'Paddy's Blarney'. Not much flesh but four girls.
Condition 7 (surface scratches).
Order #17827.
Price $10.

'Out you go'.
Condition 8.
Order #17828.
Price $12.

B.K. (A. Block of Paris). A much better class of model.
Condition 7/8.
Order #17829.
Price $18.

Healthier outdoor pursuits by Underwood. 'Surprised bathers'. They look anything but surprised and I think they had been trying to get this shot right all morning.
Condition 6/7. (slight mark on face of woman l/h image. Views better than scan).
Order #17830.
Price $5.

Just to prove the point, this Excelsior version is a slightly different pose.
Condition 7.
Order #17831.
Price $8.

Excelsior. Untitled.
Condition 4 (fading).
Order #17832.
Price $5.

C.H. Graves, Philadelphia 'A warm day'. One is OK. Oh, and they could've cleared the underwear out from under the bed before the photo shoot. Seller's stamp for W.E. Bell, Penshurst, New South Wales, Australia. A much-traveled view.
Condition 6.
Order #17833.
Price $12.

Another mirror view. This time, I think, using one shot and two girls.
Condition 9/10.
Order #17834.
Price $18.

Untitled, studio posed, nice portrait.
Condition 8.
Order #17836.
Price $12.

'A terrible strain'. Not sure if lady is pooing her pants. Neither is man in backgound or author of title.
Condition. Yet again, mounted after liquid lunch. Light crease thru right image.
Order #17838.
Price $5.

'Smokeless powder'.
Condition. Some light dents on left image.
Order #17839.
Price $8.

'Don't get above your business'.
Condition 7.
Order #17840.
Price $8.

'Butterfly skirt dance'.
Condition. Surface soiling.
Order #17841.
Price $4.

The views in the next section are of paintings. This ruse, used since time immemorial, enabled much more flesh to be exposed in the name of 'Art'. This can cause untold hassle at times, as when Epstein sculpted the memorial to be placed on Oscar Wilde's tomb in Paris. The figure's dongle caused much heart-searching among the city burghers who metaphorically sat on the problem for a year before allowing the statue to be erected (no pun intended), bearing a screwed-on figleaf. By the 1930s a more relaxed attitude allowed the figleaf to be unscrewed again. Two English ladies, visiting the cemetary, were so outraged that they wacked the dongle off with their brollies. It then rested for many years on the office desk of the cemetary caretaker, who used it as a paperweight, before disappearing from history. No wonder I get very little work done!

'Modern Vanity (Jeune)'.
Condition 8.
Order #17843.
Price $12.

Great Western View Co. 'A serious misadventure (Scalbert)'. NO STEREO EFFECT.
Condition. Three small brown spots on left image.
Order #17844.
Price $2.

'Nymphs (Bouguereau, W.A.)'.
Condition 9.
Order #17845.
Price $12.

'Summer bath at Pompeii (Boulanger, G.)'.
Condition 9.
Order #17846.
Price $12.

'Danae (Van Dyck, A.)'.
Condition 9.
Order #17847.
Price $12.

'Bathers (Salles-Wagner, Mme A.)'.
Condition 9.
Order #17848.
Price $12.

'Bacchante Awakening (Kraus, F.)'.
Condition 8/9.
Order #17849.
Price $10.

'Spring (Bagues, F.J.A.)'.
Condition. Slight dent at right edge of mount.
Order #17850.
Price $12.

'Nymphe mit Liebesgott (Papperitz, G.)'.
Condition 9.
Order #17851.
Price $12.

'The Wave (Dupuis, Pierre)'.
Condition 9.
Order #17852.
Price $12.

'Namouna (Delhumea, G.)'.
Condition 8.
Order #17853.
Price $12.

'Love lighter than a butterfly (Picou, H.P.)'.
Condition 9.
Order #17854.
Price $12.

'Diana (Lefebvre, Jules)'.
Condition 9.
Order #17855.
Price $12.

Tissue views. Tissues are difficult to photograph and, generally, the quality is much better when viewed. Sometimes the image just can't be scanned satisfactorily. As always, if any view fails to please, we offer a money-back guarantee.

Very much better tinting than scan with delicate colors.
Condition. Split as pic. Other image undamaged.
Order #17856.
Price $12.

Untitled.
Condition. Slight surface dents, a few small foxing spots.
Order #17857.
Price $18.

A very big girl with painted over bloomers.
Condition. Slight lifting of tissue backing.
Order #17858.
Price $18.

The rest of these tissue views are from various 'Nos Mondaines' series by Block of Paris. When I got them they were warped, with the tissue having pulled tight on the mount. This was probably due to being stored loosely in a very dry atmosphere. They have now settled down and, as long as they are kept properly, I think they will remain reasonably flat.

1. Chez le Peintre.
Condition. Some light black spotting.
Order #17859.
Price $22.

2. Chez le Peintre.
Condition. Foxing.
Order #17860.
Price $12.

3. Chez le Peintre.
Condition. Couple of fingernail splits in right image. Mount is slightly delaminating at top and will need a spot of glue.
Order #17861.
Price $12.

4. Chez le Peintre.
Condition. Black spot on right image as pic.; foxing stain on left image (see on lady's dress).
Order #17862.
Price $15.

5. Chez le Peintre.
Condition. Backing tissue split on right image; couple of foxing spots.
Order #17863.
Price $15.

6. Chez le Peintre.
Condition. Odd foxing spots.
Order #17864.
Price $15.

Josephine elle est malade.
Condition. Undamaged.
Order #17865.
Price $22.

Josephine elle est malade.
Condition. Light black processing spots.
Order #17866.
Price $18.

Josephine elle est malade.
Condition. Some foxing.
Order #17867.
Price $18.

Josephine elle est malade.
Condition. Foxing stains.
Order #17868.
Price $15.

Josephine elle est malade.
Condition. Foxing stains.
Order #17869.
Price $15.

Josephine elle est malade.
Condition. Undamaged.
Order #17870.
Price $22.

1. La Souris.
Condition. Damage repaired with scotch on back at bottom of left image (almost invisible when viewing). Foxing stain on chin in same image.
Order #17871.
Price $12.