Very Old Bicycles

As a cyclist, I do love pictures with bicycles. Vermont is written on the back, but it's a recent label, so it shouldn't be viewed as accurate. Let's guess that the photographer is the owner of the bike in the foreground.

Esther's Graduation 1930

It's always nice to get something that is dated. Written in ink on the front of the photo, "For Aunt Lena, with love, Esther 1930." It appears to be a graduation picture. Note the rolled up diploma in Esther's hand and the prize ribbon on her dress. Too, this is a contact print, size 5x7. Could be high school or college.

Crazy French People

Written on the back, "12 Jueller 1936. Faiet de Foutunebleau." They look like they're having fun.

Americans in Paris

Paris in the 20's was the age of the American expatriate. Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein and the lot. On the back of the lady sitting at the table, "Caroline Davis France 1920's" On the back of the standing woman, "Hannah Gersch taken at Longchamps Racetrack in Paris about 1928 or 1929?"

World War 1, The Argonne

Again, I think these images are rotogravures. I have a pretty good background in conventional photography and can id anything from a daguerreotype to a modern digital print, but obsolete commercial printing ...a bit beyond me. The caption for the image with the shot up helmet, "How the Argonne was won. Like their Indian fighting ancestors the Americans fought from behind trees and bushes, digging a "fox hole" for cover whenever they paused. This photograph was taken by a Signal Corps operator during the advance of the 18th Inf., 1st Div., up the slopes of Hill 240, near Exermont, Oct. 11, 19198. These soldiers fought their way to the top in the face of heavy machine gun fire and drove the enemy from the position. The bullet-torn helmet in the foreground tells the story of a "buddy" who lies "over yonder." The men in the brush, "Hill 240, scene of desperate fighting." The guys with the machine gun, "Machine gunners, 1st Div., in action near Exermont. Oct. 4, 1918." The one with the tank, "Tank and supply wagon blown up north of Fleville." And the one with the wagons on the town street, "Artillery of the 1st Div. entering Fleville. Oct. 12." Not the signal corps. logos.

Crime Scene Photos

On the back of the photo of the two men, "Henry Weaver and Leon Olliphant looking over the blood stained stair case of Dr. Foss."

Woman as Man

A woman dressed as a man, probably from the 20's or 30's. A time when it was rare for women to wear pants.