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Offered for your consideration is a highly rare, authentic 19th-century Victorian cabinet card photograph featuring the distinct studio stamp of the celebrated French photographer Charles Georges Spitz (1857–1894).
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Marie-Charles Georges Henri Spitz was born in Alsace, France in 1857 and originally arrived in Tahiti in 1879 as a sergeant in the French marine infantry. After leaving the military in 1880, he established a highly successful photography and jewelry studio in Papeete, Tahiti. Operating during the golden age of Pacific exploration and colonization, Spitz became one of French Polynesia's most historically significant cultural chroniclers.
His striking ethnographic portraits of indigenous Tahitians, local landscapes, and everyday island life earned him massive international acclaim, including prestigious awards at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. Historical records suggest his pioneering photographic work heavily influenced the famous French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin, who encountered Spitz's images before traveling to Tahiti himself. Tragically, Spitz's career was cut short when he passed away in Papeete in 1894 at the young age of 37.
ITEM DETAILS & CONDITION:
The front of this card features a fascinating, beautifully composed group portrait of seven individuals identified via handwritten pencil notations on the reverse as members of the Gooding family, alongside a large dog resting at their feet. The sitters are adorned with festive floral crowns and wreaths, showcasing a unique look at Western residents or travelers in late-19th-century French Polynesia.
The reverse side boasts a crisp, vibrant, and incredibly well-preserved red wet studio stamp reading: "Photographie Instantanée, G. Spitz, Papeete, Tahiti".
- Format: Albumen print mounted on a rigid yellow cardstock base with a red border frame.
- Dimensions: Standard cabinet card (approx. 4.25" x 6.5").
- Condition: Please review the photos carefully. The reverse side and studio stamp are in excellent condition with clear pencil provenance. The front image displays authentic age wear, including some notable surface scuffs/scrapes to the photographic emulsion layer across the center clothing details.
A magnificent and hard-to-find piece of early Pacific photographic history that would make an exceptional addition to any advanced photography, ethnographic, or oceania collection.
SHIPPING & HANDLING DETAILS:
Your historic photograph will be handled with the utmost care to ensure it arrives at your doorstep in the exact condition pictured.
- Secure Protective Packaging: The cabinet card will be placed securely sandwiched between two thick pieces of rigid cardboard to prevent any bending, folding, or corner crushing during transit. It will then be shipped inside a durable, weather-resistant cardboard mailer.
- Fast & Reliable Shipping: We understand the importance of quick delivery. Your order will be securely packaged and shipped out fast—within 2 business days of receiving cleared payment. Full tracking information will be provided automatically so you can monitor your package every step of the way.
Buy with confidence knowing your vintage item will be protected, tracked, and shipped with professional care!
