old cabinet card

[Strumelia]

Here's kind of a nice image to discuss, on ebay now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cabinet-Card-Negro-with-Banjo-NO-RESERVE-Ba...

[John Masciale]

I love his banjo strap.  I've done that from time to time.  It looks like he might have drilled a hole through the head to tie the string through.

I doubt this man is of African descent as the picture is labeled.  Alexander Rae was an English Victorian portrait photographer.  Perhaps the man blacked up, perhaps he had a reddish complexion.

[Wes Merchant]

I thought from the attire he may have been portraying an Irish character and as such was perhaps "grimed up" a bit.

[Strumelia]

Made me think of an Irish laborer stereotype as well, Wes.

The bass string is missing, though there's a space for it.  It almost looks like someone put a heavy string in the 2nd string position, too.

[Strumelia]

Ah, that photo studio operated between 1877 and 1908:

http://www.luminous-lint.com/app/photographer/Alexander__Rae/A/

[John Cohen]

The pot looks out of round.  I like the headstock.

[Stuart Mason]

I think the top of the headstock might be broken off? If so it may have been the usual Boucher curve?

[John Cohen]

It doesn't look like the Boucher curve to me.  It's too straight for too long, and it's rather thick at the end.