When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Item Specifics
• Condition: For parts or not working / As-Is (The music box mechanism works perfectly, but the interior paper page structure has notable damage).
• Type: Cabinet Card, Real Photo Postcard (RPPC) & Photo Album with Built-in Music Box
• Era: Late Victorian to Edwardian (Dated 1891 through circa 1915)
• Genealogy Surnames: Kraft (Rose & Chester Kraft), Johnston (Lizzie Johnston)
• Location Hubs: Allentown, West Chester, Quakertown, Philadelphia PA & Brooklyn NY
• Mechanism: 2-Air Cylinder Movement (Fully Functional)
• Songs Played: \"Rip Van Winkle Was a Lucky Man\" (1901) & \"Mister Dooley\" (1902)
• Total Photos Included: 28 original vintage photographs (Cabinet cards & Real Photo Postcards)
Item Description
Up for sale is a complete, untouched piece of history: an Antique Turn-of-the-Century Victorian/Edwardian Velvet Musical Photo Album, dating precisely to circa 1902–1905. This estate-found piece is offered strictly As-Is for restoration, repair, or historical archiving, containing its original identified collection of 28 antique photographs mapping local Pennsylvania and New York family lines.
🎵 The Mechanical Music Box (Fully Functional!)
The absolute highlight of this album is the built-in Swiss cylinder music movement housed in the back cover under a plastic viewing window. The mechanism works beautifully! It winds smoothly, trips mechanical gears automatically as intended when the album sections change, and plays through both of its handwritten period tunes crisp and clear:
1. “Rip Van Winkle Was a Lucky Man” (Released 1901)
2. “Mister Dooley” (Released 1902)
The back cover still retains its original paper \"Directions for Handling Musical Albums\" label and access compartment.
🖼️ The Photo Archive & Family Genealogy (28 Total)
The album contains a fascinating, deeply localized family history tracking the Kraft and Johnston family lines across Eastern Pennsylvania and New York from 1891 through the mid-1910s. Notable pieces include:
• Inscribed \"Lizzie Johnston\" Portrait: A stunning cabinet card of a child with a highly decorative reverse backmark for E.A. Ericius Photography (148 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY), inscribed in pencil at the top: \"Lizzie Johnston 3 years\".
• Identified Family Postcard: A Real Photo Postcard (RPPC) depicting a woman and young boy in a sailor uniform, explicitly inscribed on back: \"Rose Kraft & Chester Kraft\" on an official Willow Grove Park souvenir postcard base.
• Explicitly Dated 1891 Cabinet Card: A portrait of a young man with a highly ornate reverse advertisement for W.C. Bell Photography (Cor. Market and High St., West Chester, PA) clearly dated 1891.
• Southeastern PA Studio Imprints: Multiple portraits featuring beautifully embossed studio marks tracing the family across regional hubs, including Wint Studio (Allentown), Jeanes (Allentown), S.P. Greisamer (Allentown), Lenhart\'s (Allentown), and New York Gallery (Quakertown).
⚠️ Condition & Damage Report (Please Read Before offerding)
This album is over 120 years old and shows significant structural wear to the internal paper layout. It is being sold strictly As-Is:
• Interior Pages: There is notable structural damage inside. One major faux-woodgrain mat page has completely split and broken away from the spine matrix (see photos). Various photo insertion slots throughout the remaining pages show tears, scuffs, and brittle edge loss typical of old paper borders. Due to age, some photos fit very tightly or are partially stuck in their slots.
Exterior Cosmetics: The exterior casing is in beautiful shape. The deep purple and green embossed floral plush velvet holds bright color with only minor shelf wear and typical light crushing at the outer corners. The metalwork has a beautiful aged patina, and the heavy metal side locking latch is intact and functions perfectly.
Please ask all questions and request video/additional pictures before purchase. as this is an antique I have done my best to honestly describe condition and contents. Photos serve as explicit tool to gauge condition and accuracy of what is offered. if you want to see the remaining pages, let me know.
