Is THAT Who I Think IT IS?

This collection started many years ago with mostly wishful thinking and some uncanny look-alikes found in antique shops. But after I discovered one online auction seller marketing tens of thousands of images (Literally!), some which were unquestionably famous persons in history, the catchings began in earnest.

I purchased this early 1900's cabinet card at a antique shop, and researched for years, believing it was Butch Cassidy and his gang with Etta Place. To this day my convictions have been mixed. This was the typical result in much of my "doppelcatching."

Martha Maxwell, famous in her own time as Colorado's leading naturalist and taxidermist. My first "for sure" acquisition was easy, a famous huntress who was a pioneer in American taxidermy. She was unidentified, but she was unusual, and collectors went after her because of the gun. Holding a handful of chipmunks in one hand and a shotgun in the other, she unfortunately brought a good price for the seller anyway. After buying the image, I delved into her and her career, and a deluge of discoveries followed. Outside of my woman, my Faith and my career, this turned out to be the major quest of my life!

That first seller seemed perplexingly uninterested in his old photos, had minimal knowledge about them or their history, and no clue of their importance. And he could not be enticed into much discussion about them. Perhaps by inheritance, he acquired what must have been a massive Victorian era publisher’s photography library. But it had been disastrously conveyed without any identifications. No story, no provenance. I could never know for sure, but I delved into his mountain of tin anyway, relishing in just the pure fun of playing history detective! I was recovering from a heart attack, and it was a perfect distraction during my recovery. It's been a blast!