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📸 RARE 1890s US Infantry Soldier Cabinet Card – Marion, Kansas
Welcome to another historic offering from 785KansasAntiques! ✨ Up for sale is a striking, highly detailed late 19th-century cabinet card featuring a young United States Infantryman or Kansas State Militiaman posing with his issued gear.
This piece offers exceptional historical crossover appeal for military historians, firearms enthusiasts, and collectors of Kansas photography or early female photographers.
🕰️ The Historical Details:
- 🔫 The Weapon: The soldier is standing at attention holding a Springfield "Trapdoor" rifle (Model 1873 or 1884) with a fixed socket bayonet—the iconic firearm of the Indian Wars and Spanish-American War eras.
- 🎖️ The Uniform: He wears a classic 1880s/1890s five-button fatigue blouse (sack coat). His Model 1889 forage cap clearly displays the crossed-rifles insignia, designating the Infantry branch.
- 👩🎨 The Photographer: The mount features the imprint of Mrs. J. F. McMullin of Marion, Kan. Laura E. McMullin was a pioneering female professional photographer who operated her own Main Street gallery in Marion from August 1889 until she sold the business in July 1900. This provides an incredibly tight, guaranteed dating window for this photograph.
- 🏕️ The Setting: A classic late 19th-century studio setup featuring a painted landscape backdrop and a faux-rock prop.
📏 Format & Dimensions:
- 🖼️ Size: Standard Cabinet Card (approx. 4.25" x 6.5")
- ✅ Authenticity: Original antique, not a modern reproduction.
⚠️ Note: Please examine the photos closely as they serve as the primary visual description of the item's condition.
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