My Daguerreotype Boyfriend – Vintage Portraits of Good-Looking Men
is a Tumblr blog all about handsome men who lived a century ago. It’s
‘where early photography meets extreme hotness’ in the form of antique
photos, ca. 1839 – 1910. Most of the photos are submitted by readers who
find the good-looking men, often while browsing through (digital)
libraries, museums, and old photo albums. The men are often famous–a
young author, athlete or president–but there are also anonymous men with
brief descriptions, made even more mysterious by their charming,
no-teeth-showing 19th-century smiles.
Boxer Jimmy Clabby (c. 1910) is prepared to defend your honor.
Alexander
Horsburgh Turnbull, age 23, 1891. This New Zealand book collector
amassed a library of 55,000 over his lifetime and somehow still found
the time to groom an excellent mustache.
Horsburgh Turnbull, age 23, 1891. This New Zealand book collector
amassed a library of 55,000 over his lifetime and somehow still found
the time to groom an excellent mustache.
This is how you rock a shawl-neck cardigan. Take note.
ca. 1921-22
ca. 1921-22
Kermit
Roosevelt, age 24. In 1913, Theodore Roosevelt’s second-oldest son
explored Brazil’s River of Doubt with his father. The river was later
named the Rio Roosevelt and a branch of the river was named the Rio
Kermit.
Roosevelt, age 24. In 1913, Theodore Roosevelt’s second-oldest son
explored Brazil’s River of Doubt with his father. The river was later
named the Rio Roosevelt and a branch of the river was named the Rio
Kermit.
Puffin-Hunter, Faroe Islands, c. 1900.
Hey girl, you got a puffin problem? No worries, I got it.
Hey girl, you got a puffin problem? No worries, I got it.
Football team, c. 1895-1910
Boxer Ching Hook in fighting attitude, 1888. UK National Archives. High-waisted pants make a lady swoon.
From
the Mountjoy Prison Portraits of Irish Independence, 1857. Proving once
again that Irish political prisoners are the hottest.
the Mountjoy Prison Portraits of Irish Independence, 1857. Proving once
again that Irish political prisoners are the hottest.
Yonejirō Noguchi, (1875-1947) Japanese poet and essayist. Father of artist Isamu Noguchi, from whom he was estranged.
Hottest blind-gentleman-holding-a cat daguerreotype you will see all day.
ca. 1850
ca. 1850
Henry Ossain Flipper may be in contention for Daguerreotype boyfriend of the year.
Born
into slavery in Thomasville, Georgia, on March 21, 1856, he was
appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1873.
Over the next four years he overcame harassment, isolation, and insults
to become West Point’s first African American graduate and the first
African American commissioned officer in the regular U.S. Army.
Born
into slavery in Thomasville, Georgia, on March 21, 1856, he was
appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1873.
Over the next four years he overcame harassment, isolation, and insults
to become West Point’s first African American graduate and the first
African American commissioned officer in the regular U.S. Army.
Young Teddy Roosevelt was a stone cold fox. Here he is straight from sculling practice at Harvard.
Anthony Fokker, age 22, 1912.
My
favorite WWI ace “Knight of the Air” and a freaking genius besides! He
was dutch, the inventor of the Eindecker monoplane, the Fokker triplane
and D.VII, developed the interrupter gear (HELLO major innovation used
even today), and general hottie. Obviously, he is an ideal boyfriend.
My
favorite WWI ace “Knight of the Air” and a freaking genius besides! He
was dutch, the inventor of the Eindecker monoplane, the Fokker triplane
and D.VII, developed the interrupter gear (HELLO major innovation used
even today), and general hottie. Obviously, he is an ideal boyfriend.
The Bowdoin College Tug of War Team, 1891. From top left, John Horne, James Merriman, George Mahoney, Jonathan Cilley.
Note the sweet one-armed leather gear. All the better for tugging?
Note the sweet one-armed leather gear. All the better for tugging?
Albert
Ball, decorated British flying ace during World War I. Died at the age
of 20 while pursuing the brother of the infamous (and also dashing) Red
Baron through a cloud bank.
Ball, decorated British flying ace during World War I. Died at the age
of 20 while pursuing the brother of the infamous (and also dashing) Red
Baron through a cloud bank.
Digby Mackworth Dolben, age 19, c. 1867
This
English poet frequently wore a monk’s habit while at Eton and wrote
obsessive verse about a classmate with whom he was in love. He died at
19 while swimming with his tutor in a river, though some suggest he
might have committed suicide, distraught over his unrequited love.
This
English poet frequently wore a monk’s habit while at Eton and wrote
obsessive verse about a classmate with whom he was in love. He died at
19 while swimming with his tutor in a river, though some suggest he
might have committed suicide, distraught over his unrequited love.
Walter
Bentley Woodbury, age 23. Self-portrait with a camera, 1857. This
British-born photographer sailed to Australia when he was twenty and ran
a successful photography studio first in Melbourne, and then in Java,
Indonesia.
He enclosed this photograph with a letter to his mother:
“The portrait I send has the date marked on it and in the future I shall
always date them so that you can see if I improve in appearance or
otherwise.”
Bentley Woodbury, age 23. Self-portrait with a camera, 1857. This
British-born photographer sailed to Australia when he was twenty and ran
a successful photography studio first in Melbourne, and then in Java,
Indonesia.
He enclosed this photograph with a letter to his mother:
“The portrait I send has the date marked on it and in the future I shall
always date them so that you can see if I improve in appearance or
otherwise.”
Any Daguerreotype BF worth his salt loves his dog.
ca. 1860-80’s, E.A. Scholfield
ca. 1860-80’s, E.A. Scholfield
John
Hay in his twenties, while serving Abraham Lincoln as his personal
secretary. He later became Secretary of State under Teddy Roosevelt.
Described
by a colleague as “quite young, and looks younger than he is; of a
fresh and almost boyish complexion; quite a favorite among the ladies,
and with a gift for epigram and repartee.”
Hay in his twenties, while serving Abraham Lincoln as his personal
secretary. He later became Secretary of State under Teddy Roosevelt.
Described
by a colleague as “quite young, and looks younger than he is; of a
fresh and almost boyish complexion; quite a favorite among the ladies,
and with a gift for epigram and repartee.”
Captain Woodford M. Taylor, Company B, 26th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, U.S.A, 1860
Guest
Shawl-neck cardigan guy is Babe Ruth.
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