The Allen Koenigsberg Phonograph Collection
Lot 3289:
Description
This is a fantastic lot of four early 20th-century photographs and a real photo postcard (RPPC) showcasing early horn phonographs and related interior scenes. Captured during the Turn of the Century/Edwardian era (circa 1900–1915), the silver gelatin and matte prints on paper, cardstock, and postcard backings illustrate the profound cultural impact of early recorded sound. The collection features a crisp image of two gentlemen toast-drinking next to an early cylinder phonograph with a horn in a heavily patterned Victorian interior, an atmospheric interior shot of what appears to be a busy phonograph shop or workshop with an inventory of horns on shelves, a sharp full-length portrait of a woman standing proudly beside her octagonal horn cylinder machine, and an outdoor porch scene with two gentlemen and a lady gathered near a table-mounted horn phonograph. The backs reveal period handwriting mentioning Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and an “AZO” stamp box style on the postcard indicating a production date range between 1904 and 1918. Condition is objectively fair to good for ephemera of this vintage; items exhibit expected silvering, corner bumps, handling wear, and minor fading, with a notable tear and material loss to the right edge of the workshop photograph. Item 1: H 7.25″, W 9.25″, D 0.1″; Item 2: H 5″, W 6.875″, D 0.1″; Item 3: H 5.125″, W 7″, D 0.1″; Item 4: H 5.25″, W 3.5″, D 0.1″. Please see photos for condition. From the Allen Koenigsberg collection.
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