Capt. Jack Crawford Signed Cabinet Card with Captain Jack Crawford and Gertie Granville Cabinet Card

San Francisco: Houseworth & Co. Capt. Jack Crawford Signed Cabinet Card with Captain Jack Crawford and Gertie Granville Cabinet Card, Houseworth & Co., San Francisco, California. Circa 1880.

2 cabinet cards both from the studios of Thomas Houseworth with blind embossed Houseworth stamps in lower right and printed mounts with Houseworth backstamps. Likely taken at the same session as Crawford's outfit appears to be the same.

The Crawford card is toned and mildly soiled, Apparent writing erased at top of photo mostly in margin. Possibly attempt of Crawford to sign the card. He does sign the card at bottom of photo and on mount, "JW Crawford "Capt. Jack" and then again on verso, "Yours Truly J.W. Crawford Capt Jack". Card is creased two inches from bottom--more noticeable on verso.

Card with Crawford and Granville is very clean with very light soiling on front and slightly heavier soiling on verso. Backstamp upside-down.

Captain Jack Crawford (1847-1917) known as "The Poet Scout" or just "Captain Jack" was an American adventurer, educator, storyteller, poet and author. His exploits during the Indian Wars created a persona that Crawford exploited throughout his life and was one of the most popular "western performers" in the late 19th century. Gertie Granville began performing with Barnum's circus in 1870 moving on to Madame Rentz's Female Minstrel show. Gertie also had a solo cabinet card printed from this same sitting at Houseworth Gallery. Granville and Crawford likely met on the "Wild West" circuit. Granville died in 1888. We date these cards to circa 1880.

Thomas Houseworth was born in New York City and first partnered in San Francisco with George S. Lawrence 1864-1867 before going out on his own in 1867. He was an early publisher and retailer of stereo and landscape scenes of California and Nevada. He had his studio at No. 9 and 12 Montgomery Street, San Francisco from 1874-1886.

A Houseworth card of Crawford and Granville sold at Cowan's for $1175 in 2009. Signed Captain Jack Crawford cards are uncommon on the market.