Portrait of Chas. R. Herman
Photograph
Sepia-toned albumen print mounted on cream cabinet card stock with double-rule border. Lower front margin printed in brown ink: “F.O. Aausler – 911 Broadway – Oakland, Cal.” Reverse features elaborate lithographed advertisement reading: “F.O. Aausler – Superior Fotografer – 911 Broadway, Oakland, Cal.” Decorative elements include stylized typography, foliage motifs, and cameo illustration. Handwritten inscription in green ink at top of reverse: “Chas. R. Herman” Mount exhibits age toning, foxing spots along lower margin, and vertical stress crease. Image retains strong facial detail.
RE-PH-2026-0065
Cabinet Card
man
Mustache
Victorian
1900’s
F.O. Aausler
1892 – 1900
Victorian
California
👔 Collar High standing detachable collar Narrow, upright front This style is distinctly late Victorian. 🎀 Neckwear Small tie (not large bow) Compact knot, worn high at throat 🧥 Jacket Double-breasted coat Narrow lapels Structured tailoring Double-breasted styling in this form is very typical of the 1890s. 🧔 Facial Hair Neatly groomed mustache without beard Moderate thickness Mustache-only fashion peaks in the 1890s. 🎨 Mount Typography The ornate commercial design and spelling “Fotografer” reflect late 19th-century advertising aesthetics.
Oakland, California in the 1890s was: Rapidly expanding Closely tied to San Francisco economic growth Home to merchants, railroad workers, professionals, and tradesmen The sitter appears to be: Mid-20s to early 40s Respectably dressed Possibly professional class The double-breasted coat and clean styling suggest upward mobility and self-presentation typical of late Victorian urban men. F.O. Aausler styled himself as “Superior Fotografer,” suggesting marketing confidence and possibly competitive positioning in Oakland’s busy studio market. The Broadway address places the studio in a commercial corridor of the city.
The handwritten name “Chas. R. Herman” (likely Charles R. Herman) is extremely valuable. This transforms the photograph from: Common Victorian cabinet card → Potential genealogical artifact. This opens research possibilities: Oakland city directories (1890s) Census records (1900 Federal Census) Business listings Named sitters significantly increase research and historical interest.
Very Good
Feb 14, 2026
Vertical crease through mount Foxing along lower margin General age toning Image area remains strong and clear
Description
This late Victorian portrait depicts Chas. R. Herman in a double-breasted coat and high detachable collar, hallmarks of 1890s urban menswear. Produced in Oakland during a period of rapid West Coast growth, the ornate studio advertising and surviving inscription transform this cabinet card from a conventional likeness into a document of individual identity at the turn of the century.