A high, starched collar was the rule for a well-dressed man at the turn of the 20th century.
I have learned that many of these were detachable collars and were widely-offered for sale.
This young man had a photographic portrait made circa 1908.
There is no studio mark, although I am confident that the portrait was made at a studio.
It may be that the picture commemorates an occasion such as an engagement or a graduation
Our hero wears a suit jacket, and sports a long, silken tie.
His hair is neatly parted.
The intense gaze is probably due to the photographer’s demand that the sitter adopt a thoughtful pose.
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My attention goes immediately to the collar, which I imagine to be quite uncomfortable.
For many years, I wore a well-starched white shirt with a tie for long work days – but the modern shirt collar does not enclose the neck as this one does.
It is regrettable that no thoughtful soul inscribed a name, a date, or a location at which the portrait was made.
One hopes that the photograph portends a life of happiness and success.
Below, I have uploaded the original scan – I made some digital repairs to blemishes in the original.
