Cabinet Card Photograph Of American Servicemen Barretto, E. M. Asia,Photography,Photograph - Original

This is a cabinet card portrait of eight US army soldiers probably taken about the turn of the 20th century during the Spanish American war (the US occupied Manila in 1898). The well-composed albumen print is on a card mount with the Centro Artístico Fotográfico logo and "Manila" stamped in gilt. The verso of the mount is printed with "Fotografía Española" and the address "Escolta 9, Manila." A number of 19th century photographers had studios on that street. Enrique Maria Barretto e Ycaza (1850-1919) was born in Manila to a Portuguese trading family that arrived in the Philippines by way of India, Macau, and Hong Kong. He was an entrepreneur, opening an ice plant, a photography studio, and the first brewery in the Philippines (Fábrica de Cerveza de San Miguel). 5-5/8 by 3-15/16 inches (image) on gilt-edge mount measuring 6-1/2 by 4-1/8 inches. The image is quite nice, with good focus and tonal range. The mount is cracked at the lower left corner and has "Mom's Dad & Uncle Willy" written in a modern hand on the verso (the soldiers referenced are not marked on the front), thus very good.