1890's Eastman College "Freiendship" Photo Stamp. On Photo.

The photo "friendship" stamps of Eastman Business College have been discussed before:

http://goscf.com/t/81546

But this is an interesting use and differs from the majority typically encountered. Most examples seen are either loose or affixed to pages of autograph books from Eastman College.

I picked this item up last Friday at the MSDA show in Kenosha, Wisconsin from who else but Denny "procurer of all things esoteric" Peoples.

While it is not entirely within my wheelhouse, I was enamored with it and it wasn't insanely expensive, so why not?

The stamps were produced in 2 different sizes. The majority seen are normal postage stamp size, and then there were larger stamps produced in similar designs but in smaller quantities. These larger stamps are roughly 47mm x 57mm (1.75 inches x 2.375 inches).

This item is one of the large sized stamps on an oversized photo (4.25 inches x 6.5 inches).

What's most interesting to me is that both the subject of the photo and the stamp are one and the same: Mrs. Minerva "Minnie" Gaines, formerly Minerva Eastman, wife of the president of Eastman College.

Based upon the inscription, she distributed these as Christmas cards (or promotional items).

The large format stamp is really neat in-hand.... so USPS personalized photo stamps were only 100 years behind the times.