A very nice studio portrait of my grandfather Frank Gustaf Severin Erickson at five years old in Sundsvall, Sweden in 1897.

The portrait of Frank is from the front of a postcard written to my grandfather who at the time was working at the Malery Mill (Molly Gibson)in Nelson City, British Columbia, Canada. Frank's older brother Helmer Erick Olaf Erickson wrote the card from Wilton, North Dakota.

One of the going styles in photography in the middle late 1800s was a "carte de visite." A photograph image taken in a studio and printed on heavy paper stock. By the late 1870s through the early part of the 20th century the "cabinet card" became very popular in printing of a photographic image. As in this photo-postcard image, tens of thousands of similar cards were mailed all over the world.

The back of the postcard has a September 28th, 1911 postmark and was mailed from Wilton with a one cent green Benjamin Franklin stamp affixed.

Transcribed from the postcard:

Mr. Frank Erickson
Malery Mill - Molly Gibson
Nelson City, British Columbia

September 28th, 1911

Brother Frank,
I have not written to you for a long time so I'll do so now. I suppose you know the fellow on the other side?

Well I'm in business for myself now, I am photographer in Wilton.
Am clearing pretty good, only I did not have money enough to start right, but I think I'll catch up soon.

Write again soon,
Your Brother
Helmer

Both sides of the postcard written by Helmer Erickson are attached below. Thanks to Mark Henninger of Bismarck, North Dakota for the transcription.