Gambling Cowboy Grifters

Gambling Cowboy GriftersDo my eyes deceive me? Does this tintype photograph really exist? It could have been conjured up from the powerful mind of a Western image collector, dreaming of the best possible of all cowboy images he might find. It has all the basic elements - whiskey bottle for drinking, pistols for killing, cards for gambling. They sit outside an unknown photographer's studio, in an unknown location (some Western State or Territory), in an unknown year (circa 1875). These boys probably worked as a team; two working in a game, the third nearby in case trouble arose. The boys in front showing their hands each carries a pistol, one looking like a derringer. Their whiskey bottle and glass, along with the extra deck of cards, sit atop a wooden crate turned on its side. This is a low budget setup here. The signage on the studio wall is fantastic, with Disler or Bisler being the unusual and most likely name of the photographer. Neither name shows up on any list from any state. Yet.Please share your comments below or share this blog with your friends on Social Media, "tweet" or “like” this page on FB.Looking for the perfect picture for your next project? This wild and wonderful vintage image and thousands more are available for license and reproduction at The Rucker Archive. For image consulting services contact Mark Rucker at Hello@TheRuckerArchive.com or 303-494-6715 US or 250-767-0087 CAN.