Item consists of a gold edged card with a light pink base, and text in gold letterpress at the bottom edge, "A.I. Witter, Pecatonica, Ill." A long, narrow photograph gives a full length portrait of a man in a 3 piece suit all done in the same white flecked wool fabric. The coat is a little overlarge, probably a late 1860s style, and is buttoned at the top button only. He wears a striped ascot, and leans against a chair in front of a painted studio backdrop depicting a window and mantel. On the verso, a long text handwritten in pencil that indicates the sender (probably the man pictured in the card) could not come for New Year's as he had other obligations with a family called the Bowlys(?). He signs his initials "A.H." At the top left, in a different hand, "805/ 12.-".

Item is a white cabinet card with embossed edging and embossed text at bottom, "Brown" and "STERLING, ILL./ 10 EAST THIRD ST." The name Brown is placed within a decorative artist's palette and brushes design. Photograph is a of an older man with long moustache and simply wool suitcoat and striped tie. On verso, handwritten in blue ink, "Herman Sterling uncle of/ Mazie(?) Shepard".

Item is a cream cabinet card with scalloped edges and red letterpress at bottom edge, "E. R. Owen, RED BUD, ILL." At the centre, printed inside a design of artist's palette and brushes, the text "EXTRA FINISH". Photograph of a drawing of a young man in suit jacket and tartan tie, vignetted so the image is quite small. The photograph has a pink tone.

Item is a white cabinet card with gold letterpress at bottom. At the left the text "Brown" is surrounded by a design of artist's palette and brushes. On the right, "STERLING, ILL./ 10 EAST THIRD ST." Photograph is a portrait of a young man in high starched collar pressed back into 'wings' with a striped bowtie. He wears an open jacket and waistcoat. On verso, handwritten in blue ink, "Albert Johnson".

Item consists of a cream coloured cabinet card with gold letterpress at bottom. At the left the text "Brown" is surrounded by a design of artist's palette and brushes. On the right, "STERLING, ILL./ 10 EAST THIRD ST." Photograph is a portrait of a young man in high starched collar with a vertical stripe and a floral embroidered ascot. He wears an open jacket and waistcoat. On verso, handwritten in blue ink, "Roy Hoak".

Item is a green cabinet card with white embossed design of wreath and ribbon at bottom, with text "BROWN/ STERLING, ILL." and a design at centre with the letters "E" "B" and "C" intertwined. Photograph is a portrait of a man with wide silk tie and a high collar pressed back into "wings". On verso, handwritten in blue ink, "John Helms".

Item consists of a white cabinet card with embossed gold text at bottom "Carlsou/ SYCAMORE, / ILLS." A design with the letters "F" "M" and "C" intertwined is at the bottom centre. Photograph is a portrait taken from the side of a man with beard and moustache, white starched collar pressed into "wings" and a white tie. On verso, design printed in blue of croxx and flowers with scroll at centre. Design features the text "Carlsou/ PHOTOGRAPHER/ SYCAMORE,/ Ills./ Duplicates/ can be had/ at any/ Time./ COPYING AND ENLARGING/ A SPECIALTY./ 1893." Handwritten in pencil at the top edge, "Everett Gould" and in brown ink at the right side, "Property of/ Dorothy E. Higby."