This is the earliest known photography of a snowman, taken in Wales by Mary Dillwyn (1816-1906) in 1853 c.a. (National Library of Wales). The making of snowmen has been documented since the Middle Age: the earliest depiction was found by Bob Eckstein, author of The History of the Snowman, in a 1380 “book of hous” kept at the Royal Library …
Lisbon tramcar, 1920s
Lisbon, a electric tramcar in the “Rossio” Square (officially named “Praça de D. Pedro IV”) between 1920 and 1928; one can see the car number (423) on the side. This is one of the so–called elèctricos, that was the electric powered cars built by Brill of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). By the end of the 19th century the elèctricos began to replace the americànos (i.e. the american–built …
Umberto Primo Avenue in Alessandria, 1900 c.a
“Viale Umberto Primo” (Umberto Primo Avenue), now called “via dei Martiri” (Martyrs street) in a early 1900s postcard from Alessandria (Piedmont, Northern Italy). The cafè on the right corner was called “Bar Portorico — Americano”, later renamed “Bar Nazionale”, that also had a pool room. Collection Tony Frisina/Commons
XVIII Tallinn song festival, 1975
Estonia, 1975: the 18th Festival della Canzone (Üldlaulupidu) presso il “Campo del Canto” di Tallinn (Tallinna lauluväljak), an open–air auditorium built in 1959. In 1987, Estonians gathered here to sing patriotic hymns, in the so–called “Singing Revolution” that led to the overthrow of Soviet rule. (photo: © 1975 Novosti news agency, Moscow – personal collection)
Asti (Italy) railway station, 1934
Piedmont, Italy: Asti railway station in 1934 with a Fiat ALb 48 “littorina” railcar of Ferrovie dello Stato (State Railway). Asti is located on the Torino–Genova line and is the terminus of Asti–Genova line. Also the now–defunct Chivasso-Asti, Mortara-Asti and Asti-Castagnole delle Lanze lines converged here. Cecami postcard,photo by Cesare Carello, 1934 (Commons).
Port of Tallinn, 1975
The port of Tallinn, capital of Estonia, in a 1975 picture. On the foreground one can see the bell tower of the St. Olaf’s Church. The tower is 124 meters tall, it is one of the tallest tower in Europe and a symbol of Tallinn. At that time (and for the whole soviet period, 1944-1991) the church was closed and the Soviet KGB used it as …
Coney Island, “Luna Park” by night 1905
Night view of the “Luna Park” in Coney Island (New York) in 1905, with its centerpiece, the “Electric Tower” in the foreground. The park opened in 1903 and closed in 1944, after it has been destroyed by fire. The term Luna Park, used to designate several amusement park around the world, is based on this first one. 1905 Detroit Publishing Co./Commons
