Bogus Woman on ebay

[ScottCross]

Some people will belive anything:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310362460200

This is NOT a woman. Gideon Canfield was born in August 1843 in Massachusetts. He was living with his parents, William and Olive Canfield in New Marlborough in 1850. By 1860 they were on their farm in Ridott, Stephenson County, Illinois (Many of the 46th were from this area). He enlisted from Ridott in Company K, 46th Illinois Volunteer Infantry November 2, 1861 and reenlisted on December 20, 1863. He mustered out on January 20, 1866 at Baton Rouge. He was living in Ridott, in 1870 and was a farm laborer for Jabez Dibble. By 1880, he and his wife Dora were living in Cedar Falls, Iowa, occupation laborer. He was still living there in 1900. He was listed as a widower with no occupation.

I sent the seller my research, now let's see how they respond.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

What the heck is going on with HIS hat? It looks like a fur fez with a feather stuck in it.

[ScottCross]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

I am really baffled by what is on his head. At first I thought it was a buck tail on a forage cap, but that is no forage cap. It could be a fur cap for winter that could use some grooming!

[Hank Trent]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

I'm seeing it as a fur hat something like this one, but with a feather stuck diagonally across the front and along the side, for absolutely no discernable reason.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

The only thing that would make me think this was a woman in her late twenties is that goofy hat that looks like a woman's hat from the late twenties.

[ScottCross]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

Hank, exactly what I was thinking.
Here's the convoluted responce from the seller when I presented the facts:
"I'm not saying that this is him. I'm saying this is a woman that took on his Id to get in the war. The only way you can say its not a woman is that you have a photo of him to prove me wrong."
- my$place

I'm sorry, but the burden of prook is on the seller, he has none.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

It would be nice to find a post war photo of him, but thats a little too much research to prove some Ebay seller wrong.

Well find a photo of a young soldier with a fur cap and sell it for $300. Or say its a gal troop and add a zero to the asking price.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

Hank, exactly what I was thinking.
Here's the convoluted responce from the seller when I presented the facts:
"I'm not saying that this is him. I'm saying this is a woman that took on his Id to get in the war. The only way you can say its not a woman is that you have a photo of him to prove me wrong."
- my$place

I'm sorry, but the burden of prook is on the seller, he has none.

Sigh. Of course, whatever photo anyone produced, the seller would simply say it was the woman still in disguise and using the other man's name.

Gideon Canfield was only 5 foot 4 1/2 inches when he enlisted, which fits with the appearance of the small-boned man in the picture. But of course the seller would claim that the woman either chose a small man to impersonate or the height was her measurement. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[Fritz]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

Hey, it's e-bay. Everyone is an expert on what they are selling.

[Outrider]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

I recently saw a nice image of two civilian men sitting next to each other with their arms around each other in common fashion of the day and the ebay seller described the photo as "Rare Victorian image of two homosexual men"
That might be funny if it wasn't so ignorant. I sent the seller a message probably wasting my time trying to explain to them their error. Never heard back.

[ScottCross]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

I recently saw a nice image of two civilian men sitting next to each other with their arms around each other in common fashion of the day and the ebay seller described the photo as "Rare Victorian image of two homosexual men"
That might be funny if it wasn't so ignorant. I sent the seller a message probably wasting my time trying to explain to them their error. Never heard back.

I actively collect identified images of people from my region for our museum through eBay. If I see one more listing that says "Gay Interest" when it is just a couple of buddies/pards, I am going to scream!

[Illinois Rebel]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

Hello,

That looks like a Hardee Hat Ostrich plume on his head. I have an original Plume and it looks similar. Just a thought...

Respectfully,

Michael Collins

[Secesh]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

Funny you say that...this same seller is offering on Ebay a set of what he describes as "Females Being Affectionate - Gay Interest" photos...LOL

[Fritz]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

Some people just have a homophobic hangup. Think if two people of the same sex are friends they are *********.

[Silas]

Re: Bogus Woman on ebay

This thread is beginning to degrade. Let's keep it on track.