I checked some of the photos in my archive. I have Bain, Paul Thompson, Brown Brothers, Gilliams Press Syndicate and Edward R. Bushnell (Philly) all circa 1908 with the glossy paper. I have one, dated June, 1908 and one from 1903 that both use the matte finish paper. Neither one has a back stamp. The 1903 one has all of the Culver stickers and stamps on the back. The other one has period fountain pen identification and dating. That blue numbered stamp is very common on the Culver News Service photos as a stock identification number. I have both blue and black with up to 5 numbers, but there are usually Culver ink or paper stamps on the back also.
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'Integrity is what you do when no one is looking'
"The man who can keep a secret may be wise, but he is not half as wise as the man with no secrets to keep”
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