It’s not a computer monitor in the foreground of this picture. That light tan box was used by the auction clerk to keep track of various tickets from items that had been purchased. But, as several have pointed out to me, it certainly does remind one of a computer monitor given its position on the desk and the angle at which the wooden box is positioned.
That serves as a great reminder to researchers to be vigilant to avoid putting a modern interpretation on images and records that we view of the past. Times were different.
And even while there were computers with screens during the time period in which this picture was taken, those contemproary devices certainly did not resemble the wooden box the auction clerk is using.
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