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Art Nouveau, Belle Epoque, Mini Poster by H. Gray (Boulanger) circa 1900 by redpoulaine

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69.00 USD

Welcome to our artifacts section. We decided we needed a place to showcase unusual items that present, beyond what they are themselves, unique historical qualities. Over time, we'll be shifting our autographed postcards into this section, as well as listing other very special items.

H. Gray was the pseudonym for Monsieur Henri Boulanger (1858-1924), a magazine illustrator and poster artist of la Belle Epoque who is probably best known today for his wonderful posters of bicycles.

This is a magnificent artifact of the period, the cover of an event program for an evening's entertainment at the Casino de Paris! This chromolithograph measures about 8 and 1/2 by 4 inches, and as you can see, is in very nice condition with some wear to edges, but no tears, and brilliant colors.

One evening in the late 1890s, early 1900s, at the Casino de Paris someone may have held this program in their gloved hands, accepted Monsieur Boulanger's decorative cover art as merely a matter of course, and reviewed the various acts that would be appearing onstage. They ordered a meal, perhaps wine, or maybe they demanded a glass of Heinekin beer as the advertisement on the reverse side of this program cover asks them to :) Imagine this wonderful item matted and framed in the room where you keep your collection. We were very excited to find this, and take a lot of pleasure in sharing it with you :)


Marie-Ange Feriel, Belle Epoque Stage Actress by Reutlinger, Posted 1905 by redpoulaine

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14.00 USD

Awesome image by Leopold Reutlinger of the stunning Mlle. Feriel in the wonderful neo-classical costume of the Belle Epoque era, while she was with the Theatre du Gymnase in Paris.
We have been unable to find any real biographical information on this actress. We found an image online of a photo taken while she was performing at the Imperial Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1900, Our image presumably dates from shortly after that one, the picture probably taken sometime between 1900 and 1905.
We also know that between the years 1917 and 1925, Mlle. Feriel appeared in five silent films.
A lovely card in very nice condition.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Nude French Model lounging on Oriental Rugs and Cushions, circa 1920 by SAPI by redpoulaine

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29.00 USD

Most of the cards we sell on Red Poulaine are, in fact, French postcards, in that they were actually published in France, but the term "French Postcard" was also one often used to euphemistically describe the very popular nude, and risque, postcards of the time, whether they were published in France, or elsewhere, hence our quotation marks.

In fact, these cards were quite probably responsible, in large part, for the popular notion that France was particularly libertine in its attitudes, a notion brought back to the U.S.A.(along with thousands of these cards), by young American soldiers who fought in France during WWI.

This model is one of our favorites from the period. We've read that her name was Brianna, but we have that from one website only, and we've not been able to gather any more history. Also, the name Mireille, actually appears on the back of one of her postcards. We have, rarely, seen her clothed, on some of the more ordinary "glamor" cards of the 1920s. Some of her earliest nude images appear to date back to the 1910s.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

The Death of Messalina, Countess Rina de Liguoro, Silent Fim Star, circa 1922 by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

Here at Red Poulaine, we have a special place in our hearts for the Italian actress images of the early 1900s and into the 1920s. The quality of the portrait photography and subsequent postcard publication was particularly rich, with a flair for the dramatic and mysterious. Many of our favorites, like Anna Fougez and Nella Regini, began their careers as sciantose, a variation on the French term chanteuse, meaning female singer, but bringing to it other meanings, and implying a dark, mysterious, exotic quality that appealed to the theater going public at the time, and certainly appeals to us :) Naturally we love all of our images or we probably wouldn't purchase them for our shop, and feel an almost filial affection for the performers onto whom we project imagined personalities and traits (is that weird? :), but there is something about what seems to have been at the time a very Italian penchant for carrying the illusion of the stage and screen out into the public venue, a tendency to make even larger, the already "larger than life" persona of the theatrical personality, that we really love. So we have decided to open a new section devoted exclusively to these Italian artistes. We call it "La Bella Donna," and yes it is a bit of a play on words, given the tendency in many of these cards to focus on the "Femme Fatale." We hope you will enjoy these images as much as we do.

This image, depicting her grand death scene in "Messalina," is a very important one in the history of Italian silent film, particularly from Signora de Liguoro's point of view. See the bloody dagger at the base of the image! Grisly! This costume was very precious to the actress. More about this below.

Also, it appears from some stills we've seen of this film, that this was a suicide scene. In the histories, however, the empress was offered the dagger, and the option of suicide, but declined, and was stabbed to death by her executioner.

Historically, The Roman empress Messalina (wife of the Emperor Claudius) is usually depicted as a scheming, morally bankrupt, sexually voracious villain, so one can only imagine that la Signora de Liguoro had great fun with the role! In reality, the old Roman historians who told the story of Messalina's reign, were writing about her decades after her death, in a political climate that was hostile to the royal family with whom she was associated, and as Wikipedia points out in its article, the attribution of morally corrupt acts, and sexual exploits in particular, was (and still is today, for that matter) a common smear tactic used by political enemies to blacken the names of their rivals. We're not suggesting she was Florence Nightingale, but probably unfairly maligned, just the same.

Speaking of Florence, Rina De Liguoro was born there, in 1892. She is sometimes known as the last of Italy's great silent movie stars. She began her stage career as a concert pianist, and then began acting in film in the late teens. In 1922, she starred as the Empress Messalina in "Messalina, Fall of an Empress" This was apparently the turning point in her career.

Through the 20s, she made several successful films, then moved to Hollywood, but the age of the silents was over, and she won only small supporting roles. She was often billed as the Countess De Liguoro, which was appropriate enough, since her husband was a count!

She returned to Italy in the late 30s, rekindled her career as a pianist while occasionally performing relatively small parts in film. She passed away in Rome, in 1966, and was buried in the costume she wore in her first big film, "Messalina," which is a pretty romantic touch, we think :) Yes, the woman in this image wore the costume she is wearing here, to her grave!

We have a card in our shop autographed by the Countess, from the same important film! Link below.

https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/redpoulaine/tools/listings/query:autographed,section:13678303/126586190

Also, if you follow the below link to Youtube, you can see a couple of short clips from the actual film, wedged in between what seems to be a late 1940s beauty/talent search. The few moments of la Signora are really wonderful though. Don't miss them :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yuPKIsX0SU

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Silent Movie Romance, circa 1917 by redpoulaine

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14.00 USD

Wait...just a moment please...I have to wipe the steam from my glasses :)

Gorgeous still image with Gunnar Tolnaes and Lilly Jacobsson in the 1917 Danish film, "The Maharaja's Favorite Wife."

Below is a link to IMDB, where you can read a really detailed and entertaining review of this film by someone who saw it recently.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129219/

Great costumes, great pose, a wonderful unposted card in very nice condition. Reverse bears the imprint of trade cartel NBC in the triangle, the Neue Bromsilber Convention, and an old price written in beneath it.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, the price is the same as for a single card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, due to the costs of international shipping will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Fern Andra, Star of the Circus and Silent Film, "Relaxing" at Home, circa 1919/20 by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

Very early Ross Verlag card. Wonderful image of one of our favorite people in a posed "candid" image that was apparently taken, as were a fair number of her postcard images, by her own photographers!

Fern Andra (1893-1974), was raised in the circus. She was in a high-wire act at age 4, but entered the film industry at age 6, in 1899. She is usually thought of as a German actress, because much of her film work was accomplished in Germany, but she was born in Illinois, and died in South Carolina. An awful lot of stuff went on in between, but rather than copy it verbatim, we'll simply refer you to Wikipedia, which has a very nice biographical article on Miss Andra.

To see Miss Andra in a wonderful German Expressionist silent horror film, follow the link to Youtube. If you like that sort of thing, you will NOT be disappointed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ1273eN5iQ

A very nice unposted card with the NBC stamp of approval (Neue Bromsilber Convention, not that other old thing :) Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Okay, So I'm a bit of a Basket Case... Lovely German Postcard, circa 1905 by redpoulaine

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14.00 USD

Probably intended as an Easter Greetings card, the clarity of this print is marvelous, and it's awfully cute, no? Very nice unposted condition with minor wear to edges and corners.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Vera Vergani, Italian Stage and Silent Film Actress, circa 1920s by redpoulaine

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16.00 USD

Here at Red Poulaine, we have a special place in our hearts for the Italian actress images of the early 1900s and into the 1920s. The quality of the portrait photography and subsequent postcard publication was particularly rich, with a flair for the dramatic and mysterious. Many of our favorites, like Anna Fougez and Nella Regini, began their careers as sciantose, a variation on the French term chanteuse, meaning female singer, but bringing to it other meanings, and implying a dark, mysterious, exotic quality that appealed to the theater going public at the time, and certainly appeals to us :) Naturally we love all of our images or we probably wouldn't purchase them for our shop, and feel an almost filial affection for the performers onto whom we project imagined personalities and traits (is that weird? :), but there is something about what seems to have been at the time a very Italian penchant for carrying the illusion of the stage and screen out into the public venue, a tendency to make even larger, the already "larger than life" persona of the theatrical personality, that we really love. So we have decided to open a new section devoted exclusively to these Italian artistes. We call it "La Bella Donna," and yes it is a bit of a play on words, given the tendency in many of these cards to focus on qualities of a "femme Fatale" type. We hope you will enjoy these images as much as we do.

Vera Vergani was born in Milan in 1896. Granddaughter of Victor Podrecca, one of Italy's most famous puppeteers, she began acting at age ten, and would become one of Italy's most beloved actresses. She spent 20 years in the company of Ruggero Ruggeri, considered by many to be the father of modern Italian theater, was a favorite of Gabriele D'Annunzio and Luigi Pirandello. In fact, legend has it that following a performance of Pirandello's "Six Characters in Search of an Author," Signorina Vergani faced down a mob of angry audience members bent on doing harm to Pirandello (apparently in those days one had more to worry about than a bad review in the newspaper :).

She made a number of silent films, in the 1920s toured America, and it was on the transatlantic liner that carried her to America for this tour that she met the ship's captain, Leonardo Pescarolo, with whom she would exchange love letters for the next decade.

And so it was, that in 1930, at the very pinnacle of her success as an actress, Vera Vergani quietly left the stage behind, and went off to the tiny island of Procida, in the Bay of Naples, as the wife of Captain Pescarolo. Few there knew she was the famous actress whose face had graced the covers of European magazines, as she raised two children, who would not know, for many years, their mother's history. Both of those children, named after their parents, Leonardo and Vera, later became involved in the film industry as producer and director.

Signorina Vergani passed away in 1989. We're grateful to ilprocidano.it for most of our very romantic biographical material.

A wonderful A. Traldi card with a sawtooth edge in unusually good condition! So often, the sawtooth edges lose a few teeth over the years. And, of course, there is the added benefit of the beautiful Art Nouveau/Deco publisher's logo on the reverse of most A. Traldi cards. Perfetto :)
Please examine our high res scans for detail

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!


Autographed Nella Regini, Italian Light Opera and Torch Singer, Autographed Card, circa 1920s by redpoulaine

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29.00 USD

Wonderful find! Nella is another one of our very favorite "Bella Donnas" Hugely famous Italian star of the light operetta and silent film. She was a really lovely soprano. (At one time we were able to hear her on YouTube, but can no longer find the video. So sad!) Always a treat when we find autographed items, but one of Miss Regini's cards? Especially so.

We recently had another card signed by her, with a letter, too! It was translated for us by an Etsy friend of ours who operates a lovely Etsy store out of Italy. Please DO visit the Etsy shop Herrerra Lane Vintage <<https://www.etsy.com/shop/HerreraLaneVintage>>, where the proprietress sells wonderful authentic period clothing and other vintage items. If you love our cards, you will love her work!

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Otto Storm, Hungarian Silent Film Actor, Poses with Cello, Austrian Card, circa late 1910s by redpoulaine

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14.00 USD

It is true that we do not give the gentlemen equal time here at Red Poulaine, but occasionally a particularly dapper fellow can edge his way in :) Otto Storm was a silent film actor who made the transition to the talkies as well. He was born in what is now Serbia, what was then, Austro-Hungary, and did most of his work in Austria and Germany. Great image, printed in Vienna, probably in the late 1910s. Very nice, unposted condition.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, the price is the same as for a single card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, due to the costs of international shipping will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Silent Film Star, Fern Andra as Circus Performer, by Film Sterne, circa 1917 by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

The Ogden Standard-Examiner, in 1927, recounted one of Fern Andra's many escapades in Germany during the First World War, at which time, accused of espionage, she was housed in a prisoner of war camp, and only weeks away from execution by firing squad, when Kaiser Wilhelm (apparently a fan) interceded on her behalf. All true? Perhaps. Who can say at this point? The trail has grown cold.

The Germans did, in fact, suspect her of spying, and later in her life she acknowledged that she had acted as a courier for the allies, memorizing coded secrets, and carrying that information to American agents in Copenhagen, Denmark (exciting stuff, no?).

In 1922, American newspapers, including the New York Times, reported that "German" film actress, Fern Andra, had been killed in an aeroplane crash in Germany, the plane having been piloted by no lesser a personage than Lothar von Richthofen, the brother (and also a WWI flying ace) of the "Bloody" Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. Lothar von Richthofen also perished in the crash. True?

Well partially. Miss Andra was not actually a German actress, but an American one, who, called the "German Mary Pickford," was one of the biggest stars of the silent film industry in that country (and in all of Europe) between the mid 1910s and the mid 1920s. She hadn't been killed in the plane crash, however, but was the sole survivor, though very badly hurt.

By that time, she was better known as the Baroness Fern Andra, since to avoid further accusations of spying during the war, she had married the Baron Friedrich von Weichs, a nephew of Empress Zita of Austria and also a former member of the Baron von Richthofen's fighter squadron. Though her husband was killed in the war, Miss Andra maintained the title of Baroness throughout the rest of her days, and over a few subsequent marriages.

Born in 1893 Illinois, the stepdaughter of a high wire performer and a mother she claimed was an opera singer, but who after recent research is thought to have been a backstage costume dresser and seamstress, she was named Vernal Edna Andrews, and it was likely under that plain old American name that she was performing in circus and vaudeville acts as a child (apparently she performed up on the high wire at the tender age of four).

Fern Andra's adventures don't stop there. A remarkable life! She was a film actress in more than 80 motion pictures, a dancer, a circus and vaudeville performer, a screenwriter, a director, a producer, an aviatrix, yes, perhaps a spy. And she not only fell under suspicion of espionage in Germany on behalf of the allies in WWI, but twenty years later, because of her long residence in Germany, and her association (no one says just how personal) with a young scriptwriter named Joseph Goebbels (many, many years before he became one of the most important figures of Hitler's Third Reich), she also fell under suspicion of spying on behalf of the Nazis! Her story goes on and on... but we can't.

Google this gal! and definitely follow this link to Youtube, where you can see her in the wonderful German Expessionist horror film "Genuine," by the director of the classic "The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari," Robert Weine. Miss Andra performed in the title role, and wore it well.
She doesn't wear much else, actually. The film caused quite a furor, because her costume was mostly painted on! Make popcorn and settle in. Great fun :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4dwATAiq4c

This is a "Film Sterne" card ("sterne" means "star" in German), published in about 1917, by Heinrich Ross, probably the most important figure behind the film star postcard industry between the 1910s and 1930s. The film, "Des Lebens Ungemischte Freude," or "The Life of Unmixed Joy," was likely produced in 1917. Very little information is available about this film. From this image, and others we have seen from this film, it is clear that Miss Andra played the part of a circus performer.

Though the title directly implies a life of joy minus any troubles, clearly this is is a false front. If they made such a film, where would be the conflict? What would be Miss Andra's "motivation?" :) No, in fact, the title was almost certainly taken from a line in "Der Ring des Polykrates," a late 18th century lyrical ballad written by Friedrich Schiller, inspired by the ancient Greek Histories of Herodotus. So, the title of our film, in this context, probably speaks to the idea that great success in life invites tragedy.

We hope you love this wonderful card as much as we do! In about as near to perfect condition as you can find, we'll list this one in our "Under the Big Top" section, since Miss Andra's roots were in the circus, and in this film she played a circus performer.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Sleeping Beauty, Gabrielle Robinne, Hand-Tinted Image by Reutlinger, posted 1908 by redpoulaine

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18.00 USD

Is she the mother of Briar Rose, asleep in her throne for a hundred years? Or Ophelia, dreaming that Hamlet stands there beside her? She is certainly beautiful in either case.
Exquisite Gabrielle Robinne (1886-1980), was made an officer in the French Legion of Honor for her contributions in the Arts.
She was a star of the stage, and also of silent films, and then the talkies as well, her career spanning some sixty years.

Gorgeously hand-colored card. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Maenad's Revenge. Regina Badet, Belle Epoque Danseuse, by Leopold Reutlinger, circa 1905 by redpoulaine

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17.00 USD

Wonderful photo-lithograph of the beloved dancer Regina Badet in maenad costume. This is from one of our very favorite series by famed theatrical portraitist, Leopold Reutlinger of Paris.

One of our favorite, and most magical, subgenres of "Lovely Lady" postcards has to be that of the "marvelous maenad." These are somewhat idealized, and presumably toned down, versions of those wild maidens of ancient Greece, who in their worship of Dionysus, the god of wine and sensual abandon, got up to all kinds of mischief. The maenad, as an image, was practically the poster girl of La Belle Epoque, expressing that rich, earthy, "joie de vivre," which has come to be seen as so expressive of that era.

In our Marvelous Maenad section, we're not all that particular about whether the model is depicted as a woodland sprite, a pagan priestess, or if they're just a couple of Belle Epoque chorus girls unwinding after a tough dress rehearsal. The images we list in this section might have been published anytime between the 1890s and the 1930s. Basically, if they're wearing grapes, grapevines, animal skins, or any of the other accoutrements no self respecting maenad could do without, this is the section they'll end up in. Welcome to the Bacchanal!!! :)

Regina Badet, born in 1876, in Bordeaux, was a principal dancer at the Grande Theatre de Bordeaux by the age of 14. By 1900, she had begun a career as an actress and dancer in Paris. She was a star of the Opera Comique in Paris and eventually traveled the world as an international star. She also appeared in the medium of film beginning in 1908, making a number of silent movies.

In the 1920s, Mlle. Badet quietly retired from stage and screen. She died where she had been born, at the age of 73, in Bordeaux, France.
Many thanks to Wikipedia for much of our biographical information.
A stunning image in almost perfect condition. So pleased to share this one with you!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!
Marvelous Maenad, Regina Badet, by Reutlinger, circa 1905

Model Undresses in Mirror, Risque German Postcard, circa 1910 by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

Wonderful Risque Boudoir scene. Gorgeous coloring, and such lovely long hair! This is not a photograph. This is a really fine offset lithograph with what we today call a dot matrix so tiny you really have to zoom in to see it.

On the back side of the card we see the word Arnochrome, probably the printer/publisher, but possibly the process, a variant of chromolithographic printing? In any case, we've come across Arnochrome before, and the color work in this one is of the very high quality we've come to expect from their cards.

If we were to guess, we'd date this card to around 1907-1910. Almost definitely pre-1914. It was printed in Saxony, a state in modern Germany today, which at that time was a kingdom, ruled over by King Frederick Augustus III, and a part of the German Empire, which was then ruled over by the Kaiser. It wasn't until 1918, following Germany's defeat in WWI, that the king abdicated and Saxony became a free state of the Weimar Republic.

Fine, unposted condition. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

The item you are considering for purchase is, unless otherwise noted, a vintage postcard of approximately 5 and 1/2, by 3 and 1/2 inches. Postage is for fully-insured, first class shipping in a secure photo mailer (to avoid any damage to your purchase in the mails), and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will not charge for postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Little Girl Blue. Risque French Heliotype, circa 1900 by redpoulaine

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19.00 USD

And where is the girl who looks after the sheep?
Why, under the haystack, of course!

Wonderful card, which although very tame by today's standards, we will file under the heading of "risque" by those antiquated standards of yesterday. We particularly love the use of red coloring, casually splashed onto the image surface in an almost impressionistic fashion. Wonderful early postcard, circa 1890s/1900.

We originally believed this to be a hand-tinted photolithograph, But are pretty certain this is rather a heliotype. Relatively close, but one of the major differences is that the plate produced during the heliotype process allows for a maximum of only about 2000 runs per image before it degrades (this was in the early 1900s) to the degree that a new plate must be produced. Also, rather than being hand-tinted, per se, layers of tint are applied during the printing process. If examined closely, the areas where heavier colored inks were overlaid onto thinner ones, is evident, but in "blocked" areas, rather than showing the sort of feathering that is often evident in the kind of hand-tinting by done by brush.

It took between one and two days for the chrome alum solution (a chief characteristic of the process) to dry and harden sufficiently onto the plate for printing, so it was a slow, and relatively low yield process, but as you can see, produced wonderful results.

This same model changes her costume for one of an Algerian belly dancer in another group of cards we just acquired. It makes us wonder if both series might have been photographed on the same day. Please follow link below to see them!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/247653336/risque-french-dancing-girl-1-with-parrot?ref=shop_home_feat_4

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!


Mlle. Jeanne Provost of the Comedie Francaise, by Henri Manuel, circa 1910 by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

Mlle. Jeanne Provost (born Jeanne Edmonde Guéneau, 1887-1980) was a very well respected actress both on stage and screen. She was a sociétaire of the famed Comedie Francaise, a silent film actress, and also made a number of talkies, the last in 1961.
In 1953, she gave a reading of poetry and drama at Columbia University for the French Department there, presumably while visiting in New York on other business, or pleasure.

Given her long life, stage and film roles, it is surprising that so little information on her is available. It is just that way with time, we suppose. Most articles merely reference what she wore in such and such a production, singing the praises of her figure, charm and grace, but then we can easily see here why these were so often mentioned. What an absolutely gorgeous portrait by one of our favorite portraitists, Henri Manuel, and what a turban! Since most references to her are from the 1910s, and the turban she wears was popularized in French fashion by Monsieur Paul Poiret in 1910, or so, we date this card to the 1910s, though she could easily be, by her appearance, still in her 20s, dating the image to the earlier 1900s.
The fourth image in this listing, is *not for sale* (not even in our possession), but we thought it would be fun, just for the heck of it, to give you a peek at Mlle. Provost's cottage by the sea, Barnville sur Mer.
Extraordinarily nice, unposted condition. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Eve and the Snake, circa 1900 by redpoulaine

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26.00 USD

A superbly naive image of an unidentified model "en collant" (in a body stocking) with a really great snake! One has to wonder, when viewing an image of this kind, whether the goal was humor, titillation, gender politics, a biblical reference of any kind, or a mix of oh, so many things, but the quality of the image is undeniable. Her facial expression seems to us to say, "Et alors! You think I can't handle this?" :)

Talk about a time machine.... The feel of the period derived from a card like this one is sensational. We sold one of these last year that was hand-tinted, to a very pleased customer, and we loved that one too, but there is something about a fine photograph in natural sepia tones that is just so...wonderful.

This card was published by SIP (the Societe Industrielle de Photographie), one of the most prolific French postcard publishers at that time. The image was photographed by Henri Manuel, and given the age of the card (its production date, by its undivided back, is likely to have been before 1904), the photo would have been taken not long after Monsieur Manuel and his brother, Gaston (about whom we can find no information whatsoever), opened their first portrait studio in Paris, in 1900.

Henri Manuel's name appears on many of the cards we bring into our shop, and though most of the subjects we deal in are very light-hearted, Manuel himself was a serious photographer, and an astute business man. He became well known not only for his portraits of theatrical personalities, risque nudes, and romantic fantaisies, but more, for his portraits of famous politicians, art, architecture, and in 1910, "Manuel's studio began providing a commercial service to news agencies for photographs known as "l’Agence universelle de reportage Henri Manuel."" (see Wikipedia) His studio grew to be the largest in Paris, a recognized center for the development (forgive the pun :) of the photographic arts, and for the three decades between 1914 and 1944, Henri Manuel held the post of official photographer for the French government. Because we know his studio operations were shut down during WWII, we wonder if during the last years he held that government post (when France was under German occupation), he worked for "Free France," but we haven't yet found a lot of history on that period. Henri Manuel passed away in 1947.

Just to give you an idea of the broad scope of the man's work, below is a link to a site showing a few of some 2500 photographs Manuel's studio produced of French prisons and juvenile facilities between the years 1929 and 1931, for the French Department of Justice. Pretty grim stuff, but though Red Poulaine is very much about the frolicsome fun, we feel it's important to give you background on our photographers and artistes when possible, and well...we just love the stories :).

http://prisonphotography.org/2010/01/02/henri-manuel-and-the-national-museum-of-prisons-archive-france/

Our "Lady Eve and the Snake" is a truly wonderful card in nearly perfect, unposted condition. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Thanks as always to Wikipedia!

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!
Fabulous French Faux Nude with Snake, circa 1900, by Henri Manuel

Mlle. Marville says Nyaah Nyaah, by Leopold Reutlinger, 1901 by redpoulaine

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16.00 USD

Superb image of Belle Epoque stage performer Mlle. Marville photographed by Reutlinger of Paris. Dated 1901, this card was published by SIP (Société Industrielle de Photographié). Wonderful tone and detail. Unposted and in lovely condition. She is adorned with cherries, and this is rather a nice corset image too.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Suzanne Mainville, French Music Hall Performer, by Cav. A. Pesce, circa 1905 by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

Suzanne Mainville was a French music hall performer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who was both a singer and a dancer. Very rarely do we see images of theatrical performers that so wonderfully capture the sense of movement that is seen in this image. Remember that these early photographs typically required that the subject remain still for a number of seconds, or even minutes, so that it required both physical strength and balance as well as great strength of will for a dancer to hold a pose such as this one.

This image is one of a series by Cavaliere Alfredo Pesce. Another image in this series was included in an exhibition of photographic portraits at the National Library of Naples, showing Suzanne in the same dress, but in a much less dramatic stance.

You may be interested to know that Cavaliere, usually abbreviated to Cav., is the Italian honorific for a knight. Cav. Pesce was a well-known and well-respected Naples photographer who photographed such luminaries as Giacomo Puccini and Émile Zola. His studio was located in the lavish Galleria Umberto I in Naples, an amazing structure graced by mosaic floors and a high glass dome that soars 187 feet above the heads of the pedestrians who walk below. Built in the last decades of the 19th century, this elegant precursor to today's malls was designed to combine public with private, filling the lower floors with businesses, shops, and cafes, while locating apartments above, on the third floor.


******

This dramatic card has only minor wear to the edges and corners. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, the price is the same as for a single card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, due to the costs of international shipping will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!

Lina Cavalieri, Imperial Russian Card, circa 1900 by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

Beautiful operatic diva Lina Cavalieri on an Imperial Russian card from around 1900. Possibly by Reutlinger, there is no photographer attribution. On others in this series, the Folies Bergere is sometimes in the text, and the image may have originally been published by C. Jeangette of Paris, who also worked with Leopold Reutlinger. This particular card was apparently printed by Manes and Co., of Berlin.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

where we occasionally post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more.

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