19.00 USD

A very nice stereopticon card of the Eiffel Tower during the 1900 World's Fair. What a glorious time it must have been. Sadly, because of a difficult economy and a poor turnout (or at least a far lower turnout than expected) the fair proved to be a great financial loss for many of the promoters, investors, and all the way down to the concessionaires, who went on strike demanding a refund of their rent payments for their spaces!


Félix Potin (1820-1871) was a 19th century French entrepreneur who opened a factory (later factories), producing and packaging goods under his name brand, and selling them in his shops. He opened his first store in 1844, and his company eventually expanded into a chain of over a thousand stores. Wikipedia, from whom we got the bulk of our info for this listing, suggests that the old Woolworth's five and dime chain based their business model on Potin's.

Great condition on this card, heavy card stock.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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 paper goods items, we will not charge for postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more paper goods items 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!

65.00 USD

René Péan (1875-1940) was a master poster artist, an illustrator, and painter of Belle Epoque Paris. He was a contemporary of Jules Cheret, and in fact worked with him at the Chaix Printing shop. Like other artists of the period, an important part of his living was earned creating cover art for local Parisian magazines, one of which was Soleil du Dimanche, which produced occasional color covers like this one. Incidentally, Alphonse Mucha also produced cover art for "Soleil," and those original covers are even more highly collectible, auctioning sometimes for well over 1000.00 dollars (yes we are definitely looking out for those as well :).

Printed in 1901, this lovely piece of Belle Epoque art captures in beautiful color lithograph the Carnaval celebration! In addition to the cover, this listing includes 14 attached pages of interior advertisements, illustrations, articles, and engravings.

Visible age tanning (it is 114 years old!) and some wear at edges and corners. The dimensions are 15 and 1/2 by 11 inches. Our first scan is somewhat smaller and is just our view of a potential "to be matted" size.

We hope this wonderful artifact finds its way onto your wall very soon, beautifully matted and framed behind glass :)
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for securely packaged, fully-insured, first class shipping, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two items, we will not charge for postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more items 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!

22.00 USD

A very nice stereopticon card of the Eiffel Tower and fair-goers during the 1900 World's Fair. What a glorious time it must have been. Sadly, because of a difficult economy and a poor turnout (or at least a far lower turnout than expected) the fair proved to be a great financial loss for many of the promoters, investors, and all the way down to the concessionaires, who went on strike demanding a refund of their rent payments for their spaces!


Félix Potin (1820-1871) was a 19th century French entrepreneur who opened a factory (later factories), producing and packaging goods under his name brand, and selling them in his shops. He opened his first store in 1844, and his company eventually expanded into a chain of over a thousand stores. Wikipedia, from whom we got the bulk of our info for this listing, suggests that the old Woolworth's five and dime chain based their business model on Potin's.

Great condition on this card, heavy card stock.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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 paper goods items, we will not charge for postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more paper goods items 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!

24.00 USD

Young dancers performing in that "classical" variety of costume so popular in Art Nouveau media during la Belle Epoque. It is images like these that give us a taste of the era's "ideal" essence, as expressed through the imaginations of the actual people living it.

Quimper (pronounced GYAM-pear), France, where these photos were taken, is the ancient capital of Celtic Brittany, situated in far northwestern France. In 1910 (our approximate for when this card was printed), Quimper's population was at about 19,000, making it a relatively small town, by today's standards.

It was large enough though, to offer higher education in the region, and we are guessing these young ladies were students at college, and that the photographer created a series of images from this local theatrical production, out of which we are lucky enough to have found three.

Rare postcards? Though certainly printing runs were smaller in the early 1900s, there aren't many cards in our shop that we can really claim are rare. Most of them were printed at least in the thousands, and even copies of what are less common images, in our experience, resurface again and again.

RPPCs though (real photo post cards), definitely qualify as "rare" postcards. These were cards made by local studio photographers, and amateur home photographers, that were produced for very limited audiences, rather than for widespread commercial distribution. In this case, these images of a local, and almost certainly an amateur, theatrical production, would have been printed in a very small run of which most, over the intervening century (two world wars, etc.), will probably have been lost. It is quite possible that this card is the only one remaining!

Joseph Marie Vallard was a respected photographer well established in Quimper. His father, Joseph Vallard Sr., had also been a professional photographer, in Quimper, in the mid-nineteenth century, who taught his son the craft. In fact, yet a third Joseph would carry on the tradition after Joseph Marie. Three generations of Vallards as photographers in Quimper. It gives rise to the romantic notion of the town photographer as bard, or "keeper of stories," recording as they did, christenings, weddings,funerals, celebrations and tragedies. We think there is something sacred in that, when thought of in this way, but we do get kinda gooey about this stuff :)

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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 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 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!

35.00 USD

as per convo

19.00 USD

So precious! Suzy Deguez was a unique beauty. Here, she appears with two charming little children, all of them attired in Art Nouveau finery for what may have been a celebration of spring. Great sepia image.

The notorious Belle Epoque dancer, Mata Hari, publicly denounced Mlle. Deguez for the alleged theft of certain of her erotic oriental routines. Competition was fierce between performers, and who knows what really went on between the two dancers. Then, as now, most any publicity was good publicity, and they may well have been the best of friends, with the battle worked out between them, beforehand :)
Mlle. Suzy was also well known for her "Danse des Cheveux," or "hair" dance!

There is no photographer attribution on this card, printed in Berlin by the Neue Photographische Gesellschaft, circa 1905. The photo was probably made in France, by Reutlinger, or perhaps Ogereau (another of her photographers), and then offered at some point to N.P.G. who did regular work with Leopold Reutlinger.

N.P.G., opened by Arthur Schwartz in 1894, was probably the most powerful and influential printer and publisher of postcards of the early 1900s and by 1908, when this card was mailed, had satellite companies all over Europe, the UK and in the USA.

This is an Oranotype print, a special printing method used by NPG that we think relied in part on a special "glacé" finish. Oranotype images can really pop, but the nature of high gloss is that every little wave or crimp on the print surface bends the light and becomes quite visible. Our scan does not show these little faults, but they do exist.

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!

18.00 USD

Note the peaked hat! Wonderful Hallowe'en image!

Elspeth, the unhappiest of witches, was desolate at having been cast out of the Grand Coven. It seems that on Walpurgisnacht, instead of riding her usual broom to the annual witch's sabbat atop the dark mountain, she was feeling particularly innovative, and made the mistake of riding the musical instrument you see pictured in this image.
So it was that Elspeth, though previously admired in her witchy community for having a heart as hard and black as flint, and an unsurpassed talent for the casting of the blackest of spells, was undone by her own creativity.

For as she flew through the night sky and circled above that wicked convocation before descending to take her place amongst the gleefully soulless celebrants, a mischevious wind passing over her instrument's strings, brought forth a joyous Christian hymn, heard by all present, and casting a very unsabbat like, golden, glow over the otherwise darksome gathering below. Oh my! Poor, poor Elspeth.

Now you tell one :)

Wonderful image of Mary Nolan, costumed as Pierrette, and playing a long necked, mandolin, sort of instrument. If you see someone costumed as a "Pierrot/Pierrette" character, you can pretty much bet the story contains the element of heartbreak. These characters originated hundreds of years ago with the traveling Commedia dell'arte troupes in Renaissance Italy, and blended themes of the tragic lover's triangle with enough ironic, and or silly, comedy to lighten the experience.

In some ways, we could liken these productions, which remained great crowd pleasers into the 20th century, to classic blues performed by masters like Robert Johnson, that also blend the pain of loss and sorrow, with clever and often humorous word play. In both cases, these offer their audiences a way of taking the "long view" on their own personal sufferings, and who doesn't need that from time to time?

Of course this image is taken from a film. We haven't succeeded at pinning down the title, though Miss Nolan made only a handful of movies for Universal in the late 20s and early 30s.

Born Mary Imogene Robertson (1902-1948), she lost her mother at a very early age, was given up by her father shortly thereafter, and raised in a Catholic orphanage.

She worked as a model in her teens, and was a successful dancer in Flo' Ziegfeld's Follies into the early 1920s.

It was in the 1920s that she made a number of successful films in Germany, then in the late 20s, she made the move back to the USA where she appeared in several successful films as well.

Like the character in our image might have been, Miss Nolan was unlucky in love, and had relationships with abusive, sometimes brutally violent, men. These relationships, with their associated scandals, also impacted her professional life, and in the long run, ruined what from the start, might have been.a wonderful career.

The short biography at Wikipedia is richly detailed, and if you want to learn more about Miss Nolan, we encourage you to read it, but be warned, it is thoroughly depressing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Nolan

A great unposted card published by Iris Verlag, thought of by some as the Austrian "Ross Verlag."
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!

22.00 USD

I Have to say that one of the many little rewards of engaging in this work is the discovery of unidentified images of famous Belle Epoque performers. An unidentified image always adds a little extra spice to a shop window, and then, to someone's special collection.

Lovely faux-nude "précurseur" (French term for early postcards with undivided back). We can't know exactly when this card was printed, but probably between 1895 and 1904. This also appears to be an unidentified, and very early image of famous Belle Epoque actress Cécile Sorel!

Though the text "Suzanne Surprize" sounds as though it might have been the title of a soft-rock song from the early 70s (and hey, who knows, it could have been! think "Suite Judy Blue Eyes" CSNY :) it is French though, meaning "Suzanne surprised," and though we haven't traced the origin of the theme, there were at least two well known French sculptures, one "Suzanne Surprise," and one "Suzanne Surprise au Bain" (Suzanne surprised in the bath), produced during la Belle Epoque.

The "Pose Plastique" was very popular for a time. Sometimes the curtain would rise displaying a tableau of statues, marble-white, or perhaps gilded, mimicking a famous sculpture familiar to many in the audience, but then suddenly the statues would move...they weren't statues at all, but actors and gymnasts often attired in close fitting, faux-nude, union suits, made up and carefully posed.

So in this card, Suzanne Surprise the sculpture, may well have become a "pose plastique" performed by an actress who would later become one of the great queens of French stage and early film, La Comtesse de Ségur, better known as Cécile Sorel. Compare our third and fourth listing images for yourself. the third image is of a close crop of the performer on our card (reversed for easier comparison), and the fourth is of Mme. Sorel, Sociétaire de la Comédie-Française! I have to say we are convinced :)

Fun stuff, and since it was printed during that time when only the recipient's address was allowed on the back-side of the card, the publisher left plenty of room on the front-side for personal messages.

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!

17.00 USD

Welcome to "Idols of the 1920s," where we hope to provide a special, cozy place for those of you who long to linger among the stars of the early silver screen, the hoofers and songbirds of dear old vaudeville's fading hours, a few divas of the grand opera, and of the operetta too, flappers, flappers, more flappers, and of course, and perhaps especially, those femmes fatales who with one smoldering glance can melt a heart, or break it in two. Have fun!

Dated 1922 on the reverse, though looking considerably older to us, is this magical "harem" image. Of course the blue tint does add to the magic. Simply wonderful.
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!

16.00 USD

J. Mandel, the somewhat mysterious French photographer and publisher, who is probably best known for his nude images in luscious sepias and shades of brown, produced a series of images in the 1930s that were, for the most part, more "family" oriented. Here is one of them. In the same way that Ketty cards often made use of an overall silver tone to bring out the reds of the rouge and lipstick in their images, see how in this image the woman's lips take center stage with a big Smmack! :) And then the soft focus is a great touch we find throughout this series of images, along with groupings of geometric designs in the backgrounds used to give the image balance. Great couples romance card with a wonderful Art Deco feel to it, produced by a very important name in French "glamor card" history.
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!

14.00 USD

We love it! Beautifully garish couples romance image by Fotocelere of Paris. Both hand-tinted, and making use of the "pochoir" or stencil technique of layering colors and detail.

The postcard craze of the early 1900s slowed down with the devastating onrush of WWI in the mid 1910s, wearing on into 1918. One factor contributing to this slowdown was the inaccessibility for much of Europe and the Americas to the industrial center of postcard printing, which prior to the Great War was in Germany. Following the war, the postcard industry badly needed a shot in the arm, and in order to regain consumer interest, publishers went to great lengths, one of which was to print cards in very bright, eye-catching colors. This card is certainly a fine example of that trend.

The text at the top of the card can be loosely translated into English as, "Let's exchange sweet promises, and sealed tender caresses."
Okay then! :) On the back of the card is written, "Vive Sainte Catherine."

We deduce that this card was sent to an unmarried woman by a well-wishing female friend or relative. How do we arrive at this conclusion? By subtracting every single impossibility and thereby arriving at the truth? Don't we wish, but no, sadly, Red is not Sherlock Holmes.

Actually, the conclusion is an easy one to draw. Saint Catharine is the patron saint of unmarried women, and on her feast day, in addition to donning really fun, and often silly looking, hats and bonnets, unmarried French women would offer up prayers to Saint Catherine for a good mate! They would also receive Saint Catherine's Day cards from
female friends and relatives (probably a bit of an unwelcome reminder for some women!).
Usually these cards pictured a woman in a wonderful hat, and bore the text, "Vive Sainte Catherine," but our sender choosing a card picturing a loving couple, is less typical, and a gentle bit of sympathetic magic! Great fun.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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 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 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!

19.00 USD

Superb portrait of actress, producer and screenwriter Marion Davies (1897-1961) by G.B. Falci, one of our favorite publishers of film star cards. Amazing tone and contrast on this one, and in very nice, unposted condition.

Miss Davies was a Ziegfeld Girl in the 1910s, and went on to appear in the motion pictures with great success, until her lover, William Randolph Hearst, Newspaper Tycoon, took too much interest in her career and bought her so much publicity that her career floundered.

Now, there are a great many rumors, myths and legends, surrounding Miss Davies, and much has been written about her, but we had one interesting little idea we've never run across in print (though it probably has been, in keeping with that old axiom, "nothing new under the sun").

Any visitors of ours who are movie buffs, may be familiar with the classic film "Citizen Kane," in which the Kane character is generally believed to have been modeled after Hearst. No spoilers here, but what if "Rosebud" was not what it was purported to be in the film?

What if Rosebud was not an "it," but rather a "whom?" In 1993, a woman named Patricia Lake, who since birth had been known as the niece of Marion Davies, made a deathbed request that she be finally acknowledged publicly as the love child of Hearst and Davies.

This is the idea. It has been suggested that Lake's birth and provenance was a well kept secret, Miss Davies being in seclusion at the time, and that following the birth, the infant girl was given to Miss Davies' sister to call her own. Davies' sister had lost her own little girl while in infancy, you see, whose name happened to have been "Rose," and Patricia Lake simply took her place, and her name, in order to save both Hearst and Davies from the scandal of a child born out of wedlock, and fathered by a married man.

Apparently this was a well kept secret within the family, Hearst having acknowledged Patricia Lake as his daughter, privately, when she was 17, but what if the secret was not all that well kept, what if Orson Welles learned of it? What we are wondering is if Kane's yearning whisper of the word "Rosebud," was actually a not so veiled reference to "Rose," Hearst's (Kane's) daughter by Miss Davies? Fun, huh? We love a good mystery :) Oh, Mr. Wells, you rascal, you :)

Anyhow, we'll say no more, it's just an idea, and if it piqued your curiosity, watch the movie!

A magnificent portrait. 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!

16.00 USD

Cute image :) We've come across another image of this same dancer, also identified as Marcelle Lys, so we're satisfied with the name as written on the back-side. No history as of yet. This "could" be an autographed card, or it could be a fan, or a collector, jotting down her name on the back of the card.
Either way, lots of fun :)
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!

26.00 USD

Gorgeous German nude, circa 1910s. Rather than being an image out of a risque early 1900s Ping Pong strategy guide, we suspect this image was more likely put forth as the awakening of Pygmalion's Galatea (with the added convenience of a hand mirror :)

"Lebender Marmor," or Living Marble. One of a very popular postcard series in which the models, often in (or as in this case not so much "in" as "out of") classical costume, were posed and made up to resemble marble statues. This one is a real beauty, and the silvering only serves to add to the image!

See another card from the same series:

https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/redpoulaine/tools/listings/page:2,stats:true/266700176

Tableaux vivants are a form of performance art in which a costumed actor (in the case of the "tableaux," usually "actors plural") pose motionlessly, creating a scene from a painting, sculpture, etc., that is often recognizable and meaningful to the viewing audience. It puts us in mind of street artists painted in silver or white, and posing as statues for passing tourists at street fairs and the like.

In the early 1900s, it was not uncommon to see tableaux vivants of favorite religious scenes, such as the last supper, or, for example, during the run-up to WWI, a tableau vivant of Washington crossing the Delaware created on the stage of a vaudeville theater in order to stir the patriotic blood of the audience and help out with the recruitment drive.

Wikipedia notes, "The most recent heyday of the tableau vivant was the 19th century, with virtually nude tableaux vivants or poses plastiques providing a form of erotic entertainment."

Even when legislation restricted risque performances in the theaters, it was difficult to shut down a nude tableau vivant or pose plastique (a term we believe was more commonly used to describe this type of performance by a single actor) when it was touted as a work of art!

Our card demonstrates that the popularity of the pose plastique as a theatrical act carried over into picture postcards. We run across these fairly often, with the Lebender Marmor series being one of the nicest, we think.

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!

18.00 USD

First released in December of 1925, Ben-Hur was one of the epics of epics, a magnificent movie with (according to the trailer) a cast not just of thousands, but more than onehundred and fifty thousand!

For a very detailed and entertaining article on the making of this film, you can follow the below link to Fritzi Kramer's "Movies Silently." We think we've just happened upon a research treasure in this wonderful site:

http://moviessilently.com/2015/08/30/ben-hur-1925-a-silent-film-review/

A French postcard with no evident publisher attribution. Minor foxing on the reverse side. 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!

19.00 USD

Gaby Deslys (1881-1920) was a tremendously popular artiste. She was a performer in Paris, made it big in London (she was one of the Gaiety Girls), and New York (playing opposite Al Jolson, for one), before returning to France to take Paris by storm. It's been suggested that it was she who brought the strip-tease to France, having picked it up in New York, though we kind of thought dancers had been doing that since before recorded history!
At one time there was some question as to her actual origins, some insisting she was a Czech peasant girl only claiming to be French, others insisting she was born and bred in Marseilles. Wherever the truth may lie, she certainly loved Marseilles like a native, and when she died tragically at 38, of a persistent throat infection brought on by influenza, she left the entirety of her estate, (substantial at the time), to Marseilles' poor. Please go to Wikipedia to learn more. She led a fascinating life.
Below is a link to you tube, where you can hear her sing two songs and quote...Shakespeare! Yep :) Particularly fun, is that while in Vienna, she made these recordings, so the songs you hear were recorded during the same visit to Vienna as when this photo was taken. We particularly enjoy making these kinds of connections. We hope you do too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oFXU_dX53Q

This wonderful card is one of two of hers we recently brought into the shop. The portrait was made while she was in Vienna, in 1910.

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!

14.00 USD

Wishing all our customers and friends a Very Happy Valentines Day!

1920s Couples Romance card. 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!

16.00 USD

Wishing all our customers and friends a Very Happy Valentines Day!

1910s Couples Romance card. 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!

16.00 USD

Wishing all our customers and friends a Very Happy Valentines Day!

1920s Couples Romance card. 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!

14.00 USD

Wishing all our customers and friends a Very Happy Valentines Day!

1920s Couples Romance card. 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!