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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


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 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!

Eitelkeit, or Vanity, by Otto Friedrich, Pub. Carte Artistique Viennoise, circa 1910s by redpoulaine

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19.00 USD

Otto Friedrich (1862-1937) was an Austrian artist of the Viennese Secession. He painted Eitelkeit in 1904. His style, like that of a great many of the painters who pulled away from the academic style is reminiscent of the French Post Impressionists.

One of the nicest things about this 1910s era Austrian series, "Carte Artistique Viennoise," is the Art Nouveau decoration/logo on the back side of the card, offering us practically two lovely images in one :)

Very nice condition on this one! 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!

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 :)

Springtime Beauty 2, Carmen De Villers by E. Stebbing, circa 1905, by redpoulaine

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17.00 USD

Beautiful Stebbing image of a Springtime beauty, unidentified image of Mlle. Carmen De Villers.

The card was published by Monsieur G. Piprot of Marque (or logo) "Etoile," (Star) publishers in Paris, from a photograph taken by one of our favorite photographers, Professor Edward Stebbing.

Professor Stebbing was a prolific portraitist, who operated a studio out of Boulevard des Italiens et 30 Rue Grammont, Paris, France. He is a bit of a mystery man, as we have found quite a number of references to him pertaining to photography of the period, but no biography as of yet.

Presumably because of his studio address, he is often called a French photographer, but we do know that Stebbing is a common enough English name, that in the 1870s, he was a regular contributor to the British Journal of Photography (in fact, he was that magazine's "Paris correspondent" for a time), made regular trips to England, and since, in writing about him, and quoting him, the Journal referred to him as "Professor" and not "Professeur," we suspect he was an expatriate Englishman who made his home in Paris.

Also, like so many of those early photographers, Stebbing was an inventor. In those days, photographers who were more than dabblers, were inventors almost out of necessity. It was often through experimentation with the vast number of chemicals and broad (and constantly "newfangled") varieties of equipment, that advances in their art were accomplished.

Edward Stebbing is sometimes called the inventor of the first "roll film" camera. He developed the camera in 1883, which by 1887 was retailing for about twelve dollars. Below, there is a link to the George Eastman House Technology Archive where you can learn more about it. Also, the fourth of our listing images (though not offered for sale) is one of Prof. Stebbing's camera! It is a thing of beauty :)

http://www.geh.org/fm/brownie2/htmlsrc/mS810500001_ful.html

A lovely, unposted card, showing off Stebbing's (and Piprot's) talent for toying with the development and printing processes in a way that particularly lent itself to brilliant coloration. The term, "Emaillographie," printed on the reverse of the card, refers to a process of Monsieur Piprot's that seems to have been a glacé, or glaze, applied to the surface of the print. This technique really seems to have added depth, and also brilliance to the coloration, of those cards to which it was applied.

Gorgeous card in near fine 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!

Three Young Sailors, American RPPC, 1913 by redpoulaine

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19.00 USD

Three young sailors of the U.S. Navy, stationed aboard the receiving ship U.S.S. Franklin in 1913. These three boys were still receiving early naval training aboard the Franklin in Portsmouth Va. when this photo was taken.

Apparently they'd spent their day "coaling," a task, wrote the sender Ed Fitting, that was their hardest job, and one they had to do every six months or so. This implies that the job of coaling was not the shoveling of coal into a burner in the engine room, which in that age of steam-powered ships was an everyday, if not hourly, task, but probably the taking on of a huge shipment of coal from a supply vessel or barge, and shifting it into a storage compartment aboard the ship.

The U.S.S. Franklin had actually been retired from the sea in 1876 and used as a vessel for housing new sailors since then. This means it was anchored in port permanently.

Originally, it was a three masted screw frigate launched in 1864, that was built at least in part, out of pieces of the previous U.S.S. Franklin (launched in 1815 and broken up in 1852). It served as flagship for no less a personage than "Damn the torpedoes" Admiral David Glasgow Farragut himself, who assumed command of the European Squadron in the 1860s.

In our listing images, we have, though not for sale, photographs of the screw frigate Franklin shortly after her retirement, and the "remodeled for housing" version where these young men were stationed during their early naval training days.

A great slice of life card from 1913, just a few years before America joined the bloody fray of WWI, so having what feels at this moment like the "dubious" benefit of hindsight, we look on their smiling faces today and wish them the very best of luck.
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!

Rudolph Valentino, Silent Film Star, circa 1920s by Ross Verlag. by redpoulaine

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17.00 USD

Here he is, Son of the Sheik, Mr. Action and Romance, Rudolph Valentino! Very nice card from Ross Verlag circa 1920s.
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!


Lot of two cards reserved for Dolly Pat. Please don't purchase unless you're Dolly Pat. Thanks. by redpoulaine

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38.00 USD

Lot of two cards reserved for Dolly Pat as per convo.

Lucy Doraine and Mercedes Cabriolet by Ross Verlag, cira 1927

Garbo and Gable...together! Vintage German Postcard by Ross Verlag, circa 1931

So Gable....So Garbo! Just Marvelous :)

Ross Verlag card from 1931, almost certainly related to the 1931 pre-code film "Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)" directed by Robert Z. Leonard.

In the film, Gable plays a version of his typically cynical, crusty, loner role (Though it's perhaps a dated and politically unpopular character type today, this is is not a bad thing! We love Clark Gable!) to Garbo's character of a tragic woman of easy virtue. Exquisite as always.

Well, take "easy virtue," and "pre-code" and you have a recipe for a film that is later cut to ribbons by censors, feels that way when watched, and is not very highly rated today. Great chemistry between those two greats though, and if you like, you can take about two minutes and follow our link to a Youtube clip from the film. Wonderful scene...wonderful kiss...wonderful :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulnnsh92ry0

Wonderful card too! Very nice condition, with a brief Happy Birthday greeting, "Mīļš sveiciens dzimšanas," written on the obverse in Latvian.
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!

Three Sisters, One a Serious Flapper, The Other Two, Not So Much. French RPPC circa 1920s by redpoulaine

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6.00 USD

It happened this way. One Monday morning, Marthe and Juliette were having breakfast in the Solarium when the quaintest little old beggar woman came knocking at the back door. Juliette was suffering from a headache, and called out to the poor old thing to go away, while Marthe did what they normally would in this circumstance, and acting out of very appropriate charity, wrapped up some crusts of day old bread in brown paper, and sent the woman on her way with a few kind words.

That very same night, after supper, the sweetest and shyest of the three sisters, Germaine, was doing the washing up, and so was alone in the kitchen. Well, wouldn't you just know it, the very same beggar woman came knocking at the door, but when Germaine looked for the day old crusts, there were none left to give, so she took half a baguette left over from their meal, a ripe peach, and half a bottle of beaujolais, and then finding no brown paper, wrapped it all up in a clean piece of linen she'd used to practice some lovely embroidery work the week before.

When the old woman cast her eyes on what Germaine put into her hands, she leapt into the air with a whoop and a whistle, spinning about three times before her feet had yet again touched the ground, and then ran off, all a'skitter and a'skatter, much to the surprise of Germaine, who could only shake her head, smile a gentle smile and say," Poor old thing."

Well, that very next morning, Juliette awoke with a little of the same bothersome headache she'd suffered from the day before,

Marthe awoke with twice the brains she'd gone to bed with,

And Germaine? Germaine woke up with incredible confidence, a head of perfectly shiny and marvelously spit-curled hair, Gypsy eyes, and feet that just naturally knew all the new dance steps! Furthermore, even in the bath, her hair never lost its perfect shape and shine. When she put on a strand of pearls they naturally wound themselves about her neck in the sexiest possible way, and the strand never broke unless there was a terribly handsome young man there to pick them all up with her.

Now, you may think that Marthe got a bit of a raw deal, since she, after all, did what was kind, charitable and proper, but the truth is, she was never particularly racy to begin with. And with her newly enhanced intelligence, she wrote a bestselling existential fantasy, had a short, steamy affair with Jean Paul Sarte, had no difficulty at all working out both the forward and reverse modes of the Charleston, and oh yes, invented a headache cure for poor Juliette, who soon became so very cheerful and chic, that she gave even Germaine quite a run for her money.

So you see, they all three of them, three being a very lucky number indeed, lived quite happily ever after.

Now you tell one :)

A very nice unposted card in fine condition, but with album paste residue on the back side's four corners.
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 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!
Calling Forth the Spirits of the Old Trees. French RPPC, circa 1910s
$28.00 USD
Only 1 available

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Vintage item from the 1910s
Ships worldwide from United States
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Martha de Villers, French Stage Actress, by Oricelly of Paris, circa 1905 by redpoulaine

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6.00 USD

Another lovely sepia toned portrait of a Paris music hall personality by Oricelly. The soft, soft light in his work is so wonderful. Research on the history of Martha de Villers is fruitless so far, but we'll keep searching.

This card is in wonderful 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!

Martha de Villers, French Stage Actress, by Oricelly of Paris, circa 1905 by redpoulaine

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6.00 USD

Gorgeous portrait of Belle Epoque actress Martha De Villers by Oricelly of Paris. Posted in 1905. Minimal writing, in a nice hand, on both sides. 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!

Lina Cavalieri, Example of Signature on Italian Card, from Reutlinger Series, circa 1900 by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

We have never seen an example of La Cavalieri's signature on a postcard before. We DO NOT believe this to be an actual autograph, though it may well be her signature, reproduced, which in and of itself makes this an unusual card. Though some artistes of the period made frequent use of reproduced signatures on their postcards (De Merode, and Otero, for example), this one is a first for us. But we have not run across this particular image before, either. From her costume, we think it is one from a Reutlinger series often associated with an appearance of hers in St. Petersburg, but the publisher of this image may be Italian, and they may have purchased the rights to this image from Reutlinger, resulting in its being less common.

Naturally, when we first saw a scan of this card before purchasing it for the shop, we were hoping we had found an autographed Cavalieri image! It's tough to judge from a scan. Why don't we think this is a real autograph? If the card is held in the proper light, the silvering is evident on the surface of the card floating "over" the signature. We are, by no means, experts, but many of you probably know that the lovely glow we call "silvering," is a chemical reaction that occurs over time in which the light sensitive metallic salts that were originally held in place on the surface of the photo print paper by a gelatinous compound, gradually migrate to the surface of the photographic print. Although there were many such metallic salts used in photography (still are), bromide of silver was one commonly used, hence the term "silvering."

It seems very unlikely to us that an actual ink signature would show even silvering over its surface without any difference in surface appearance between it, and the print upon which the signature was written, because the ink from a pen, would have covered the print's surface, not allowing the salts to migrate upwards. Make sense?

In our listing images, though *not for sale*, is a scan of what seems to be a DVD case that offers us another reproduction of her signature. Closely examined, they are not identical, but are close enough to let us believe that this was, for a time at least (signatures change over the years, of course), a signature she used.

A wonderful card (relatively rare, from our limited perspective), with some wear to 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!

The Divine Sarah Bernhardt in Gismonda, circa 1905, by Nadar by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

Artist Alphonse Mucha designed a poster to represent that Queen of the Stage, Sarah Bernhardt, as she appeared in Sardou's "Gismonda," in an 1895 production, that we believe she also directed.

We have an image of that poster as listing image number three (not for sale). We've read that his intention was not to capture her physical features in that image (which he clearly did a number of times), so much as to capture the essence of her personality as she portrayed the character on the stage.

This portrait by Nadar, or at least this postcard, was printed after 1904, so a good decade after the premiere showing of Gismonda, but Bernhardt was so fond of Mucha's poster, that she continued to use it as promotional material long past its first use in 1895.

Wonderful photo by Nadar, wonderful costume, wonderful 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!

Erik Schmedes as Lohengrin, circa 1902, By Julius Weisz of Vienna by redpoulaine

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16.00 USD

Erik Anton Julius Schmedes (1868-1931) was a Danish operatic tenor, best known for his roles in operas by Richard Wagner. Here we see him in costume as the swan-helmeted Lohengrin.

Herr Schmedes began his career as a baritone, but while singing professionally in that range for several years, he studied under August Iffert of Vienna, and discovered the Heldentenor that had been living inside his baritone body (weird opera/body type humor...please forgive us :).
He debuted as a tenor (as Siegfried, in fact) in Vienna, in 1898.
Though he toured widely, he is best remembered for his years at the Vienna Court Opera where he was an important performer during the period of Gustave Mahler's directorship.

Also of interest might be that he was the brother in law of famed dancer Nijinsky. Pretty cool? (Thanks Wikipedia!)

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!


Alice de Tender, Card with Personal Dedication, circa 1910s by redpoulaine

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22.00 USD

Not long ago we ran across a collection of postcards picturing a number of Belle Epoque stage performers, and signed or dedicated by them to a Madame Pouillot. This is a card out of that collection.

If you know a little about the collectible market, you will understand how these collections appear; someones great grandchild is cleaning out the attic, and coming across an old postcard album decides to sell it, or give it away, or perhaps someone passes away and an entire estate is liquidated, and a little collection of personal heirlooms suddenly appears on the market. That is probably how this card, along with those others we saw, appeared.

Why would Alice de Tender, one of our favorite Belle Epoque dancers, be dedicating this card to a Madame Pouillot? Well, we started digging, and found a reference in a theatrical magazine from 1912 of a fishing contest held at a lake in Paris in the summertime, when many of the artistes were taking a break. In fact this contest was limited to theatrical people only.

The author of the article mentioned a Madame Pouillot who was the guest of honor at the contest, but not so much as an artiste, but as a loved and honored personage. Apparently Madame Pouillot was a very wealthy woman, a patron of the arts, who had done much for theater people in Paris, even opening a home for actor's children there (perhaps a place for the children to live when the performers were away on tour?), and at the same time the author hinted at a recent bereavement, how Mme. visited the tomb of her husband on that day.

So what we are thinking, is that when Mme. Pouillot's husband passed away, or perhaps on another occasion, she received these cards from her many friends and admirer's in the theater, and kept them together lovingly. We'll keep researching her, but unfortunately she doesn't appear to have been famous enough that we've found anything beyond what we've related here.

Mlle. de Tender wrote, "Mon plus gentil sourire a Madame Pouillot," which translates as "My nicest smile for Madame Pouillot" which implies to us, that this was one of Mlle. de Tender's favorite images of herself, and also is such a sweet sentiment, and now we can share in her "nicest smile" too!

A lovely card, with a lovely personal touch, in carefully preserved 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!

Daring Dog Quartet Poses for Portrait, Alfred Noyer, circa 1920s by redpoulaine

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18.00 USD

"Where are they going? To the tree, to the tree!"

P.D. Eastman, "Go Dog Go"

Great dog image, published by Noyer, and dated 1924 on the back side. Love it!!!

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!

Little Girl in Gingham and a Sun Hat, with Kitty! French RPPC, circa 1904 by redpoulaine

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9.00 USD

Delightful scrapbook item. This appears to be an RPPC with a precious, tiny, image on the front side. So cute!
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!

Lucy Gérard, Stage Actress, by Reutlinger, in Art Nouveau Border, circa 1900 by redpoulaine

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18.00 USD

In almost perfect condition, this card falls under the category of what French collectors call a précurseur, a card made before the back sides were divided to allow for written communication. Prior to 1904, when the backs of these cards were undivided as this one was, only the recipient's address was allowed on the back side, and often short letters were written on the image side instead. Discovering this, publishers produced picture postcards with small images, often highly decorative, and allowing lots of space for written communication.

We've found very little information on this actress. Born Marie-Louise Philiberte Lucy Gérard in Lyon, France, 1872, the great beauty Lucy Gérard (also Lucie) was a popular stage actress of Belle Epoque France. One of her most famous roles was that of Fanny Essler, or Elssler, an Austrian Ballerina who in the play "l'Aiglon," by Edmond Rostand, was the love interest of Napoleon II. The role of Napoleon II, by the way, was played by the great Sarah Bernhardt. In fact, Rostand wrote the part specifically for her. The play was a huge success, and became one of Sarah Bernhardt's favorites. Playing the romantic lead opposite Bernhard must have been quite a coup, and the postcard image we find most often of Mlle. Gérard is one showing her costumed for that role.

Mlle. Gérard passed away in 1941. We feel a little sad when we think about it, how she was born into a world of horses and carriages, experienced France in one of its most glorious periods, Paris, in one of its most glamorous and hopeful, and then to have died at a time when her world had so dramatically changed, into one of machines and motorcars, with her country occupied by Hitler's forces, no end in sight, and not living long enough to experience the liberation...okay, snap out of it Red :)

Near fine, unposted condition with some writing on the back, slight rounding of the corners, and a particularly lovely Art Nouveau border.
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!

Lot of two cards reserved for Dolly Pat. Please don't purchase unless you're Dolly Pat. Thanks. by redpoulaine

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0

22.00 USD

as per convos.

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