17.00 USD

We found a small cache of 1920's Ross Verlag postcards depicting scenes from Fritz Lang's German Expressionist film masterpiece "Die Nibelungen" and so we've created a temporary section to show off these wonderful cards.

Also, below are three Youtube links to the film. The first (as indicated) offers English subtitles and combines parts one (Siegfried) and two (Kriemhild's Revenge), but the print quality is a little poor.

The two links below that one are for parts one and two separately, offer no English subs, but are the magnificent restoration version accomplished by the F.W. Murnau Society in 2010. For this restoration, a photo-chemical rather than digital process was employed, resulting in something as close to the original film-goer's experience as possible.

If you're not a German speaker (reader) this requires some dedication and focus on context, to say nothing of an almost five hour time investment! But do check it out for a few minutes at least. It's truly gorgeous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TnXruo9FlQ (English Subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNa74OevW_c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jhb2mjjx-E (photo-chemical restoration)

Lang's "Die Nibelungen" was based on the 13th century (or earlier) epic poem, the Nibelungenlied, and is often, though shouldn't be, confused with Wagner's "Ring Cycle." Wagner certainly drew upon the Nibelungenlied as one of his sources, but the stories really aren't the same. The film's script was written by Thea von Harbou, a screen writer, novelist and actress.

Thea von Harbou and Lang were a married couple incidentally, and were also the writer and director of the German Expressionist classic "Metropolis" in 1927 and the chilling "M" in '31.

Fritz Lang was one of many in the German film industry who left Germany after the Nazis came to power. He went on to direct films in Hollywood, some of which are now classics in the "Film Noir" genre. (Our favorite of those we've seen is definitely "The Big Heat." Awesome movie! )

Each of these cards is in really very nice condition! Spectacular!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

17.00 USD

We found a small cache of 1920's Ross Verlag postcards depicting scenes from Fritz Lang's German Expressionist film masterpiece "Die Nibelungen" and so we've created a temporary section to show off these wonderful cards.

Also, below are three Youtube links to the film. The first (as indicated) offers English subtitles and combines parts one (Siegfried) and two (Kriemhild's Revenge), but the print quality is a little poor.

The two links below that one are for parts one and two separately, offer no English subs, but are the magnificent restoration version accomplished by the F.W. Murnau Society in 2010. For this restoration, a photo-chemical rather than digital process was employed, resulting in something as close to the original film-goer's experience as possible.

If you're not a German speaker (reader) this requires some dedication and focus on context, to say nothing of an almost five hour time investment! But do check it out for a few minutes at least. It's truly gorgeous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TnXruo9FlQ (English Subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNa74OevW_c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jhb2mjjx-E (photo-chemical restoration)

Lang's "Die Nibelungen" was based on the 13th century (or earlier) epic poem, the Nibelungenlied, and is often, though shouldn't be, confused with Wagner's "Ring Cycle." Wagner certainly drew upon the Nibelungenlied as one of his sources, but the stories really aren't the same. The film's script was written by Thea von Harbou, a screen writer, novelist and actress.

Thea von Harbou and Lang were a married couple incidentally, and were also the writer and director of the German Expressionist classic "Metropolis" in 1927 and the chilling "M" in '31.

Fritz Lang was one of many in the German film industry who left Germany after the Nazis came to power. He went on to direct films in Hollywood, some of which are now classics in the "Film Noir" genre. (Our favorite of those we've seen is definitely "The Big Heat." Awesome movie! )

Each of these cards is in really very nice condition! Spectacular!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

163.00 USD

as per convos

157.00 USD

As per convos.

14.00 USD

Our vintage RPPCs depicting dance usually show women, and sometimes children, performing or having a great time, but not so often men. We also don't often stretch past the 1930s with our RPPCs and postcards, but we thought this was great and had to share it.

Dance is about joy, right? At least much of the time, we think, and it's wonderful seeing these guys feeding their souls :)

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

164.00 USD

As per convos and with the later addition of the Dolores Del Rio card.

18.00 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 diva's 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!

Pola Negri, born Apolonia Chalupiek in 1897 Poland rose out of poverty and began her performing career as a ballerina. She was struck by tuberculosis, however, and had to give up dancing. She became for a time one of the most popular femme fatales in Hollywood.

She had a long affair with Charles Chaplin, and then Rudolf Valentino, apparently they were lovers until his death in 1926. She was one of the two major femme fatales at Paramount studios, (Gloria Swanson being the other), and according to Chaplin, Paramount dreamed up all kinds of false rivalry and jealousy between Pola and Gloria for publicity purposes.

To give an indication of the way Pola felt about Valentino, here is a quote attributed to Pola Negri, that we found on the great blog:

http://classicglamourchic.blogspot.com/2010/12/pola-negri-talks-more-about-meeting_20.html

"Before he could say another word, we were interrupted by an exceedingly beautiful young blonde. She said in a thick accent, "Rudy, please take me home now. I've an early call in the morning."
Valentino asked, "Do you two know each other? Pola Negri -- Vilma Banky."

"I said good night and watched the striking couple walk away. She was one of his favorite leading ladies, and there were many rumors of a romance, which I found myself alternately hoping were true and resenting. I wondered if I was subconsciously jealous but quickly dismissed that as being out of the question. It was no more than a passing physical attraction. There had been my reaction to the way he led me across the floor, merely physical again. No, I had to admit he appealed to something deeper, something atavistic, something so basic in me that I had forgotten it was there, if, indeed, I had ever known it. It stripped away the veneers that went into the composition of my too public self, and exposed what lay beneath. Call it fatalism, but from our very first meeting I knew that somehow this man had the power either to destroy my life or so irrevocably alter its course that it would never again be the same."


Maybe these were Miss Negri's thoughts? Maybe they read well in a movie magazine...either way, just fun :) A great card!

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

18.00 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 diva's 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!

Pola Negri, born Apolonia Chalupiek in 1897 Poland rose out of poverty and began her performing career as a ballerina. She was struck by tuberculosis, however, and had to give up dancing. She became for a time one of the most popular femme fatales in Hollywood.

She had a long affair with Charles Chaplin, and then Rudolf Valentino, apparently they were lovers until his death in 1926. She was one of the two major femme fatales at Paramount studios, (Gloria Swanson being the other), and according to Chaplin, Paramount dreamed up all kinds of false rivalry and jealousy between Pola and Gloria for publicity purposes.

To give an indication of the way Pola felt about Valentino, here is a quote attributed to Pola Negri, that we found on the great blog:

http://classicglamourchic.blogspot.com/2010/12/pola-negri-talks-more-about-meeting_20.html

"Before he could say another word, we were interrupted by an exceedingly beautiful young blonde. She said in a thick accent, "Rudy, please take me home now. I've an early call in the morning."
Valentino asked, "Do you two know each other? Pola Negri -- Vilma Banky."

"I said good night and watched the striking couple walk away. She was one of his favorite leading ladies, and there were many rumors of a romance, which I found myself alternately hoping were true and resenting. I wondered if I was subconsciously jealous but quickly dismissed that as being out of the question. It was no more than a passing physical attraction. There had been my reaction to the way he led me across the floor, merely physical again. No, I had to admit he appealed to something deeper, something atavistic, something so basic in me that I had forgotten it was there, if, indeed, I had ever known it. It stripped away the veneers that went into the composition of my too public self, and exposed what lay beneath. Call it fatalism, but from our very first meeting I knew that somehow this man had the power either to destroy my life or so irrevocably alter its course that it would never again be the same."


Maybe these were Miss Negri's thoughts? Maybe they read well in a movie magazine...either way, just fun :) A great card!

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

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 diva's 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!

Pola Negri, born Apolonia Chalupiek in 1897 Poland rose out of poverty and began her performing career as a ballerina. She was struck by tuberculosis, however, and had to give up dancing. She became for a time one of the most popular femme fatales in Hollywood.

She had a long affair with Charles Chaplin, and then Rudolf Valentino, apparently they were lovers until his death in 1926. She was one of the two major femme fatales at Paramount studios, (Gloria Swanson being the other), and according to Chaplin, Paramount dreamed up all kinds of false rivalry and jealousy between Pola and Gloria for publicity purposes.

To give an indication of the way Pola felt about Valentino, here is a quote attributed to Pola Negri, that we found on the great blog:

http://classicglamourchic.blogspot.com/2010/12/pola-negri-talks-more-about-meeting_20.html

"Before he could say another word, we were interrupted by an exceedingly beautiful young blonde. She said in a thick accent, "Rudy, please take me home now. I've an early call in the morning."
Valentino asked, "Do you two know each other? Pola Negri -- Vilma Banky."

"I said good night and watched the striking couple walk away. She was one of his favorite leading ladies, and there were many rumors of a romance, which I found myself alternately hoping were true and resenting. I wondered if I was subconsciously jealous but quickly dismissed that as being out of the question. It was no more than a passing physical attraction. There had been my reaction to the way he led me across the floor, merely physical again. No, I had to admit he appealed to something deeper, something atavistic, something so basic in me that I had forgotten it was there, if, indeed, I had ever known it. It stripped away the veneers that went into the composition of my too public self, and exposed what lay beneath. Call it fatalism, but from our very first meeting I knew that somehow this man had the power either to destroy my life or so irrevocably alter its course that it would never again be the same."

Maybe these were Miss Negri's thoughts? Maybe they read well in a movie magazine...either way, just fun :) A great card!

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

24.00 USD

Ernest Louis Desire Le Deley was a well known publisher of postcards in France from 1900 until 1930, when ELD went bankrupt. Thanks to the Metropolitan Postcard Club's publisher list (a fantastic information resource, link below), for this info.

http://www.metropostcard.com/publishersl.html

Beautiful long-haired model posing "en collant" (in body stocking). Lovely, subtle, hand coloration of the trompe l'oeil. This is a truly fine example of a risque body stocking image from the "naughty aughties." 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!

17.00 USD

Tending a garden in Faerie's borderlands has its benefits, to be sure. Provided you tie a few tiny silver bells in your raspberry canes, and put out a saucer of sweet milk every now and then, the fair folk will intervene with the rabbits and moles on your behalf, and see to it that the fruits of your labors are undisturbed by common meadow creatures. Furthermore, on that patch of ground, the growing season will last a little longer, and the Spring thaw come a little sooner.

And while you are yet a child, or for as long as you retain the heart of a child, the difference between fireflies and woodland sprites, as they dance and play among the iris and the bluebells, may easily be discerned by you. Even in Winter, rings of wild mushrooms will often appear. They will be tasty and plentiful, and you may fill a small basket whenever you like, without fear of incurring displeasure.

However, at the ripening of the ninth moon, when the queen sends forth her agents to exact a tribute in the form of whatever tasty provender she may desire, whether it be little, or all, you must be willing. And should you happen to meet her collectors while they are about their errands, you may smile and bow, and if your manners be elegant, they may leave a pearl in place of some parsley, or a golden ring where once grew a pleasant patch of sweet onion. Do not allow even a shadow of fear or resentment show in your expression, and by no means forget yourself to the extent that you make the sign of the new god, or utter his name, for should you be so careless, know that the woods will reclaim that garden plot within a fortnight, and that you will never again find welcome there.

As to this particular fairy's surname, the Queen chose it, not we, and if it points to an embarrassing family trait, we've seen no evidence of it. Even if we did, we would be certain not to notice.

Now you tell one :)

A very nice card of unidentified stage performer, published in Germany by the Neue Photographische Gesellschaft, and posted in 1906. Some wear to edges and corners.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

18.00 USD

Rose Caron (1857-1930), was an operatic soprano who made her debut in 1880 with great success. She enjoyed a long career, and at 47 years of age, made several recordings. We provide a link below to one. The sound quality is poor, but her voice is sweet and clear, and one can imagine how she sounded in her prime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7agu-nXMLY

Leopold Reutlinger made great use of his original images. Experimenting with new techniques, he took portraits he'd shot of artistes in the 1890s, which may have been produced as cartes de visite, or cabinet cards originally, and superimposed the original portrait onto decorative, Art Nouveau, sometimes quite surreal backgrounds he hoped would grab the public imagination at the time, and they did!

This card is a particularly fine example of one of his most beautiful Art Nouveau series, in which the pictured artistes are practically deified, which was a common thread running through theatrical portrait imagery of the time. The theatrical performer was magically transformed from an ordinary, though talented, human being, into a celestial goddess, woodland nymph, etc. We have to remember that photography was still a relatively new medium, and at the time this postcard was published, the "real photo" picture postcard was newer still, practically in its first decade of existence. This would have made images like this one seem truly magical to the everyday, uninitiated person!

Mlle. Caron was probably (or, at least appears to have been), still in her twenties or thirties at the time the original image used for this card was taken, but was close to 50 years old when this series was published, so it would seem Monsieur Reutlinger was getting some definite mileage out of his original portrait photograph :). At that time, many performers closely controlled production and sales of their postcard images, drawing sometimes considerable wealth from them in the process. Cleo de Merode, famed interpretive dancer and Belle Epoque postcard queen, was one of these canny business women. We don't know at this time whether or not Mlle. Caron received any additional income from these later Reutlinger montage images, but then, as now, any (or at least most) publicity, was good publicity.

Gorgeous card, in very nice, unposted condition, with minor foxing on the reverse side of the card and slight rounding of the 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

19.00 USD

Very nice publicity RPPC by Hakob Semerdjian, who operated the Phébus Studio on Boulevard Poissonniere in Paris.

Lovely costume, and a very nice print. These publicity RPPCs are by their nature rare items. On the face of things, they look very much like our usual theatrical star postcards, but being produced out of smaller studios, and often for purposes of advertizing the act (getting the word out) before the artiste becomes a star, they were always printed in very limited runs.

On the back of the card we see that Mlle. Starville has her name stamped, and either she, or possibly her agent, has added text to this.

At the upper border on the image side, notice that her name is quite beautifully written in white ink (partially worn away). This would have been done because the cost of printing an artiste's name on a postcard was really very prohibitive at that time except when done in much larger printing runs by the big printing and publishing houses.

Mr. Semerdjian, an Armenian who was born in the Ottoman Empire and had emigrated to Paris, was a well respected photographer in his community, and today is celebrated by Armenian historians. His Phébus studio almost certainly was connected to the studio of the same name, established in Constantinople in the 19th century by Boghos Tarkulian another famous Armenian photographer. Our fourth and fifth listing images are a close up of first, the embossed studio name on our card, and then, the printed studio name of the Phébus Studio in Constantinople as it appears on a 19th century cabinet card. The font similarity pretty much dispels any doubt of a connection between the two studios.

This also brings up a favorite insight of ours that we have gained over our time researching these wonderful photographs, their subjects, photographers and publishers, which is that so many of them, photographers in particular, came out of segments of their populations which were of somewhat disenfranchised ethnic, religious, or in the case of women, gender, groups. We have found this to be a really thrilling bit of history.

In those old days, European Jews, women, and in the Ottoman Empire, certainly Armenians, were often limited in their ability to take part in many areas of employment. In the arts, for example, guild systems that limited membership by tradition, often made it impossible for people out of those sidelined groups to be apprenticed, to learn, and certainly to sell their work.

What we find exciting is the idea that when photography appeared in the 19th century it was new, revolutionary, and "traditionalists" in the arts, sciences and industry, did not at first value it enough to take it for themselves, so what happened?

Artists and intellectuals out of these sidelined groups found in photography an area wide open to them, not so bound up by rules, prejudices and traditions keeping them out, and so made it their own, thereby enriching it tremendously! Isn't that terribly romantic? :)

Anyway...a very nice RPPC. 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

Joly Violetta was a popular dancer. Popular, because Herr Gerlach made this portrait of her in his Berlin studio (no small thing, that). In faint text in the upper left corner, we see the name Carmen. Perhaps she was an opera singer too? But if you look at our fourth listing image you will see a rubber stamp imprint from the back of another card of hers we sold a few years ago, clearly marketing her as a hoofer. Maybe she was known for a "Carmen" dance. We also know she traveled to America, and that in March of 1909 (the same year this particular card was posted, by the way), in her first American performance, she danced on the stage of the St. Paul Minnesota Orpheum Theater. For a 25 cent matinee ticket you could have seen her, along with a host of other vaudevillian troupers, including the headliner for the event, a Mr. Will Rogers!

Clearly she was a looker. What a gorgeous image. Beautifully hand-colored. Wonderful Gypsy costume.
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

Classic beauty Else Wohlgemuth 1881-1972 (also Wolgemuth) was an important German stage actress. Born in Berlin, and debuting there onstage, she eventually settled in Vienna, where performing classic lead female roles (Electra, Joan of Arc, etc.) she became a regular player at the Burg Theatre in that city.

Her career in Austria was cut short in 1938, following the Anschluss, or annexation of Austria by Germany just prior to WWII, and was banned from performing in public until 1945, when she returned to the stage and remained a part of that company until 1959. There is nothing in her history we found concerning arrest or imprisonment following the Anschluss, so probably she was not Jewish, but more likely, as with so many artists involved in theater and film in Germany and Austria of the 1930s, she may have spoken out against Nazi politics, or been of assistance to friends in the entertainment industry who were Jewish, actions which often resulted in being banned from performing, or worse.

She died and was buried in Vienna, in 1972.

It is always a great pleasure having her images in our shop. This one is from early in her career, while she was still onstage in Berlin. One of the treats her images often offer us are examples of Art Nouveau, or "Jugendstil" costume design, and this image is no exception. Look closely at the collar affixed to her gown, and the really marvelous Jugendstil flower embroidery! Wow!

An exceptional image, with minor wear and rounding of the 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!

16.00 USD

The beautiful Marthe Régnier (1880-1967) made her stage debut in 1901, was a respected member of the Comédie Francaise, was married to French play-write Abel Tarride, mistress to the Baron Henri de Rothschild and appeared in motion pictures from the early 1910s into the early 1940s.

Wonderful portrait by Leopold Reutlinger and one of our favorite images of her in fine, unposted condition.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

33.00 USD

Autographed Card, Viennese Silent Film Star, Lilly Flohr, circa 1920s

Viennese actress Lilly Flohr (1902-?) was a very popular silent film star in the 1920s. Here we see this charming lady costumed in a traditional peasant costume. Published by Hermann Leiser of Berlin.

With the 1930s, came Herr Hitler and his thugs. Fraulein Flohr was Jewish, and when in the '30s she was forbidden the right to work in Germany and her position in Austria looked less and less workable, she emigrated, along with a large population of Jewish refugees, to Shanghai, China.

We can't find much regarding her history during that period in her life. Shanghai was a pretty tough old town at that time. Political upheaval, rival criminal gangs struggling for supremacy, and in 1937, when Japan made war on China, times got even tougher. Fraulein Flohr was admired for her courage and talent within the refugee community, and is remembered for performing in community theater and also as a singer at the "Elite Club," a nightspot in old Shanghai. There the trail ends, at least for now. We find no death notices, and she may have been one of the countless displaced and disappeared people that wars inevitably produce.

Very cute card in nice 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!

19.00 USD

We found a small cache of 1920's Ross Verlag postcards depicting scenes from Fritz Lang's German Expressionist film masterpiece "Die Nibelungen" and so we've created a temporary section to show off these wonderful cards.

Also, below are three Youtube links to the film. The first (as indicated) offers English subtitles and combines parts one (Siegfried) and two (Kriemhild's Revenge), but the print quality is a little poor.

The two links below that one are for parts one and two separately, offer no English subs, but are the magnificent restoration version accomplished by the F.W. Murnau Society in 2010. For this restoration, a photo-chemical rather than digital process was employed, resulting in something as close to the original film-goer's experience as possible.

If you're not a German speaker (reader) this requires some dedication and focus on context, to say nothing of an almost five hour time investment! But do check it out for a few minutes at least. It's truly gorgeous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TnXruo9FlQ (English Subtitles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNa74OevW_c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jhb2mjjx-E (photo-chemical restoration)

Lang's "Die Nibelungen" was based on the 13th century (or earlier) epic poem, the Nibelungenlied, and is often, though shouldn't be, confused with Wagner's "Ring Cycle." Wagner certainly drew upon the Nibelungenlied as one of his sources, but the stories really aren't the same. The film's script was written by Thea von Harbou, a screen writer, novelist and actress.

Thea von Harbou and Lang were a married couple incidentally, and were also the writer and director of the German Expressionist classic "Metropolis" in 1927 and the chilling "M" in '31.

Fritz Lang was one of many in the German film industry who left Germany after the Nazis came to power. He went on to direct films in Hollywood, some of which are now classics in the "Film Noir" genre. (Our favorite of those we've seen is definitely "The Big Heat." Awesome movie! )

Each of these cards is in really very nice condition! Spectacular!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

24.00 USD

Rita Sacchetto (born Margherita Sacchetto) in 1880 (sometimes a year or two earlier, depending on source), Munich, Germany, was the daughter of a Venetian painter and an Austrian woman. (Our online sources must have drawn their information from the same fount, since they all refer to Fraulein Sacchetto's mother simply as "an Austrian woman" and much as we'd like to, we can't improve on this :)

As the story goes, her decision to become a dancer immediately followed her seeing a performance by Isadora Duncan, in 1902.

Apparently she studied hard, and three years later, in 1905, she made her debut performance at the Münchner Künstlerhaus.

We think it's very much worth noting that in Fraulein Sacchetto we have not so much one of the early pioneers of that modern, interpretive solo work that changed the way the west looked at dance, but rather one of the early inheritors of that popular movement.

The notion that a woman in her early twenties would suddenly decide to become a dancer, take lessons for three years, and then embark on a career in dance, would have been unthinkable a few decades before, but by 1902, the way had been opened by dancers like Loie Fuller and Isadora Duncan.

Like Fuller, Duncan, Mata Hari of course, and yes, Cleo de Merode too, Rita Sacchetto developed an "angle," or schtick, if you will, that her audiences responded to with enthusiasm. We don't for a moment intend to slight the effort, talent and imagination involved in the process, but point out that in moving away from what many of these modern dancers considered to be the stifling atmosphere and constraints of the long established companies and traditions, the solo interpretists approached the art of dance from a "popular," or "populist," perhaps even "proletariat" direction! We can't forget that these dancers were very well aware of just how "revolutionary" some of their work was. Think of Isadora Duncan and her long red scarf.

Rita Sacchetto called her dances Tanzbilder (literally dance pictures), in the tradition of the already popular Tableaux Vivants, in which, using carefully arranged sets, she performed scenes from famous works of art, making those paintings, already loved by much of her audience, come alive through movement and music.

She was very successful internationally, was brought to the Met in New York by Loie Fuller, appreciated by artists like Gustav Klimt, collaborated with designers like Paul Poiret in Paris and also starred in a number of early silent films in the 1910s.

Our card's image was produced by one of the many successful woman photographers of the time, Marie Reiser, a talented portraitist of Prague. Photography was a relatively new art form and as a profession, because it was not closely guarded by century old guild rules, was a wide open field, unrestricted and welcoming to anyone, including women, and Jews. Marie Reiser was both.

We discovered in a genealogical post online that tragically, sometime after Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, Mme. Reiser (if it was the same Marie Reiser which seems likely) was deported to the death camp Treblinka, where she, along with countless other victims, was murdered by the Nazis.

A gorgeous photo of a gifted artist, by a gifted artist. Very nice 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!

24.00 USD

Rita Sacchetto (born Margherita Sacchetto) in 1880 (sometimes a year or two earlier, depending on source), Munich, Germany, was the daughter of a Venetian painter and an Austrian woman. (Our online sources must have drawn their information from the same fount, since they all refer to Fraulein Sacchetto's mother simply as "an Austrian woman" and much as we'd like to, we can't improve on this :)

As the story goes, her decision to become a dancer immediately followed her seeing a performance by Isadora Duncan, in 1902.

Apparently she studied hard, and three years later, in 1905, she made her debut performance at the Münchner Künstlerhaus.

We think it's very much worth noting that in Fraulein Sacchetto we have not so much one of the early pioneers of that modern, interpretive solo work that changed the way the west looked at dance, but rather one of the early inheritors of that popular movement.

The notion that a woman in her early twenties would suddenly decide to become a dancer, take lessons for three years, and then embark on a career in dance, would have been unthinkable a few decades before, but by 1902, the way had been opened by dancers like Loie Fuller and Isadora Duncan.

Like Fuller, Duncan, Mata Hari of course, and yes, Cleo de Merode too, Rita Sacchetto developed an "angle," or schtick, if you will, that her audiences responded to with enthusiasm. We don't for a moment intend to slight the effort, talent and imagination involved in the process, but point out that in moving away from what many of these modern dancers considered to be the stifling atmosphere and constraints of the long established companies and traditions, the solo interpretists approached the art of dance from a "popular," or "populist," perhaps even "proletariat" direction! We can't forget that these dancers were very well aware of just how "revolutionary" some of their work was. Think of Isadora Duncan and her long red scarf.

Rita Sacchetto called her dances Tanzbilder (literally dance pictures), in the tradition of the already popular Tableaux Vivants, in which, using carefully arranged sets, she performed scenes from famous works of art, making those paintings, already loved by much of her audience, come alive through movement and music.

She was very successful internationally, was brought to the Met in New York by Loie Fuller, appreciated by artists like Gustav Klimt, collaborated with designers like Paul Poiret in Paris and also starred in a number of early silent films in the 1910s.

A gorgeous photo of a gifted artist. Very nice 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!