18.00 USD

Wish we'd received this in for May day! Lovely hand-coloration on this barely risque French postcard, circa 1904.

Why 1904? Check out the text on the obverse of the card:

"Tous les pays etrangere n'acceptent pas la correspondance au recto se renseigner a la poste,"

which translates (more or less) as, "Not all foreign countries accept correspondence on this side of the card. Inquire at post office."

After England first introduced the divided back postcard in late 1902, an arrangement that allowed for text messages, or even advertisements, in the section to the left of the recipient's address, other nations followed suit, but slowly. Though France began allowing divided back cards in 1904, the United States, for example, didn't allow them until 1906. So the text on our card warned the sender of this limitation. In 1904 or 1905, the text would have made good sense, and also helps us establish a tentative date of publication.

What would have happened if in 1904 we'd sent this card from France to a friend in America? Well, it might have had an "added postage" tariff stamp slapped onto it (an added fee charged to the recipient upon delivery. Not very classy if sending a postcard to a sweetheart, for instance :), or possibly the card would simply have been tossed into the waste basket by one of those "by the numbers" postal clerks they had long ago. Thank goodness we don't have any of those nowadays (wink).

This card is so bright and cheerful, evocative of the era, and just a little weird, don't you think? All of which makes it lots of fun :) Added bonus? Near pristine 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!

22.00 USD

Superb cabaret dance image made by Gebr, Garloff (the Garloff Brothers) of Magdeburg in Saxony, Germany.
Unfortunately we have no history yet on Miss Maurus.

Very nice 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!lilian harvey

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!

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!

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

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!

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 :)

16.00 USD

Charming card! Great costumes and faces. The costumes actually remind us a lot of some worn by German ice skating troupes we've seen images of, and we don't know anything about this troupe or their act. The card was printed in Munich, which is a little unusual for us to find, Berlin being a much more common place of origin. But then this is a pre-"Golden Age" postcard, and the geography of that industry hadn't really taken shape yet as it would over the following decade.

Also on the obverse of the card we have a very nice unfranked Bavarian 5 pfennig stamp. It isn't of any great value, but is in beautiful condition, and certainly adds interest and mood making the card even more of a "time machine" item :)

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!

115.00 USD

Anna Pavlova (1881-1931), prima ballerina of the Imperial Russian Ballet and Diaghilev's Ballet Russes, needs little introduction. She is possibly the most famous of all Russian dancers and perhaps best known for her performance of "The Dying Swan," a ballet solo that was choreographed for her by dancer/choreographer Michel Fokine in 1907.

This wonderful card offers us an image of her costumed for that role. Printed in Berlin by Verlag Hermann Leiser, this particular card was one exported for distribution in England to Augener and Company Ltd. of London.

In the stamp box on the card's obverse, we see the imprint of the Neue Bromsilber Convention, a price and quality control group set up in Germany in 1909. This allows us to date our card to sometime between 1909 and 1914, at which point World War One halted export of German printed postcards to England, and incidentally brought down the curtain not only on the picture postcard's "Golden Era," but also the era known in France as La Belle Epoque.

A superb card in near-fine condition with only very minor wear to edges and 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 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!

70.00 USD

Anna Pavlova (1881-1931), prima ballerina of the Imperial Russian Ballet and Diaghilev's Ballet Russes, needs little introduction. She is possibly the most famous of all Russian dancers and perhaps best known for her performance of "The Dying Swan," a ballet solo that was choreographed for her by dancer/choreographer Michel Fokine in 1907.

We read a review in "The Musical Courier," November, 1921, of Pavlova's performance in New York of the Dragonfly, a short ballet she choreographed for herself, to music by Fritz Kreisler. Of course the performance was received with "tumultuous applause."

This card's image, though unattributed, may have been photographed by Hermann Mishkin of New York. We've seen other images of Pavlova as Dragonfly signed by Mishkin, who was incidentally known for the dreamy background flats he used for portraits in his studio. It was published by Ross Verlag.

A wonderful find, though a bit rounded at 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 not charge for postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

22.00 USD

How cute is this Pierrette? Love the tuft of hair popping out of her beanie :) The photographer Robert Boivin apparently got started in Paris right around 1890 and seems to have kept himself fairly busy. He was certainly no Reutlinger or Walery, but for a humble portraitist with a small studio along the Boulevard Poissonniere, one who it seems was having trouble getting the cash together to buy a new drop cloth, see what a lively response he was able to draw out of this client! I've never done any portrait photography, but surely that must be half the battle. Charming, charming 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!

11.00 USD

This card was posted in Budapest, in 1918.

If you've never run across this biblical tale, Judith was a woman from the city of Bethulia--a great hero among those women whose stories are told in the bible.

An Assyrian general named Holofernes, in command of a great army, was bent upon the destruction of her besieged city, but Judith devised a plan. Accompanied only by a single female servant, she dressed herself in the sexiest way possible and passed through the city gates. She then managed to get herself captured by the Assyrians.

Holofernes, finding Judith much to his liking, called her to his tent intending to have his way with her, but keeping her virtue intact, she got him drunk instead and cut off his head, with his own sword no less, thereby saving her city and bringing about the downfall of the Assyrians!
Not only that, but she and her servant returned to Bethulia unscathed, with the head of Holofernes and told the tale to the city elders.

We believe an artiste named Germaine Rose, whom we've encountered on other postcards, posed for this image of Judith, though sometimes, instead of being titled Judith, this same image on other cards bears the text, "La Danse du Sabre," turning the image into a contemporary orientalist image and shaking off the biblical reference.
This illustrates the way in which canny publishers sometimes marketed the same postcard image to different audiences, a sexy dance image on the one hand, and on the other hand, an image designed to inspire patriotic fervor during dark times. (see link to our Danse du Sabre card below) Either way, a great image :)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159216557/la-danse-du-sabre-belle-epoque-artiste?ref=shop_home_active_23

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

22.00 USD

Wonderfully detailed lingerie image for you fashion historians. We're certainly not experts on late 19th, early 20th century lingerie though dealing in the antique postcards we do, we dabble, but what our model is removing certainly seems to be a very early girdle that is almost a hybrid of the girdle and corset.

1. What appears to be the modesty panel in the chair to the model's left, is, we believe, more often associated with the corset than the girdle.

2. The cloth strips extending down from the waist to the thighs were not typical of the corset, but of the later girdle, no?

3. One of the girdle's features, we thought, was to slim the thighs, whereas this one is still clearly limited to waist-slimming as were most corsets.

In any case, a great image, but if you can share some insight into this gal's lingerie, please do! Sharing historical info with us that we later use in a listing (provided we didn't already have the information), earns the helpful visitor a one time 20% "scholar's discount." Red Poulaine is your shop too, after all. If not for you, we wouldn't be here!

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!

22.00 USD

Published by Photochemie of Berlin circa 1906 (the year Germany began using divided back postcards) the more we look at this one, the more we love it. It is as if the young woman, by taking up her pen and writing whatever it is she writes, is giving birth to a fantasy realm that is rubbing up against the mundane to the degree that the "real" world begins to take on aspects of the fantastic! So very cool :) Posted in Berlin in 1907.

Though it hardly fits, we'll list this under "risque" because it is technically one of those boudoir/lingerie images that were considered risque at the time.
Lovely posted condition with writing on the back in a beautiful hand that serves to boost the atmosphere! Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

Love the color on this one! Fun Jugendstil boudoir image printed in chromolithograph on this early 1900s German postcard. Prior to 1906, postcards used in Germany were printed without that central vertical line separating the backs of postcards into two sections, the left hand section for messages and the right for the address.

At that time (prior to 1906), no writing outside of the address was allowed on the backside of postcards posted in Germany and all personal messages needed to be written on the image side.

So you see, since this particular card was printed prior to 1906 for use in Germany, it was not printed with the vertical line in the center, but because it was posted in 1906, after the regulations had been changed, the sender wanted to write their message on the back just the same, so what did they do? They drew a vertical line on the card to make everything ship shape!

Enough postcard geekery, I guess :)

This old card is in nice posted condition, though rather rounded and rubbed at 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 not charge for postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

22.00 USD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks as always to Wikipedia!

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

6.00 USD

Wonderful image that shows very directly a renaissance "effect," or accessory, of the sort that was common in "Art Nouveau" fashion. We can't be certain if the beaded netting is directly sewn onto the bodice, or if the netting, collar, etc., are simply slipped on and tacked into place, which would make good sense from the costumer's, or dresser's perspective. We could definitely see this being done very well by some crafty Etsyenne!
A very nice card, posted in 1910. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

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

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

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

14.00 USD

Really lovely contrast and tone on this one! Published by DIX, circa 1910s we are guessing. Could have been printed a little earlier, or later. Though we haven't found the evidence yet, we are wondering if DIX, like REX, was another publishing label of Papeterie de Levallois-Clichy, otherwise known as P-C Paris.
A truly lovely card, in any case. 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!

11.00 USD

Lovely hand-tinting on this image of the artiste Romanitza. On the back of the card is the text: "Imprimeries Réunies de Nancy" which translates as the "School of Nancy." This was a convention, or cartel, of postcard printers established in Nancy, France, around 1905 by Albert Bergeret, the acknowledged "father" of the French postcard.
Nancy is a city in the Moselle, or Lorraine, region of France.
A very nice 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, 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!