36.00 USD

Jean Agelou and his brother George made use of a number of postcard logos throughout their careers. Apparently this GP logo was one of them. Indeed we've found cards out of commonly JA Paris marked series also tagged with this GP logo.

A particularly fun bit of "insider" info: It has been suggested that if you look at the GP logo a little cross-eyed, the dark negative space within the white GP initials takes the shape of JA! Try it! Are we having a "Paul is Dead" moment? I know I am :)

Great image. We love this model. The scene is set beautifully and we just never get tired of the infinite varieties of garters stockings and shoes :)

Hmm...you know, when we get home, the first thing off is the shoes! Why is it that these Fin de Siecle French gals always seem to leave them for last? Any idea?

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 superb image, by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, of an unidentified artiste in costume greque. Brilliant coloration. This young woman is very familiar, but escapes identification, darn it!
In addition to the whole Greek goddess look, she offers us a kind of "pre-flapper" look as well. Even in the early 1910s women began cutting their hair shorter. Wigs designed in the shape of buns gained popularity among young women who, wearing them, could maintain the more traditional look and style of the decade, while cutting their hair short and embracing the future!

On the reverse side of the card, you can find the words, "Papier Radium Brom," which translates as Radium Bromide Paper.

The photo-card process at the time of this card's printing, made use of light sensitive metallic salts that, held suspended in a gelatinous layer on the surface of the photo print card stock, reacted to light shown through a negative plate, thereby producing a photographic print. By far, the most commonly used metallic salt was (still is, we believe) bromide of silver.

Less commonly used, radium bromide is a byproduct of the separation of radium from uranium ore. Yes, it is technically radioactive, but fear not, this card does not glow in the dark :) Nor does it cause a geiger counter to produce all sorts of exciting clicky noises. (we actually borrowed one from a friend, to test the first several cards of this type we acquired :)

Photo print paper that was treated with radium bromide though, does seem to cause the color tinting on these cards to "pop" in its own particular, and lovely, way.

This card was produced in Berlin, by Photochemie, but probably for sale in France. This was common during that golden era of the picture postcard, when Germany was really the technological, and therefore production, center of the industry up until the First World War in 1914.

Such wonderful condition on this card! Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

36.00 USD

In 1927 they became known around the world as "The Three Musketeers." These intrepid adventurers, from left to right, were Catherine Robbins, Hilda M. Kurth and Kathleen Norris. Robbins and Kurth were 25-year-old schoolteachers, and Norris was only 18, having just graduated from high school. They made international news and achieved way more than that "15 minutes of fame" we hear so much about, as the first women alone to hike the entire Green Mountain Trail, beginning in Mass. and ending in Vermont. They did this, a 27 day long hike, "without male escort, or firearms" which was seen as very courageous back then!

This is an original photograph, a press photo in fact, used by a newspaper for an article on these three gals back in 1927. The paper affixed to the back of the photograph reminds the newspaper editor to credit the photo agency if they use the image.

Photo is a very frameable large format with an interior image size of approx. 9 and 3/4 by 7 inches. As you can see, it has no left hand border, and there are various bends and minor creasings, also a little rippling at the edges. This would have been used by the newspaper, and then it seems it was carelessly shoved into a file cabinet to languish for decades before being discovered. A wonderful piece of history.

We'll ship this in a padded envelope with interior support.

9.00 USD

I don't know if any of our visitors who drop by and read this were ever involved in community theater...our kids were, and sometimes there were highly talented costumers creating wonders for the plays they performed in, but never anything quite this fine. The effect, the hair, the cloth for the individual costumes, the metal work, but even more really, the feeling that everything is just as it should be...wow! Unfortunately, we really have no way of dating this card, though it feels like the twenties to us, but it could be a bit older, or more likely, newer...maybe the 30s? Anyway, a wonderful collection of costumed young people, and what feels to us like a fine piece of reference material for a costumer, no?.
There is a tiny spot of blue ink, and another of brown, otherwise a very 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, 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!

9.00 USD

Great Reutlinger image of one of our favorite Belle Époque dancers, Mlle. Lucy Gerard. This image has received a classic Art Nouveau treatment in which Mlle. Gerard was separated from the background by white space and decorative designs were added, including a diagonal ribbon and a turned up corner. Lots of fun, and very typical of the Belle Époque era.

Leopold Reutlinger was a prolific photographer with a wide range of subjects who was very respected in the field of photography. His images included artistic sets and costumes, as seen here, portraits of theatrical performers and the cream of society, and advertising shots. By the time this image was taken, circa 1900 and definitely before 1904 when divided backs came into use, Leopold Reutlinger had been the proprietor of Reutlinger Studio for about ten years; the studio itself, however, had been in existence far longer, having been founded by Leopold's uncle, Charles Reutlinger and passed through Emile Reutlinger, Charles' brother and Leopold's father, before coming to Leopold.

*******

This is a sweet unposted card with minor wear to edges and corners. There is a noticable crease in the bottom left corner. 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!

19.00 USD

Gorgeous image of Marietta Ricotti, belle epoque actress. in "costume de Bakot" (Bakot is a location in what is now Pakistan, at the base of the Himalayas--basically, we take this to mean that she is in maharaja-like costume). Wonderful turban!

"Le Soupçon," is pronounced kind of like soup-soh, which in this context might mean "the "suspicion," or like a little "hint" of something, as in " I have a soupçon this postcard seller might be about to tell us a story." The production, "Le Soupçon," was a pantomime entertainment (pantomimes were extremely popular in that period) choreographed by Georges Wague, with music by Albert Chantrier.

One interesting thing about this card beyond the image itself is that the photographer, Stanislaus Julian Walery, is, as we can tell by the text on the reverse, acting as his own publisher. We haven't run across that before. We're dating this card a little later than many of our Walery music hall/cafe-concert images, in part because Walery appears to have published it which just feels to us like something that came later, but also because most of the references to Wague and Chantrier productions we've run across are placed in the early 1910s.
Mlle Ricotti had gorgeous, waist-length hair that is not shown to its best advantage in this image.

Wonderful card, and not one we've come across before. 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!

14.00 USD

Great image! Horizontal line high up on face of card is our naughty scanner acting up. Sorry.
No publisher, photographer, or artiste attribution. Might be an RPPC? Note the name Loredana handwritten on the reverse. No searches there bore any fruit either, so a nice mystery card in nice unposted condition, with 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!

36.00 USD

Wonderful white garters over black stockings!!! This is such a classic "french" postcard. The word french in this context, like "french" bread, sometimes remains uncapitalized by us when referring to these early 1900s nude and risque images (particularly if the card itself was not actually produced in France). Here in the USA at least, "french postcard" was a common term in the early 1900s and beyond, for nude or risque postcard images whether they originated in France, or not. This probably came about as a result of American soldiers returning home from service in France during WWI, with risque postcards tucked into their "old kit bag" that they'd picked up as souvenirs in Paris while on leave. That being said, this is also most certainly a "French" postcard :)

Jean Agelou is practically notorious for his risque and erotic postcard images of the early 1900s. Born in Alexandria Egypt to French parents in 1878, he was active as a photographer in France from at least the early 1900s.

He and his brother George produced "legitimate" work as well, and though we've read in a few places that George was not himself the photographer, but only handled the business end of their partnership, we've come across plenty of cards with the identifying logo "G A Paris" (G for George rather than J for Jean) and also a few marked Cliché George Agelou which might suggest that George took a more active role in the actual photography than is sometimes supposed, even perhaps striking out on his own for a time.

Jean Agelou and his brother George both died in an automobile accident in 1921.
A great card. 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 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

Gorgeous Belle Epoque/Jugendstil chromolitho postcard, beautifully embossed. Wonderful fantasy image. Card definitely shows a bit of wear and a little foxing, but captures the era so beautifully!

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!

29.00 USD

This is not a postcard, but a CDV (carte de visite), with the interior image measuring approx. 2 and 1/4 inches by 3 and 1/2 inches. Despite its size, you can see how fine the resolution is on this photograph.

Probably made before 1880, this portrait is of an artiste named Sanseron. Unfortunately, we haven't found any history on her. What a lovely theater image, though.

The photograph was taken by Charles Reutlinger, a German Jew who was born Carl Reutlinger, in Germany, in 1816. He was the founder of a dynasty of celebrity photographers that flourished in Paris for almost 90 years.

Having moved from Germany where he'd produced ​​daguerreotypes in the 1840s, he opened a studio in Paris in about 1850. He was later joined by his younger brother Émile Reutlinger (1825-1907), and then toward the end of his life, by his brother's son Leopold-Émile, who moved from his birthplace in Callao, Peru to Paris to join his father and uncle in the business, in the early 1880s.

It is Leopold Émile Reutlinger (usually called simply Leopold Reutlinger) with whom our customers will be most familiar, since we have sold probably hundreds of his beautiful postcards out of our shop.

Leopold Émile Reutlinger eventually took over the studio from his father, and then Jean, Leopold's son also entered the trade, but died in WWI, in 1914, so the dynasty ended with Leopold, in 1937.

That was a good bit of history for a single listing, but we thought it might be worthwhile to put this little jewel of a photograph into proper perspective.

The corners were clipped, probably having something to do with storage in an album or a tiny gilded frame. Otherwise, very nice condition.
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 not charge for postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

26.00 USD

Litho? Just lovely. 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 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

Au Bord du Puits, or At the Well, a truly lovely image of a young woman drawing water. This is an unidentified photogravure of actress Lilian Greuze by Reutlinger of Paris, and one of five cards out of a series of probably six, that we recently acquired for the shop.

After initially listing this card, we were contacted by one of our wonderful customers with the information that the model in this image is none other than Mlle. Lilian (also Lillian) Greuze, French stage actress, model, and later, film actress. We have no bio on her unfortunately, but we know she was associated with both Sarah (la Divine) Bernhardt, and Polaire, appeared in several silent films, and went on to appear in the talkies as well, into the 1930s!

The "woman at the well" as a theme, can easily be counted as its own sub-genre of picture postcards. Though perhaps not as collectible today as Pierrot or paper moon images, at the time this card was printed the "woman at the well" was a theme that resonated deeply.

Though technology and industry were moving forward with lightning speed by the year 1900, it was more part and parcel of the urban experience. Village life was still, in many places, not terribly different for the average villager than it had been a hundred years before.

Indoor plumbing was not the norm (actually even in the 1970s, in the USA, though the "village well" may have been a forgotten fixture of the past, indoor plumbing was still a stranger to many rural American households) and the village, or shared, well in turn of the century France was, as it had always been, an important gathering place, a hub of village life.

In addition to those ancient mythical concepts of the well as a source of life, of wisdom, and so on, there is also a common association of the water jug, urn or vase, with womanhood, motherhood, and fertility. Add to that the fact that the well was often that place in the village where a young man or woman might first have begun a shy courtship with their future mate, and it is no wonder this theme was so very popular.
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

Probably printed in 1900 0r 1901, this "Private Mailing Card" was mailed in 1902 to Constantinople.

Private Mailing Cards when introduced in 1898 represented a major change in American postcard publishing. Prior to this point, the federal government had enjoyed a monopoly on the printing of all postcards in the US, but following this act of congress, these postcards could be published by companies in the private sector. Government regulations stipulated that the cards needed to be about a quarter inch narrower (5 and 1/2 by 3 and 1/4, instead of 3 and 1/2), and that the "Private Mailing Card" text (as seen on the back of this card) be printed on all of them. This, in addition to lowering the cost of mailing such cards to one penny, even when personal messages were written on the cards, opened up the postcard trade in the USA and encouraged a boom in picture postcard production and collectibility.

Do notice that although this card was published by an American company, it was printed in Germany. This would be the case with the vast majority of high quality picture postcards up until 1914 and the beginning of WWI.

Florodora was a Broadway musical production imported from London's west end that opened in the year 1900 at the Casino Theater on East 39th Street. It was a huge hit that ran for over 500 showings into 1902.

This card offers us an image of the original six American "Florodora Girls," who created quite a stir with their aura of charm, grace, and innocence. In fact, they became the real stars of the show, stealing it from the leads.

Why then were these six actresses replaced in the line-up, and over the course of the show's run more than 70 girls needed to perform in this sextette? Well, it was because throngs of wealthy men kept proposing to them, marrying them, and carrying them off, requiring sudden replacements in the cast. Seriously.

A myth has arisen surrounding the first six Florodoras, that all six of them met and married millionaires while under contract at the Casino Theater. Though this is not strictly true, at least a few of them did exactly that (who knows how many of the next 70 did also), and all of the original six wound up being very comfortably wealthy indeed, apparently as a direct result of their association with the show.

The six originals, as pictured on our card, were from left to right Margaret Walker, Daisy Greene (who was only 15 on opening night), Vaughn Tex-smith, Marjorie Relyea, Agnes Wayburn, and Marie Wilson.

In the process of researching this card, we ran across a site offering some quotes from a review of the show on opening night. The review describes the show, in so many words, as scandalous, immoral, offensive and deserving the attention of the police! The problem here is that the site we visited quoted a review of the wrong show, a review that happened to have been printed on the same page of the paper as the review of Florodora. We only mention this in case some of our more curious friends do further research and run into the same review repeated elsewhere. These Florodora Girls were popular in part because of their very sweet, chaste, and winsome (what exactly is "winsome," anyway? jk :) appearance and behavior, and probably never showed more than an inch of ankle during their graceful promenades before the footlights. Apparently very little was required of them beyond this--certainly nothing that would have compromised their reputations.

We hoped to contact the site's manager to point out the error, but weren't able to. Oh well, just another example of how important it is to double check information gleaned on the web, a lesson we've learned more than once (oh, how it stings), and one that keeps us on our toes, we hope :)

For more details on Florodora, follow the link below to a great post from which we drew much of our information!

http://vitaphone.blogspot.com/2007/02/are-there-any-more-at-home-like-you.html

This card definitely shows some wear, but is a wonderful piece of history that would fit beautifully into an American Theatrical, Broadway, or Gilded Age, card collection.

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 love this dancer! Signorina De Dio almost always looks as if she's wandering around in a permanent state of bliss :) One out of a great series by Gerlach of Berlin, probably circa 1907. If so, this would have been published a year or so before her American tour. The Pittsburgh Index describes her as "sylph-like." (love that :) Apparently she debuted at the Grand Theater in Pittsburgh PA in 1908, billed as De Dio the Fire Dancer! Wish we'd been there!

Lovely card in lovely 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

Remarkably beautiful costume! Gorgeous turban, and that velvet vest! Just lovely.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

18.00 USD

Great couples romance image starring one of our very favorite nude models whose career definitely reached back at least to the late 1910s. One of her professional names may have been Mireille, or "miracle," and she is almost always recognizable by her smile and, with no offense intended (because we do love her), her goofy, ever-unmanageable hair! :)

So here she is, at least ten years after her time posing in her birthday suit on Moroccan carpets with hookas and all bedangled with bedazzling beads and ibis crowns, now dressed in very ordinary attire out on a hot date with a well-dressed man!

Another thing is that many of these so-called glamor shots of the 1920s came out of really big commercial studios that sold the images first to fashion magazines to advertize the latest styles, and later used them as postcards like this one.

So we've often wondered, if WE, nearly a hundred years later, recognize her easily with her clothes on, how did the French postcard buyer feel about a "Happy New Year" card featuring one of the most ubiquitous nude postcard models? It would seem she hadn't suffered from type casting!

Finally, and we've mentioned this before, wouldn't it be fun to compile a collection of the more recognizable nude postcard models of the period, but fully clothed? Sheer irony :)

Anyhow, lots of fun, in nice posted condition with minor wear and what looks like a tiny scratch on the man's face that the scan shows off marvelously, but that in person, is barely noticeable. 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

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

Lilian Harvey could play sexy, or sweet, or sweet and sexy, but never particularly vampy, or at least not that we've seen. Mostly known as a musical comedy star, she filled a place in late Weimar era Germany that actresses like Ruby Keeler filled in the US during that period of economic and cultural depression when people badly needed a bright and happy, optimistic character to cheer them through the tough times. The roles she played provided a necessary contrast to the often dark, "femme fatale" characters played by other German actresses of the same period, like the great Marlene Dietrich.

Miss Harvey led a fascinating life. She was born to an English mother and a German father in 1906, in London, but by the time WWI broke out, she was living with her family in Germany. She became a successful singer, dancer, and silent film actress in Vienna and Germany, made the transition to the talkies easily, and actually starred opposite Laurence Olivier in his film debut, an English version of a very successful German film called Hokuspokus in which she'd played the leading lady.

She was one of those people of conscience who though happy to play a part for her movie-going audience, was unwilling to act as a puppet for the state. In the late 1930s, after having been closely watched by the Gestapo for years as a result of her close associations with Jewish friends and politically dissident associates, she went out on a limb for one of them who'd been arrested, managed his release, and after his escape from Germany, she was pretty much forced out of the country herself and forced to leave her substantial fortune behind. Please read the Wikipedia article for so much more!!!

Below is a link to Youtube, and a clip from the film Die Drei von der Tankstelle (The Three from the Gas Station), a very popular musical produced in 1930, that will give you an idea of Fraulein Harvey's charms. Playing opposite her is Oskar Karlweis, a popular song and dance man of the 20s and 30s, who like so many others, was forced to flee Germany when Hitler came to power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri0sPJV3NGI

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

Beautiful Young Japanese Woman in Kimono, circa 1907
Unusual card! We don't often see the monochrome tint cards until the 1920s on French postcards, and this does appear to be a French postcard, printed in Japan...sort of a Japanese/French postcard. We do see what looks like an "07" written on the left side of the card's obverse, and coincidentally, an important treaty was signed between France and Japan in that same year.

Japan and France enjoyed warm relations for many years following that signing. The first airplane flights (shortly thereafter) in Japan were supported by French technology, and trade relations and military agreements were highly productive for both nations (for Indochina, now Vietnam, not so much).

Notice that the back of this card is divided with an area of 1/3 on the left side for personal messages or advertizing. This particular division dates this card to between 1907 and 1918. Just a little Japanese postcard trivia for ya :)

Notice that we didn't title this card "something" Geisha? It's a little personal bugbear of ours. This lovely young woman was Japanese. She wears a kimono. She was not any more likely to be a geisha than an anonymous western woman photographed in a pretty dress was likely to be an entertainer, film actress, or bartender! Okay, rant over :)

Impressions left by album corners are evident particularly in the top corners. A wonderful card!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

24.00 USD

The Dagmaroff Company! The International Dance Attraction!! What costumes! What fun! :) Excellent promotional RPPC.

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!

12.00 USD

When it comes down to Monsieur Reutlinger's famous photo-montages, this series is definitely one of our favorites. Collectors may recognize the series as being one in which Mlle. Polaire also appeared. We love the mixing of elements, the flowers, the "porthole" view of landscape, and the artiste's portrait overlaid. Just a beautiful combination. And what a costume! Pearl-strand slave bracelets, a tiny belly-scarf for the "danse du ventre" and a great turban with plume.

nice condition on its face, but a bit the worse for wear on the obverse, with the careless removal from an album page, and a fair amount of foxing. 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!