12.00 USD

Unattributed photographer, but image was Leopold Reutlinger's as our fourth listing image indicates. That is of another card not being offered for sale (it's not even our card). Leopold Reutlinger is well known for the varied decorative techniques he applied to postcard versions of his photographs, and this series is a favorite of ours. The repeated simple pattern in an almost metallic-sheen finish really makes the silver bromide print pop in an almost 3-dimensional way, don't you think?

Exquisite Gabrielle Robinne (1886-1980), was made an officer in the French Legion of Honor for her contributions in the Arts.
She was a greatly loved star of the stage, and also of silent films, and then the talkies as well, her career spanning some sixty years.

Note the thin paper pasted to the obverse of the card. This is not all that uncommon to find. An ex-lover, a bad memory, an embarrassing declaration, about a million possible reasons, and paste-downs like this are found quite often in old books, covering up private messages on the end-sheets.

A bit of a smudge on her cheek, otherwise a very nice card.

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!

17.00 USD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

18.00 USD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

19.00 USD

Very nice risque flapper postcard by Papetery de Levallois-Clichy, or P-C Paris (Clichy being a district on the Seine in the northwestern suburbs of Paris).
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

An Aulette is one who plays an Aulos, the ancient Greek musical instrument our model is here pictured as playing. It was not a flute, or a whistle, but a reeded intrument. Archeological evidence suggests it was double reeded like the shawm, or oboe. According to Wikipedia, "Plato associates it with the ecstatic cults of Dionysus and the Korybantes," which certainly fits with the common theme of the Dionysian cult running through so much of Belle Epoque arts and entertainment media. The Wikipedia article also notes that in "The History of Musical Instruments" by Curt Sachs, 1940, the sound of the instrument was reported as being "penetrating, insisting and exciting." That description may not bring the oboe immediately to mind, but we have heard the shawm played a few times by a wonderful group of German folk musicians, Wolgemut, and those adjectives definitely apply to their playing of the shawm.

We include, for your pleasure, but not for sale, an old postcard image of an ancient Greek or Roman stone image of an aulette.

Our beautifully hand-colored postcard reflects the obsession of the period with the romance of classical Greece. Many Hermetic mystery organizations, like that of British occultist Dion Fortune, though practicing a Qabbalistic brand of magic, placed a great deal of emphasis on rites of Pan, etc. This is certainly a very magical image!

A wonderful thing about many of these old Croissant (yes, like the pastry, but referring simply to the crescent moon :) cards, is that the backside is often almost as decorative as the front. Wonderful Art Nouveau decoration.
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

Oh, how we love a nice RPPC (Real Photo Postcard)! We think it's pretty doubtful that this image was drawn from any sort of theatrical production. From the fine old wood cabinetry to the vast oriental rug, we believe this is simply an example of the workers posing for someone who wants to try out their new camera. My, but Miss third-from-the-left is certainly a coquette, isn't she? Priceless image, rarer than diamonds (you can go out and window-shop for diamonds any old time, but you'll probably never see another one of these) and well, "maids in uniform" encompasses an entire collectible sub-genre of vintage picture postcards...much sought after...and I doubt this one will last a week in the shop!

Wonderful item, with some old black-paper album remnants still adhering to the obverse of the 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.

19.00 USD

as per convo.

17.00 USD

Lovely, lighthearted, surreal French fantasy. We love this series of cards and were very pleased to find one of the hand-tinted ones in such wonderful, unposted condition. A. Noyer was an important publisher of French postcards in the early 20th century, also very much involved in the Salon de Paris.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

14.00 USD

A lovely portrait by Leopold Reutlinger of Mary Garden (1874-1967), in Jules Massenet's Manon. Miss Garden was an operatic soprano who enjoyed great success in both France and the United States during the first third of the 20th century.

She was born in Aberdeen, Scotland into a working class family (to a 14 year old mother!), and spent her early childhood there before moving with her family to America. Though she studied voice and music here, it was not in the U.S. that she first gained renown, however, but in France. It was there, at about the time this portrait was made (she performed the title role in Manon, in 1901), that she realized fame at the Opéra Comique in Paris, working closely with the finest composers of the period, like Debussy and Massenet. She also performed the role of Salome, in the Strauss version, and so took part in that Salome craze (we'd love to find an image of her in Salome garb :).

Just a few short years after this photograph was taken, she made a triumphant return to the U.S., and a contract with the ill-fated Manhattan Opera Company. Her career in the U.S. was very successful, particularly in Chicago.

Follow the link below to hear her sing, accompanied by none other than Debussy, himself! This is a direct play of an old recording, with no apparent clean-up, but still a nice bit of history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_3YPH0vb00

Sadly, Miss Garden suffered from dementia in later years, and though an American citizen, returned finally to Scotland, where, in her nineties, she passed away.

Thanks are due (as they so often are) to the folks at Wikipedia, for the bulk of our biographical information!

A very nice card, in fine, unposted condition.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

The item you are considering for purchase is, unless otherwise noted, a vintage postcard of approximately 5 and 1/2, by 3 and 1/2 inches. Postage is for fully insured, first class, shipping in a secure photo mailer (to avoid any damage to your purchase in the mails), and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will 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!

24.00 USD

Remarkably polished studio RPPC of three children in costume for the Nice Carnaval. Could almost be a commercially published image. The tennis racket is kind of an odd bit of physical business :) Gotta give the tiny one something to fiddle with, I guess.

Nice unposted condition. We have a number of customers who use our postcards (or their images) in their artwork, or for the production of commercial art projects. RPPCs like this one are particularly well suited for this, why? Because since RPPCs (Real Photo Post Cards) were usually printed by small studios, or home workshop photographers, in very limited runs for friends and family, a card like this offers the commercial artist access to an original image of which there may be only a single one remaining in existence! Pretty cool :)
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!

19.00 USD

Lovely seductive image of artiste Myriel. We have no bio on this lovely Belle Epoque performer. We find her most often in maenad-type images, playing cymbals, or holding aloft the thyrsus of Bacchus. Often she is posed, like Doll, another favorite, in a woodland setting.
A wonderful card in very wonderful condition with just a little wear to 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!

29.00 USD

Lebender Marmor, or Living Marble. One of a very popular postcard series in which the models, often in classical costume, were posed and made up to resemble marble statues. This one is a real beauty, and the silvering only serves to add to the image!

See another card from the same series:

https://www.etsy.com/your/shops/redpoulaine/tools/listings/stats:true/268159810

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

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

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

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

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

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

12.00 USD

Great flapper RPPC. Don't know who this gal was, but she certainly had something! Wouldn't be surprised to discover that she was a film actress. Love the costume,
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

12.00 USD

Great flapper RPPC. Don't know who this gal was, but she certainly had something! Wouldn't be surprised to discover that she was a film actress. Love the costume,
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

24.00 USD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A gorgeous photo of a gifted artist. Very nice unposted condition!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

24.00 USD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A gorgeous photo of a gifted artist. Very nice unposted condition!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

29.00 USD

A risque flapper by the Riverside. This card puts us in mind of Jacques Biederer's campy "up-skirt" imagery, but it was done by another Parisian photographer.

We are very pleased to share with you a wonderful small collection of postcard images by Parisian photographer Albert Wyndham. This is one of several we got into the shop a short while ago.

Most of these probably date to the mid 1920s and early 30s.
There is little information available on Wyndham himself. A few auction listings of his work give his birth and death as 1903-1977, but nothing yet as to Wyndham's place of birth or death. We'll keep looking.
Undoubtedly, Wyndham did commercial work for Parisian lingerie manufacturers, as did so very many Paris photographers, and those glamor cards we so love often originated as fashion images in French magazines.
Wyndham's focus on undergarments and stockings though, moved beyond the commercial fashion view, into fetish, and he had (still has) a tremendous following as a photographer of "risque" images.

In his book, "Erotic Photography," Alexandre Dupouy mentions Albert Wyndham.
Dupouy writes that Wyndham worked for several minor magazines in the 1930s, and also produced catalogues "called Poupees Parisiennes or Camera Prints, which were published in English and aimed at an Anglo-Saxon clientele."
He writes that prints of catalogue images could be ordered through the mail and that this end of the business was very successful.
The postcards were sometimes signed "Film Art," or sometimes "Wyndham" but were in our experience always marked by a lower case "c" in a circle accompanied by a series number.

Monsieur Dupouy also put forth the very interesting theory that Wyndham may have actually been the photographer, Grundworth, another Parisian photographer (or group of photographers, as has been suggested elsewhere) about whom almost nothing is known, but whose work was produced on the same paper and whose style was very similar to Wyndham's, with the major difference being that while Wyndham's work was merely risque (and barely so, by modern standards), Grundworth's often entered the realm of what many would label pornography.

We hope you enjoy these classic lingerie images!
Some of the cards in this collection show minor wear to edges and corners. If we find any with major defects, we will, as always, list them, but please do 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

One of six lovely hand-tinted postcards in a series of the "bathing beauty" variety, circa 1906-08 (1906 at the earliest, because Germany adopted the "new" divided back cards at that time, two years after France had done so, and no later than 1908, because the "P.R.A." design in card's stamp box was the logo for "Verein Photographischer Reproduktions-Anstalten GmbH,” a cost and quality control organization of silver bromide photo postcard printers and publishers--a cartel of sorts--that went defunct in 1908.

We have no information on the photographer or model. For those interested in the history of G.G. of Berlin though (the printer/publisher), we recently came across a catalogue offered for sale online titled "Galerie Alter und Moderner Meister," a collection of color lithographs produced by Georg Gerlach & Co. A.G., Berlin in 1888, giving us a little more insight into G.G. (Georg Gerlach). It suggests that like many other early picture postcard publishers, G.G. began as a printer of art prints, was therefore already set up (at least partially) for production, and when the picture postcard boom hit at the turn of the century, jumped right in.

In 1888, G.G.'s location was at 42 Chausee Strasse, Berlin, and in 1910, after they'd become very successful with postcard publishing, architect Max Richter designed new buildings for them which were still standing as of 2010 and designated an historical site.

All of this casts some doubt on the idea that those hundreds and hundreds (vast understatement :) of wonderful theatrical portraits and "fantaisies" were actually photographed by Georg Gerlach himself, who had to have been rather busy running a large company that not only published, but also printed those series of postcards, in addition to other lines of production.

Also, the fact that the company was well established by 1888 makes it unlikely that publisher Georg Gerlach was also the Austrian painter named Georg Gerlach, which is a question that sometimes comes up. That painter was born in 1874, which would have placed him running the printing and publishing firm in Berlin (in 1888) at age 14...unlikely.

Nor does there seem to be a connection between G.G. Co Berlin and photographers Martin Gerlach Sr., or Martin Gerlach Jr. (as we previously were led to believe), Since both father and son were primarily working out of Vienna Austria, not Berlin. There are a number of G.G. Co postcards attributed to the photographer Martin Gerlach online, through various sources, but we suspect this is simply confusion due to them being signed "Gerlach," and we haven't through our research been able to establish any definite connection.

Returning to the question of whether or not Georg Gerlach was a photographer as well as a publisher though, we have wondered if those cards that actually bear the name "Gerlach," printed out in a script font might not have been photographed by him. Questions :)

G.G. Co. of Berlin may have closed its doors in 1939, but we've only found a hint of that so far.

It's a shame that we find so little information on a publisher of some of the finest theatrical portraits of the period. If anyone out there has any further information on G.G. Co. A.G. Berlin, please share!

A lovely 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!

17.00 USD

Doux Accord, or Sweet (or gentle) Agreement. Lovely image speaks for itself of friendship and shared feelings. Hand-tinted card printed by S.I.P. (Société Industrielle Photographie) The largest French postcards printer at that time.

This sweet card was produced probably between 1900 and 1904. Note that its obverse is undivided by the vertical line that appeared on the more modern French cards, post 1904.

It was dated 1904, but there is no apparent postmark, so it was probably mailed inside an envelope, a common enough practice, particularly given that on the earlier non-divided back cards such as this one, any written message, beyond the recipients address was prohibited.

On this card, we find a fairly long poem, written in a fine hand and in that oh so romantic violet ink of the period. It may be that the card's sender, Léon, was the composer of this poem. Often we find portions of well known poems written out on these old postcards but usually the author's name is mentioned and we google searched portions of this one to see if we could locate its source, but coming up with nothing suggests Monsieur Léon was himself, the author. Geez... La Belle Epoque was indeed the beautiful era :) Imagine receiving this postcard from a beau or a good friend.
A Lovely card in 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 shipping materials and as of the date of this listing, we are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

16.00 USD

Beautifully hand-tinted vintage postcard of two very pretty young women (probably well known theatrical performers of the time), printed by Rotophot of Berlin circa 1904. Rotophot was a major German postcard producer, appearing on the scene in around 1900. It later became Ross Verlag, the publisher so well known for its film star postcards.

This card was posted in Austria. We think the simple "X" on the stamp is a variety of cancellation, though we'll leave that to our stamp collector friends. There is no visible date, but the stamp itself, an Austrian five heller stamp, bears particular markings that let us date the stamp to between 1901 and 1905, so we get a general date on our card as well.
Lovely card in 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 shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.