69.00 USD

We are really excited about this card! It is very hard to find original postcard images of Anna May Wong, and it is ridiculously hard to find beautiful full body crazy costume shots like this one! Rare and wonderful.

Anna May Wong was born in a neighborhood that bordered the Chinatown district in Los Angeles California. She loved movies as a child, and of course with all the glitz and glamor of Hollywood just around the corner, it's no wonder that through much hard work she began film work, and then achieved recognition internationally, while still in her teens. In fact, she is considered the first Chinese American film star. She was also a fashion icon, and that comes as no surprise.

In 1935, she was passed over for the role of O-Lan in "The Good Earth," a major film that would have been a feather in her cap. German actress Louise Rainer got the role instead. This was in the era of Hollywood wherein parts for Asian, Native American, Latino, etc., were played by white actors and actresses.

Asian American actors, even recently, were among the least fairly represented of any group in Hollywood, one example that comes to mind is that of martial arts film star Bruce Lee, who was passed over for the lead role in the series "Kung Fu," in favor of David Carradine. Well, we grew up in the 60s and 70s, and we loved "Kung Fu," but really! David Carradine over Bruce Lee?

In any case, Miss Wong is still loved for her romantic and exotic characters, and probably best remembered for her "dragon lady" (wikipedia) roles, one of which our card certainly represents.
We sell, first and foremost, beautiful and fascinating images, with hopefully a bit of history attached. It is the images that got us interested, and the history that keeps us addicted to this subject, but in sharing images, we cannot always represent the performer in the way they might have most preferred. So we'll say that yes, we absolutely love Miss Wong's exotic appeal, and that yes, we certainly wish she'd had the opportunity of playing O-Lan in "The Good Earth."

In the 1950s, she was the first Asian American to star in their own television program, "The Gallery of Madam Liu-Tsong." She passed away at the age of 56, in 1961. Thanks as always, Wikipedia!

A marvelous card, and marvelously collectible, in very nice condition. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

69.00 USD

We are really excited about this card! It is very hard to find original postcard images of Anna May Wong, and it is ridiculously hard to find beautiful full body crazy costume shots like this one! Rare and wonderful.

Anna May Wong was born in a neighborhood that bordered the Chinatown district in Los Angeles California. She loved movies as a child, and of course with all the glitz and glamor of Hollywood just around the corner, it's no wonder that through much hard work she began film work, and then achieved recognition internationally, while still in her teens. In fact, she is considered the first Chinese American film star. She was also a fashion icon, and that comes as no surprise.

In 1935, she was passed over for the role of O-Lan in "The Good Earth," a major film that would have been a feather in her cap. German actress Louise Rainer got the role instead. This was in the era of Hollywood wherein parts for Asian, Native American, Latino, etc., were played by white actors and actresses.

Asian American actors, even recently, were among the least fairly represented of any group in Hollywood, one example that comes to mind is that of martial arts film star Bruce Lee, who was passed over for the lead role in the series "Kung Fu," in favor of David Carradine. Well, we grew up in the 60s and 70s, and we loved "Kung Fu," but really! David Carradine over Bruce Lee?

In any case, Miss Wong is still loved for her romantic and exotic characters, and probably best remembered for her "dragon lady" (wikipedia) roles, one of which our card certainly represents.
We sell, first and foremost, beautiful and fascinating images, with hopefully a bit of history attached. It is the images that got us interested, and the history that keeps us addicted to this subject, but in sharing images, we cannot always represent the performer in the way they might have most preferred. So we'll say that yes, we absolutely love Miss Wong's exotic appeal, and that yes, we certainly wish she'd had the opportunity of playing O-Lan in "The Good Earth."

In the 1950s, she was the first Asian American to star in their own television program, "The Gallery of Madam Liu-Tsong." She passed away at the age of 56, in 1961. Thanks as always, Wikipedia!

A marvelous card, and marvelously collectible, in very nice condition. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

18.00 USD

Great costume, great pose! Unfortunately though this is the second time we've had one of these wonderful cards in the shop, we still know nothing about this artiste! Lovely hand-tinting on this one.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

26.00 USD

Lebender Marmor, or Living Marble. One of a very popular postcard series in which the models, often in classical costume (or, as in this case, almost entirely out of 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

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

Nue en collant is a French phrase meaning nude, in (what was essentially) a body stocking. These cards can't exactly be called nudes, since all the "naughty bits" are covered up, but as naive as some of them may seem at first glance, they really are historically important!

Though postcards of this type were certainly passed around and mooned over by Oncle Jacques and his cronies down at the tobacconist's, they were also oohed and aahed over by Mama and her friends in the parlor. The models for these images, some of them very well known celebrities, were modeling something considered a weapon in the war of gender equality by many women of the day.
What we think of as the "union suit" today, the long underwear we often see worn by unshaven prospectors and cowpokes in popular westerns, was originally invented with women in mind and was applauded by the Suffragettes. It came to be called the "union" suit (and often the "liberty" suit), because during our civil war, the union side fought, in part, for the abolition of slavery. So, what's the connection? This outfit offered escape from the "slavery" of the corset! Freedom from the constraints of a fashion industry catering to the tastes of men and not to the comfort of women. What's more, though these images certainly "objectified," this was viewed as a welcome objectification, since these were women whose forms were neither exaggerated by bustles, hidden beneath petticoats, nor squeezed into narrower shapes by tight lacings. These were images seen as very liberating, at the time.

Nue en Collant by Walery of Paris, published by SIP (Société Industrielle de Photographie). 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 shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

16.00 USD

Nue en collant is a French phrase meaning nude, in (what was essentially) a body stocking. These cards can't exactly be called nudes, since all the "naughty bits" are covered up, but as quaint and naive as some of them may seem at first glance, they really are historically important!
Though postcards of this type were certainly passed around and mooned over by Oncle Jacques and his cronies down at the tobacconist's, they were also oohed and aahed over by Mama and her friends in the parlor. The models for these images, some of them very well known celebrities, were modeling something considered a weapon in the war of gender equality by many women of the day.
What we think of as the "union suit" today, the long underwear we often see worn by unshaven prospectors and cowpokes in popular westerns, was originally invented with women in mind and was applauded by the Suffragettes. It came to be called the "union" suit (and often the "liberty" suit), because during our civil war, the union side fought, in part, for the abolition of slavery. So, what's the connection? This outfit offered escape from the "slavery" of the corset! Freedom from the constraints of a fashion industry catering to the tastes of men and not to the comfort of women. What's more, though these images certainly "objectified," this was viewed as a welcome objectification, since these were women whose forms were neither exaggerated by bustles, hidden beneath petticoats, nor squeezed into narrower shapes by tight lacings. These were images seen as very liberating, at the time.

Nue en Collant by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, published by SIP (Société Industrielle de Photographie). 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 shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

14.00 USD

Nue en collant is a French phrase meaning nude, in (what was essentially) a body stocking. These cards can't exactly be called nudes, since all the "naughty bits" are covered up, but as quaint and naive as some of them may seem at first glance, they really are historically important!
Though postcards of this type were certainly passed around and mooned over by Oncle Jacques and his cronies down at the tobacconist's, they were also oohed and aahed over by Mama and her friends in the parlor. The models for these images, some of them very well known celebrities, were modeling something considered a weapon in the war of gender equality by many women of the day.
What we think of as the "union suit" today, the long underwear we often see worn by unshaven prospectors and cowpokes in popular westerns, was originally invented with women in mind and was applauded by the Suffragettes. It came to be called the "union" suit (and often the "liberty" suit), because during our civil war, the union side fought, in part, for the abolition of slavery. So, what's the connection? This outfit offered escape from the "slavery" of the corset! Freedom from the constraints of a fashion industry catering to the tastes of men and not to the comfort of women. What's more, though these images certainly "objectified," this was viewed as a welcome objectification, since these were women whose forms were neither exaggerated by bustles, hidden beneath petticoats, nor squeezed into narrower shapes by tight lacings. These were images seen as very liberating, at the time.

Nue en Collant by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, published by SIP (Société Industrielle de Photographie) circa 1900-1904. 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 shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

14.00 USD

From the wonderful series of French postcards, "Croissants de Lune," or "Crescent Moons," this is an oh so charming image of two of our favorite people, Pierrot and Colombine, combining their magical presence with the classic paper moon motif. At last Pierrot and Colombine have a moment to themselves, without that rascal Harlequin butting in :)
It's been our pleasure to offer cards from this series several times over the years and despite our love for the gorgeously tinted, 1920s era, Pierrot cards we often feature, this series probably remains the most magical and evocative for us.

By its undivided back (an early postcard format feature that went by the wayside in 1904 in France), we can place this card as having been printed circa 1900-1904. Superb print, very nice condition, with minor tanning commensurate with its age of over 110 years.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

14.00 USD

From the wonderful series of French postcards, "Croissants de Lune," or "Crescent Moons," this is an oh so charming image of two of our favorite people, Pierrot and Colombine, combining their magical presence with the classic paper moon motif. At last Pierrot and Colombine have a moment to themselves, without that rascal Harlequin butting in :)
It's been our pleasure to offer cards from this series several times over the years and despite our love for the gorgeously tinted, 1920s era, Pierrot cards we often feature, this series probably remains the most magical and evocative for us.

By its undivided back (an early postcard format feature that went by the wayside in 1904 in France), we can place this card as having been printed circa 1900-1904. Superb print, very nice condition, with minor tanning commensurate with its age of over 110 years.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

14.00 USD

From the wonderful series of French postcards, "Croissants de Lune," or "Crescent Moons," this is an oh so charming image of two of our favorite people, Pierrot and Colombine, combining their magical presence with the classic paper moon motif. At last Pierrot and Colombine have a moment to themselves, without that rascal Harlequin butting in :)
It's been our pleasure to offer cards from this series several times over the years and despite our love for the gorgeously tinted, 1920s era, Pierrot cards we often feature, this series probably remains the most magical and evocative for us.

By its undivided back (an early postcard format feature that went by the wayside in 1904 in France), we can place this card as having been printed circa 1900-1904. Superb print, very nice condition, with minor tanning commensurate with its age of over 110 years.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

18.00 USD

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

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

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

Near fine, unposted condition with some writing on the back, slight rounding of the corners, and a particularly lovely Art Nouveau border.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

26.00 USD

Gorgeous German nude, circa 1910s. Rather than being an image out of a risque early 1900s Ping Pong strategy guide, we suspect this image was more likely put forth as the awakening of Pygmalion's Galatea (with the added convenience of a hand mirror :)

"Lebender Marmor," or Living Marble. One of a very popular postcard series in which the models, often in (or as in this case not so much "in" as "out of") 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/page:2,stats:true/266700176

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!

18.00 USD

First released in December of 1925, Ben-Hur was one of the epics of epics, a magnificent movie with (according to the trailer) a cast not just of thousands, but more than onehundred and fifty thousand!

For a very detailed and entertaining article on the making of this film, you can follow the below link to Fritzi Kramer's "Movies Silently." We think we've just happened upon a research treasure in this wonderful site:

http://moviessilently.com/2015/08/30/ben-hur-1925-a-silent-film-review/

A French postcard with no evident publisher attribution. Minor foxing on the reverse side. 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

96 years before Harry Potter's footsteps echoed down the Hallowed Halls of Hogwarts, Bartolby Grimme of Slytherin cheated on exams and bullied the weak and vulnerable, egged on by his father, the wily necromancer Teodor, and his devoted, but demon possessed mother, Lucretia.
Do take note of Teodor Grimme's preternaturally long index finger which he attempts to disguise beneath his waistcoat, a genetic anomaly passed down through the male line. Bartolby curls his inward too, but certainly made good use of it when pointing the withering "finger of blame" at innocents.
Not visible, unfortunately, are the poisoned daggers the three hide behind their backs. Of course we needn't really see them as they don't concern us personally, being reserved for only their dearest friends :)

If only we could learn from history, sigh.

Love this RPPC, such fun! 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

Anna Fougez (pronounced Foo-jay but with that soft "g" sound like in Beau "G"este) was born Annina Pappacena on July 9th 1894, in Taranto Italy.
She was a singer, a sciantosa, a star of the Italian light opera, and an actress who appeared in a number of silent films from the mid 1910s into the early 20s. She was also, naturally, a wonderful postcard queen! She passed away in 1966 at the age of 72, but is still honored and remembered today in Italy, and internationally.

Below is a link to a very short clip from the 1921 silent film Fiore Selvaggio where we can catch a quick glimpse of her in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylZY0BV9D8w

and another link to an audio track with images that lets you hear Signorina Fougez sing "Vipera," from a 1919 recording.

A very nice Ballerini and Fratini card of a stage production with Anna Fougez. We find portraits of her with some regularity, but this is the first of these stage set images we've found.
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

A spectacular card! One of four in a series of great vaudeville acrobat postcards we recently acquired for the shop.

Though published circa 1906 (the year Germany began allowing divided back cards), these images seem untypical of what we usually find out of Georg Gerlach's studio at that time. Our guess is that these were printed from negative plates originally used to produce late 19th century CDVs and cabinet cards. If you have an opinion on this, we'd really love to hear from you.
Unfortunately, though we have found an image of the "Trio Versa" from another series of cards, we haven't yet found any history on this troupe.

We were absolutely thrilled to find four cards from this series! Acrobats in action are really difficult to find (and not just because they move around so much! :)
Though not so recognizable in our scans, small dots of glitter decorate the players costumes at strategic points. These are far more effective in person!

Minor wear but overall 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 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 spectacular card! One of four in a series of great vaudeville acrobat postcards we recently acquired for the shop.

Though published circa 1906 (the year Germany began allowing divided back cards), these images seem untypical of what we usually find out of Georg Gerlach's studio at that time. Our guess is that these were printed from negative plates originally used to produce late 19th century CDVs and cabinet cards. If you have an opinion on this, we'd really love to hear from you.
Unfortunately, though we have found an image of the "Trio Versa" from another series of cards, we haven't yet found any history on this troupe.

We were absolutely thrilled to find four cards from this series! Acrobats in action are really difficult to find (and not just because they move around so much! :) and this card is such fun!
Though not so recognizable in our scans, small dots of glitter decorate the players costumes at strategic points. These are far more effective in person!

Minor wear but overall 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 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

Cléo de Mérode (1875-1966) was an Austrian dancer who began her training at age 8, and according to Wikipedia, made her professional debut at the age of 11. She has visited our shop many times, and this particular image is a favorite of ours. For this photograph made by celebrity photographer Leopold Reutlinger, Mlle. De Mérode wore the costume in which she performed at the 1900 Paris World Exposition, when she danced to traditional Indochinese music played by Nguyễn Tống Triều, a famed Vietnamese musician with whom it has been suggested she my have had an affair during his stay in France. I believe was the same Paris Exposition at which American dancer Loie Fuller gained great fame and notoriety.

Card is in nice posted condition with minor wear to edges and corners and a brief greeting on the image side. 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

Odd little image by Biederer. Lots of fun :)

Ostra Studio was operated by two brothers, Jacques and Charles Biederer. Jacques Biederer emigrated to Paris in the 1890s from what was then the Kingdom of Bohemia (later Czechoslovakia).

He opened his photo studio in around 1908, and in 1913 his brother Charles joined him.

The history on them is a bit murky, but they are today (Jacques in particular) probably the best known Parisian producers of fetish photos during the 1920s and 30s. Pretty wild stuff at the time with rubber corsets, masters/slaves, etc., and lots of spanking, but most of the images we've seen seemed to be intent on maintaining a sense of humor as well.

The two brothers were Jewish, and in the 1940s following the fall of Paris to the Nazis, they were arrested and deported to Auschwitz in Poland. Neither of them survived the Holocaust.

Biederer and Ostra Studio cards are much sought after, and though many of their more outré (always wanted to be able to use that word in a sentence :) images are a little out of our line, we do love our risque flappers, and are very pleased to have found this one!

Great risque, nude French postcard 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 insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

11.00 USD

Great image! Cute costume :) Beautifully written Happy Easter message on the card's face. 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 shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.