19.00 USD

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

Dated 1922 on the reverse, though looking considerably older to us, is this magical "harem" image. Of course the blue tint does add to the magic. Simply wonderful.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

17.00 USD

The dove was the symbol of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love (called Venus by the Romans), and this image is a truly wonderful depiction of either Aphrodite herself, or a young maiden who is, or soon will be, within her sphere of influence. Quiet, serene, and yet with an air of anticipation, this card is a wonderful example of the classical tropes of turn-of-the-century art and romanticism.

We can't be sure, but we believe the model in this card to be Lutece, who often posed in classical garb for photographers and was a favorite of Reutlinger. As we've noted about her with respect to other images, "white doves seemed to love congregating near her."

See "Lutece as the Dreaming Venus" at:

www.etsy.com/listing/176262634/lutece-as-the-dreaming-venus-by

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

****

Almost perfect condition, with very minor pressure marks on the corners from album storage. We are always extremely pleased to be able to offer a card in as pristine a condition as this one. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

19.00 USD

Leopold Reutlinger, the Belle Epoque photographer, took thousands of photographs of famous Parisian actresses. These were published in black and white, cropped to close up and republished, hand tinted, glittered, sequined, published again, and when every imaginable possibility had been explored, he superimposed these images onto wonderfully fantastic, often surreal backgrounds. The "Artiste with Bird" series is one of our favorites, quite collectible, and we've seen a fair number of them pass through our shop, though not usually in condition this fine.
One of the issues with Reutlingers "fantasies," is that although the artiste's name was usually printed on the face of the card in its early incarnations, by the time they got to these dramatic creations, the name would often be left off. This was fine at the time, since their faces were very well known, but not today.
Which, of course, let's us play the "Name That Face" game, one of our favorite pastimes :).
The beautiful actress in this image is Marguerite Bresil. Born in 1880, she made her first appearance on the stage of the Theatre Gymnase in Paris, in 1899, and within a few years was a tremendous star.
This card was published by NPG (Neue Photographische Gesellschaft) of Berlin, and utilized the extremely effective Oranotype method for photo reproduction. Very nice condition on this one, dated on the back 1906.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

17.00 USD

Beautiful image of Belle Epoque artiste Marthe Derminy taken by Leopold Reutlinger circa 1905. We have not been able to find any biographical info on her yet, still looking, but it does appear that later in her life, she made appearances in a number of French musical romance films in the 30s and 40s, though it is possible this was another Marthe Derminy.

It is worth mentioning, that her costume in this image has been hand-tinted in the shades of the suffragettes, green, white and violet, suggested by some to stand for G ive, W omen the V ote, but whether or not this was the case, it is a fact that women in that time designed clothes, wore ribbons and buttons, in those colors to identify themselves with the cause. Solidarity among sisters? Who knows, but certainly the women coloring these cards were quite possibly interested in winning the vote, perhaps with the intent of improving working conditions, raising the wage, etc. We think we value these cards even more highly when we consider the actual labor involved in the producing of them.

Have you seen the beautifully embossed cards we sometimes sell? Recently we read an account of the way this embossing was done. In this particular case, circa 1899, there was a workspace, just off a narrow connecting street between two large avenues in the Latin Quarter in Paris. In this place, 40 or so women sat at tables, fitting metal dies over the sections of the postcards to be embossed, and hammered away at them with little hammers. This, from early morning til the day's end. We aren't suggesting that this was particularly dangerous or difficult work compared with some jobs of that time, but It's so easy in these amazing times to assume such cards were simply stamped out by some huge machine, when it is likelier that they were produced by the sweat of warm-blooded people :)
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!

12.00 USD

Delightful, hand-tinted image of stage performer Eline Oreo. We could tell you that her name bears no relation to the cookie whatsoever, but the fact is, quite a number of confections of one sort and another were named in honor of theatrical performers, and since the Oreo was first introduced in 1912, well...it's possible! Ooh...the chocolatey goodness....the cream filling...er...but back to our card.
We are wondering if Mlle. Oreo and Elise DeVere were engaged in a contest over who could wear the longest feather on their floppy hat? It was all the poor girl could do to keep her feather in the frame:)

Sequins and diamonds and pearls, oh my! Seldom have we run across this many sparklies in one image. Over all, a wonderful card, posted in 1907. The edges are not "ruler" straight on this one. They were cut unevenly for some reason. Possibly trimmed to fit the card into a small frame?
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

11.00 USD

Born in Italy, in 1865, to an Italian mother and an Austrian army officer, Theresina Gessner moved with her family to Austria in the 1870s, polished up her German (she had been raised with Italian as her first language), studied drama at the Vienna Conservatory from the age of 16, and joined the German Theater in the 1880s, where she met and married Austrian actor Otto Sommerstorf in 1888. Here is a lovely image (Look at her hair! Wow!), probably published in the 1890s. Very nice condition.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for fully insured, first class, shipping in a secure photo mailer (to avoid any damage to your purchase in the mails), and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will 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!

7.00 USD

What fun! Can't you just imagine this flapper doing the Charleston with her beau and delighted to be the center of attention?

The reverse has a message in French, written in violet ink. We leave the discovery of it's meaning to you.

Lovely image by Noyer, beautifully hand-tinted. Creasing at top and bottom, primarily on the right side. Unposted.

Please examine our high res scans for detail!!!

This image is in our "Idols of the 1920s" section where 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!

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

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

Papetery de Levallois-Clichy was a Parisian postcard publisher, probably a stationer and printer before the postcard rage, but became P-C Paris, one of the most ubiquitous and influential publishers of 1920s postcard imagery. They were also the publishers of REX cards.

We are particularly fond of this variety of 1920s fantaisie card. The surrealistic, almost "cartoon-ish" Art Deco inspired background work, often detailed, as was this image, with metallic paint, was simply magical, and so evocative of the era. These cards were still hand-colored at this point, though the technique of stenciling (known as "pochoir") was a common, time saving method used in the cards' production. The detail on the model's charming dress is wonderful.

Those white, triangular-ish shapes on the beach beyond the glittery-gold seagull, are tents, or pavillions. Yep, going to the beach was sometimes a complicated affair, romantic, and from photos we've seen, far less crowded than the experience one may encounter at the more popular beach spots today.

A lovely little 1920s time machine with minor wear to edges and corners.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

Unidentified Natalia Trouhanova, Russian Dancer and Actress, in La Mariska, circa 1907 (1st of 2)

One of the advantages of working with historical images for an extended period of time is that sometimes we are able to recognize a performer, even though she is not identified in the image. This is such a case.

This lovely image depicts the beautiful Natalia Trouhanova, wearing gypsy garb which has been hand-tinted in vibrant colors.

Note that we have an additional image depicting Natalia, with slightly different coloring applied during hand-tinting, at: www.etsy.com/listing/191698738/unidentified-natalia-trouhanova-russian

Natalia (also known by the diminutive form, Natasha, or Natacha) Vladimirovna Trouhanova was born into a theatrical family in Kiev, in 1885. According to an interview she gave in 1911, her parents were of French, Polish, Serbian and Bohemian extraction. The family left Kiev when she was one year old, and until she was thirteen, she "lived like a nomad, traveling through all the countries of Europe." (interview in Comoedia, 1911).

At thirteen, she began formal study in Moscow, first in acting, and then dance. When she arrived in France, in the early 1900s, she, like many emigre performers, found work in the music halls. In 1905, in Monte Carlo, she was cast in the role of a Hungarian Gypsy girl, in Jean Lorrain's "La Mariska," an opera ballet, and her career caught fire. Most of the images we come across of La Trouhanova are in Gypsy garb, probably in costume for La Mariska.

Although she gained her initial fame as a dancer, some reviews of the time suggest that her skills lay more in the area of interpretive dance, as a soloist, than in classic ballet, and applaud her pantomime and acting, particularly as a tragedienne.

She also appeared in a number of early silent films. After the outbreak of WWI, she married a Russian count, and retired, at least temporarily, from the stage. In the 1920s, she returned to dancing for a time, and then some years later, she and her husband returned to (then Soviet) Russia, and later in her life, she worked as a translator of Russian political tracts, some by Stalin, himself.

Perhaps because her career was a short one, it is difficult to find, online, much information about la Trouhanova personally, apart from one source, where we were extremely lucky. All of our bio information came from a google books extract of "Legacies of Twentieth-Century Dance" by Lynn Garafola, published by Wesleyan University Press in 2005. We have a link below to that extract. Beginning on page 148, there is a great deal of information on Natalia Trouhanova. Of particular interest, though too lengthy to go into here, is her relationship (quite rocky), with Nijinsky and Diaghlev, well worth reading, as well as Ms. Garafola's insights into the state of the art, and business, of dance, in that place and time.

http://books.google.com/books?id=7gIDy6ait3IC&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=trouhanova&source=bl&ots=P4TuEpuJj9&sig=d7q1rB1xOl7Ldk_2z-WGMviLrT8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2SiMUpLsFuip2QXSyoDwDg&ved=0CGEQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=trouhanova&f=false

A very nice card, with minor wear to edges and corners. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

Unidentified Natalia Trouhanova, Russian Dancer and Actress, in La Mariska, circa 1907 (2nd of 2)

One of the advantages of working with historical images for an extended period of time is that sometimes we are able to recognize a performer, even though she is not identified in the image. This is such a case.

This lovely image depicts the beautiful Natalia Trouhanova, wearing gypsy garb which has been hand-tinted in vibrant colors.

Note that we have an additional image depicting Natalia, with slightly different coloring applied during hand-tinting, at: www.etsy.com/listing/191700817/unidentified-natalia-trouhanova-russian

Natalia (also known by the diminutive form, Natasha, or Natacha) Vladimirovna Trouhanova was born into a theatrical family in Kiev, in 1885. According to an interview she gave in 1911, her parents were of French, Polish, Serbian and Bohemian extraction. The family left Kiev when she was one year old, and until she was thirteen, she "lived like a nomad, traveling through all the countries of Europe." (interview in Comoedia, 1911).

At thirteen, she began formal study in Moscow, first in acting, and then dance. When she arrived in France, in the early 1900s, she, like many emigre performers, found work in the music halls. In 1905, in Monte Carlo, she was cast in the role of a Hungarian Gypsy girl, in Jean Lorrain's "La Mariska," an opera ballet, and her career caught fire. Most of the images we come across of La Trouhanova are in Gypsy garb, probably in costume for La Mariska.

Although she gained her initial fame as a dancer, some reviews of the time suggest that her skills lay more in the area of interpretive dance, as a soloist, than in classic ballet, and applaud her pantomime and acting, particularly as a tragedienne.

She also appeared in a number of early silent films. After the outbreak of WWI, she married a Russian count, and retired, at least temporarily, from the stage. In the 1920s, she returned to dancing for a time, and then some years later, she and her husband returned to (then Soviet) Russia, and later in her life, she worked as a translator of Russian political tracts, some by Stalin, himself.

Perhaps because her career was a short one, it is difficult to find, online, much information about la Trouhanova personally, apart from one source, where we were extremely lucky. All of our bio information came from a google books extract of "Legacies of Twentieth-Century Dance" by Lynn Garafola, published by Wesleyan University Press in 2005. We have a link below to that extract. Beginning on page 148, there is a great deal of information on Natalia Trouhanova. Of particular interest, though too lengthy to go into here, is her relationship (quite rocky), with Nijinsky and Diaghlev, well worth reading, as well as Ms. Garafola's insights into the state of the art, and business, of dance, in that place and time.

http://books.google.com/books?id=7gIDy6ait3IC&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=trouhanova&source=bl&ots=P4TuEpuJj9&sig=d7q1rB1xOl7Ldk_2z-WGMviLrT8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2SiMUpLsFuip2QXSyoDwDg&ved=0CGEQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=trouhanova&f=false

This card was published by the Neue Photographische Gesellschaft, or NPG, one of our favorite publishers of theatrical portrait cards of the period.

A very nice card, with minor wear to edges and corners. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

Probably published sometime between 1900 and 1904, but posted in 1905, a great image of Belle Epoque stage performer Billy Norton taken by the great Reutlinger of Paris. A very nice card.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

14.00 USD

Chantecler, a play whose characters are made up of barnyard animals, was based on very old European fables. A tale of Chantecler (meaning "clear singing,"), is retold as far back as Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales (Chaucer having drawn it from even older sources), but this play was written by Edmond Rostand, author of Cyrano de Bergerac and L'Aiglon.
Rostand, it has been said, came up with the idea for the play, Chanticler, while observing farm animals near his home in the south of France. Wow, how we wish we could have been there for this performance! Some wear to edges and corners, but otherwise a very nice piece of theater history.
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

Really Cute! PC Paris produced countless risque lingerie images. We love the white backgrounds on this type, filled with frothy light. These are highly prized by fashion historians who glean from them information on the styles of undergarments of the time. Interestingly, these gals seemed almost always to be wearing shoes :) No effort was expended, on the part of the photographer to set up a "getting ready for bed," or "undressing for the bath" scenario. These routines, popular theatrical pantomimes at the turn of the century, had, by the 20s, already become old hat, so that nude and risque images tended to use fewer physical props. The images, therefore were maybe more minimalist, but as in this case, the photography was marvelous.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

17.00 USD

Picard, No Not That Picard :) Lovely Artiste Picard in Classic Art Nouveau Costume, by Reutlinger of Paris.

This fine image by Reutlinger is of a beautiful young woman in a medieval-style gown. She wears flowers in her hair in the classic Art Nouveau mode, and is just a truly delightful example of photographer's art. The image has been delicately hand-tinted, her hair auburn, and her gown decorated with pale blue to match the flowers in her hair. Such a romantic image.

A very nice card, with only minor wear to edges and corners. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

17.00 USD

Sarah Bernhardt in Crown and Lalique Tiara, by Reutlinger, circa 1900

Breathtaking portrait by Leopold Reutlinger, of French actress of stage and screen, Sarah Bernhardt. We believe this to be one of a series done by Reutlinger in 1895.

Once known as the “First Lady of the Stage” and the “Divine Sarah,” Bernhardt is probably better known today for the marvelous poster images of her produced by those masters of Belle Époque advertising art, such as Alphonse Mucha.

In this image, the Divine Sarah is in costume as Melisande in "La Princesse Lointaine," ("The Princess Far Away"), a play written by Edmond Rostand. The play was produced in 1895 and performed at the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre in Paris. Although Sarah appears to be wearing a single headpiece in the photograph, we believe this to be two separate pieces which work together, a large crown at the center of a more delicate tiara of pearl-encrusted flowers.

**Note** One of our wonderful customers let us know that these Art Nouveau flowers worn by Mme. Bernhardt, were actually designed by Alphonse Mucha! Searching the internet for more information, we learned that the tiara was apparently a separate piece from the crown, and had been made by René Lalique, apparently working to Mucha's design. We are not often able to see the actual accoutrements worn by the subjects of our images, but in this case, we have found a modern photograph of the tiara, credited on Pinterest as being from the Musée et Bibliothèque de l’Opera Paris, although we have not been able to find the original source of the image on that site. The image of the tiara, of course, is not for sale; we are selling only the Reutlinger postcard!

Thanks to all those who write in with help and information. You not only make the existence of Red Poulaine possible with your purchases, but your willingness to share your knowledge and experience helps to make Red Poulaine, our own revolving museum exhibit of small, popular art, much more entertaining and informative!

For those of you who would like more information, there is a detailed and fascinating biographical article about Sarah Bernhardt in the Jewish Women’s Archive at:

http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/bernhardt-sarah

*********************

A stunning and dramatic card, with minor wear to edges and corners, and some silvering which is very much to our taste. There is a handwritten message along the right edge of the face. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

11.00 USD

There's little we like more than fairy tales, and we are especially fond of those that are less well known, as is true of the tale referenced by this card, "La Fée aux Cheveux d'Or."

NOTE: This card is the subject of a contest. Read the details on our blog at:

http://redpoulaine.blogspot.com/2014/06/mirror-writing-mystery-and-handwriting.html

The image on the face of this intriguing card depicts a woman with extremely long hair, wearing only a faux nude body stocking, pearls, flowers, and a drape of cloth that hangs from one shoulder to her opposite hip. Above her, are the lyrics to a song:

La Fée aux Cheveux d'Or

Il était une fois mignonne,
Une Fée aux cheveux si blonds
Qu'ils semblaient d'or pris aux rayons
De quelque céleste couronne.
Il était une fois mignonne...
(Musique de P. Delmet).

We translate this as:

The Fairy with Hair of Gold, or The Golden-Haired Fairy

She was lovely once,
A fairy with hair so blond
It seemed golden rays taken
From some celestial crown.
She was lovely once ...
(Music by P. Delmet).

Although the song may (or may not) have been written by the French composer and singer Paul Julien Delmet, the title of the song and the character of the golden-haired beauty are taken from a story by Marie-Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness d'Aulnoy, better known as Madame d'Aulnoy, today. Madame d'Aulnoy was a French writer known for her "salons" in which the cream of French society took turns telling each other stories; she coined the term "contes de fées," which translates as fairy tales, to describe the stories they told.

A translation of Madame d'Aulnoy's "La Fée aux Cheveux d'Or" was published by Andrew Lang in The Blue Fairy Book, with the title "The Story of Pretty Goldilocks." Interestingly, Charming, in this story, is not a prince, but a mere courtier in a king's court. Here's a quick overview, if you're not familiar with the story:

A princess, called Pretty Goldilocks due to her beauty and golden hair, has no wish to get married. A king falls in love with her, but she rejects his proposal.

Now, usually, we'd expect the king to go on a quest to win his lady love, but that's not what happens. He sends Charming, instead. On his way to meet the princess, Charming meets the traditional three animals and helps each, receiving a promise of future help from each. When Charming meets her, the princess refuses the gifts he's brought from the king, one of them a little dog named Frisk, and sets three tasks that must be completed before she will be willing to marry. Charming thinks these are impossible tasks and is ready to give up, but Frisk encourages him to try, anyway. Of course, Charming's animal helpers are each perfectly suited to accomplish one of the tasks, so problem solved.

Princess Goldilocks agrees to marry the king, but what she really wants is to marry Charming. He, however, remains loyal to his ruler, and she goes ahead with the marriage. After the wedding, the king gets jealous, and throws Charming in the tower. But, the king is still fearful that he's not sufficiently handsome to please his wife, so he washes his face with water that's supposed to be from the Fountain of Beauty, Only, oops, a clumsy maid had broken the bottle it was in and replaced it with an identical one. The potion in this bottle, however, causes the king to fall into a profound sleep, from which he will never wake. (This was Madame d'Aulnoy's way of saying that the king died from drinking poison, without actually, you know, saying it.) Frisk, acting as messenger, runs to tell Charming, who's been languishing in his tower, that the king is dead, and Charming sends Frisk to remind the princess that he's still alive. She releases Charming and makes him king, as well as her husband, and the pair finally live "happily ever after."

This card was published by Bergeret, who practically pioneered the French post card. Though posted in 1904, it is an early divided back card, indicating it was published right around the date of the legal change that introduced today's modern post cards. Unlike most of Bergeret's cards, then, this is not considered a "precurseur."

There is also an example of mirror writing along one side of the card, only three words, but clearly the sender has made an effort to disguise the private message meant only for the receiver. You can learn more about the people and story mentioned in this post by visiting the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Delmet (Then click the link to view the translation of the French page for him, as it has an extensive bio.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_d%27Aulnoy/

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/503/503-h/503-h.htm#link2H_4_0019

****

This card was published on delicate card stock with lovely hand-tinting. There are tiny creases in both upper corners. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

11.00 USD

Born in Italy, in 1865, to an Italian mother and an Austrian army officer, Theresina Gessner moved with her family to Austria in the 1870s, polished up her German (she had been raised with Italian as her first language), studied drama at the Vienna Conservatory from the age of 16, and joined the German Theater in the 1880s, where she met and married Austrian actor Otto Sommerstorf in 1888. Here is a lovely image (Look at her hair! Wow!), probably published in the 1890s. Very nice condition.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for fully insured, first class, shipping in a secure photo mailer (to avoid any damage to your purchase in the mails), and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will 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!

7.00 USD

What fun! Can't you just imagine this flapper doing the Charleston with her beau and delighted to be the center of attention?

The reverse has a message in French, written in violet ink. We leave the discovery of it's meaning to you.

Lovely image by Noyer, beautifully hand-tinted. Creasing at top and bottom, primarily on the right side. Unposted.

Please examine our high res scans for detail!!!

This image is in our "Idols of the 1920s" section where 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!

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

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

Papetery de Levallois-Clichy was a Parisian postcard publisher, probably a stationer and printer before the postcard rage, but became P-C Paris, one of the most ubiquitous and influential publishers of 1920s postcard imagery. They were also the publishers of REX cards.

We are particularly fond of this variety of 1920s fantaisie card. The surrealistic, almost "cartoon-ish" Art Deco inspired background work, often detailed, as was this image, with metallic paint, was simply magical, and so evocative of the era. These cards were still hand-colored at this point, though the technique of stenciling (known as "pochoir") was a common, time saving method used in the cards' production. The detail on the model's charming dress is wonderful.

Those white, triangular-ish shapes on the beach beyond the glittery-gold seagull, are tents, or pavillions. Yep, going to the beach was sometimes a complicated affair, romantic, and from photos we've seen, far less crowded than the experience one may encounter at the more popular beach spots today.

A lovely little 1920s time machine with minor wear to edges and corners.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

Unidentified Natalia Trouhanova, Russian Dancer and Actress, in La Mariska, circa 1907 (1st of 2)

One of the advantages of working with historical images for an extended period of time is that sometimes we are able to recognize a performer, even though she is not identified in the image. This is such a case.

This lovely image depicts the beautiful Natalia Trouhanova, wearing gypsy garb which has been hand-tinted in vibrant colors.

Note that we have an additional image depicting Natalia, with slightly different coloring applied during hand-tinting, at: www.etsy.com/listing/191698738/unidentified-natalia-trouhanova-russian

Natalia (also known by the diminutive form, Natasha, or Natacha) Vladimirovna Trouhanova was born into a theatrical family in Kiev, in 1885. According to an interview she gave in 1911, her parents were of French, Polish, Serbian and Bohemian extraction. The family left Kiev when she was one year old, and until she was thirteen, she "lived like a nomad, traveling through all the countries of Europe." (interview in Comoedia, 1911).

At thirteen, she began formal study in Moscow, first in acting, and then dance. When she arrived in France, in the early 1900s, she, like many emigre performers, found work in the music halls. In 1905, in Monte Carlo, she was cast in the role of a Hungarian Gypsy girl, in Jean Lorrain's "La Mariska," an opera ballet, and her career caught fire. Most of the images we come across of La Trouhanova are in Gypsy garb, probably in costume for La Mariska.

Although she gained her initial fame as a dancer, some reviews of the time suggest that her skills lay more in the area of interpretive dance, as a soloist, than in classic ballet, and applaud her pantomime and acting, particularly as a tragedienne.

She also appeared in a number of early silent films. After the outbreak of WWI, she married a Russian count, and retired, at least temporarily, from the stage. In the 1920s, she returned to dancing for a time, and then some years later, she and her husband returned to (then Soviet) Russia, and later in her life, she worked as a translator of Russian political tracts, some by Stalin, himself.

Perhaps because her career was a short one, it is difficult to find, online, much information about la Trouhanova personally, apart from one source, where we were extremely lucky. All of our bio information came from a google books extract of "Legacies of Twentieth-Century Dance" by Lynn Garafola, published by Wesleyan University Press in 2005. We have a link below to that extract. Beginning on page 148, there is a great deal of information on Natalia Trouhanova. Of particular interest, though too lengthy to go into here, is her relationship (quite rocky), with Nijinsky and Diaghlev, well worth reading, as well as Ms. Garafola's insights into the state of the art, and business, of dance, in that place and time.

http://books.google.com/books?id=7gIDy6ait3IC&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=trouhanova&source=bl&ots=P4TuEpuJj9&sig=d7q1rB1xOl7Ldk_2z-WGMviLrT8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2SiMUpLsFuip2QXSyoDwDg&ved=0CGEQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=trouhanova&f=false

A very nice card, with minor wear to edges and corners. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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