17.00 USD

A hush falls over the audience. Even the calliope is silent now. The ringmaster, with an almost sinister air of mystery, doffs his black silk hat and bows deeply. The air is heavy with the smells of freshly roasted peanuts and apples, popcorn, sawdust, the manure of animals, the sweat of a closely packed crowd. All eyes are glued to the center ring in delighted anticipation of the unknown. What thrilling spectacle is about to unfold? We can expect tightrope-walkers, acrobats, dancers from strange and forbidden kingdoms, that daring young man, or woman, on the flying trapeze, jugglers and clowns. We are under the big top, the largest tent on the circus grounds, its central pole as big around as the trunk of a great tree, reaching from the eye-dazzling lights and sequined sparkles of the central ring, up, up into the heights of impenetrable darkness and gloom.
In this section, "Under the Big Top," we hope to entice you with the romantic images of circus performers, and of variety artists whose acts appeared on the bills not only of circuses, but of those variety shows that played on a stage, at a time when the movie industry was still in its earliest infancy, when, before the advent of television, or even radio, entertainment was always live.

Awesome early circus photo of an artiste by the name of Saltorelli. We cannot find any history on her, unfortunately. We are not thrilled with the print quality on this one, nor by the surface blemishes. This is an instance, believe it or not, of our scans actually making the card look worse than it appears face to face. The little white dots are certainly blemishes of some sort, but not really as noticeable as they seem in the close up.

Few of our customers, as far as we know, are stamp collectors, but there must be a few of them who drop by now and again. It would make sense, since we largely purchase our stock with image and history in mind, and so don't look too closely at most of the stamps, and we have no doubt that some fairly valuable ones have slipped by us.

The collection of "covers" (simply, and we hope correctly described as, postcards and envelopes that bear stamps and cancellations), is a field where postcard collecting and stamp collecting overlap.

When one of our postcards bears a canceled stamp, it becomes a cover. This particular cover, bearing a Principaute de Monaco red 10c Albert, posted to Paris in 1904, would appear to be valued (in the online stamp world) at somewhere between 15 and 50 dollars. We're just throwing that out there as a point of possible interest, but as usual are basing our price on image, history, perceived scarcity and condition.

A lovely circus item, with some wear to surface, corners and edges. 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

Bacchus ventures, "Oh Beauteous One, answer me true. What are my chances?"

To which Lutece replies, "Perhaps as much as...this...thou silly goat." :)

Lutece (pronounced LOO-tess) was the public persona of the lovely young woman in this photograph. We have not yet dug up any biographical information on her, which is a bit surprising given the number of images of her we've run across. Nearly all of the photos we've seen were taken by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, the well known theatrical portraitist, and nearly all of them have her attired in that "classical" garb so popular during la Belle Epoque, and as much a fixture in Art Nouveau painting and sculpture as the "costume orientale."

Like another popular postcard model of the period, Mlle. Doll, Lutece is most often pictured in a natural setting, by stream, or virgin spring, and particularly in sweet meadows. But while Doll was often photographed in the woodlands, with squirrels, bunnies, deer, peacocks, etc., giving her photographs a distinctly fairy tale feel, Lutece's images were of a more "antiquated" variety, like scenes out of classical Greek, or Roman, myth. She was pictured playing the lyre, or pipes, worshipfully holding aloft a bunch of grapes, or nibbling at them, and as for wildlife, white doves seemed to love congregating near her.

And her name was well suited to her, because Lutece is the French word for the Latin Lutetia, or Lutetia Parisiorum, the 3rd Century b.c.e. home of the Parisii, an ancient Gallic people who it is thought first settled the area that became the Roman town, Lutetia, and where now stands the city of lights, Paris. Perhaps she represented to theater goers their forgotten origins, in a simpler, more magical, "golden" time, that La Belle Epoque, the "beautiful era," seemed always to be reaching toward.

Also like Doll, we really know nothing yet about her performance art, whether she was an actress, a singer, a dancer, or simply a lovely young woman whose images sparked Monsieur Reutlinger's, and the public's imaginations.


A very nice, unposted card, circa 1900.

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!

17.00 USD

Lutece (pronounced LOO-tess) was the public persona of the lovely young woman in this photograph. We have not yet dug up any biographical information on her, which is a bit surprising given the number of images of her we've run across. Nearly all of the photos we've seen were taken by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, the well known theatrical portraitist, and nearly all of them have her attired in that "classical" garb so popular during la Belle Epoque, and as much a fixture in Art Nouveau painting and sculpture as the "costume orientale."

Like another popular postcard model of the period, Mlle. Doll, Lutece is most often pictured in a natural setting, by stream, or virgin spring, and particularly in sweet meadows. But while Doll was often photographed in the woodlands, with squirrels, bunnies, deer, peacocks, etc., giving her photographs a distinctly fairy tale feel, Lutece's images were of a more "antiquated" variety, like scenes out of classical Greek, or Roman, myth. She was pictured playing the lyre, or pipes, worshipfully holding aloft a bunch of grapes, or nibbling at them, and as for wildlife, white doves seemed to love congregating near her.

And her name was well suited to her, because Lutece is the French word for the Latin Lutetia, or Lutetia Parisiorum, the 3rd Century b.c.e. home of the Parisii, an ancient Gallic people who it is thought first settled the area that became the Roman town, Lutetia, and where now stands the city of lights, Paris. Perhaps she represented to theater goers their forgotten origins, in a simpler, more magical, "golden" time, that La Belle Epoque, the "beautiful era," seemed always to be reaching toward.

Also like Doll, we really know nothing yet about her performance art, whether she was an actress, a singer, a dancer, or simply a lovely young woman whose images sparked Monsieur Reutlinger's, and the public's imaginations.


A very nice, unposted card, circa 1900.

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!

22.00 USD

Lutece (pronounced LOO-tess) was the public persona of the lovely young woman in this photograph. We have not yet dug up any biographical information on her, which is a bit surprising given the number of images of her we've run across. Nearly all of the photos we've seen were taken by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, the well known theatrical portraitist, and nearly all of them have her attired in that "classical" garb so popular during la Belle Epoque, and as much a fixture in Art Nouveau painting and sculpture as the "costume orientale."

Like another popular postcard model of the period, Mlle. Doll, Lutece is most often pictured in a natural setting, by stream, or virgin spring, and particularly in sweet meadows. But while Doll was often photographed in the woodlands, with squirrels, bunnies, deer, peacocks, etc., giving her photographs a distinctly fairy tale feel, Lutece's images were of a more "antiquated" variety, like scenes out of classical Greek, or Roman, myth. She was pictured playing the lyre, or pipes, worshipfully holding aloft a bunch of grapes, or nibbling at them, and as for wildlife, white doves seemed to love congregating near her.

And her name was well suited to her, because Lutece is the French word for the Latin Lutetia, or Lutetia Parisiorum, the 3rd Century b.c.e. home of the Parisii, an ancient Gallic people who it is thought first settled the area that became the Roman town, Lutetia, and where now stands the city of lights, Paris. Perhaps she represented to theater goers their forgotten origins, in a simpler, more magical, "golden" time, that La Belle Epoque, the "beautiful era," seemed always to be reaching toward.

Also like Doll, we really know nothing yet about her performance art, whether she was an actress, a singer, a dancer, or simply a lovely young woman whose images sparked Monsieur Reutlinger's, and the public's imaginations.


A very nice, unposted card, circa 1900.

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!

17.00 USD

Lutece (pronounced LOO-tess) was the public persona of the lovely young woman in this photograph. We have not yet dug up any biographical information on her, which is a bit surprising given the number of images of her we've run across. Nearly all of the photos we've seen were taken by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, the well known theatrical portraitist, and nearly all of them have her attired in that "classical" garb so popular during la Belle Epoque, and as much a fixture in Art Nouveau painting and sculpture as the "costume orientale."

Like another popular postcard model of the period, Mlle. Doll, Lutece is most often pictured in a natural setting, by stream, or virgin spring, and particularly in sweet meadows. But while Doll was often photographed in the woodlands, with squirrels, bunnies, deer, peacocks, etc., giving her photographs a distinctly fairy tale feel, Lutece's images were of a more "antiquated" variety, like scenes out of classical Greek, or Roman, myth. She was pictured playing the lyre, or pipes, worshipfully holding aloft a bunch of grapes, or nibbling at them, and as for wildlife, white doves seemed to love congregating near her.

And her name was well suited to her, because Lutece is the French word for the Latin Lutetia, or Lutetia Parisiorum, the 3rd Century b.c.e. home of the Parisii, an ancient Gallic people who it is thought first settled the area that became the Roman town, Lutetia, and where now stands the city of lights, Paris. Perhaps she represented to theater goers their forgotten origins, in a simpler, more magical, "golden" time, that La Belle Epoque, the "beautiful era," seemed always to be reaching toward.

Also like Doll, we really know nothing yet about her performance art, whether she was an actress, a singer, a dancer, or simply a lovely young woman whose images sparked Monsieur Reutlinger's, and the public's imaginations.


A very nice, unposted card, circa 1900.

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!

22.00 USD

One of four wonderful cards published by G. B. Falci of Milan, out of a number of great Italian cards from the teens and twenties we got for the shop this week.

We are still researching G. B. Falci, the publisher. We have always loved their "soft focus" images. Unfortunately, there is no artiste or photographer attribution on this one.

On each of the four cards we have from this series, there is a word or phrase at the base of the card chosen to express the models mood. This is not uncommon for romantic Italian postcard images produced at that time. Complete series were able to describe a gamut of emotions, or a single card like this one, sent to a lover, or rejected suitor, might offer a clear message without a need for any further comment :)

At the base of this particular card, is the word, "Disprezzo," or "Contempt."

It's interesting to us that French romance postcard images were almost always light and airy, while so many of the Italian ones, though there was of course much sweetness and light there as well, often explored "the dark side of romance," moving sometimes in the direction rejection, jealousy, tragedy, danger, etc. So much fun!!!

If you look very closely at her headband, you will see the classic Mediterranean engraved pattern present on the large flat links of her chain-like headband. This detail, as well as the model's lovely long hair, are great examples of the way Art Nouveau took its time slipping into (interweaving with) Art Deco, particularly in our Italian cards. **Of course, we are not art historians, nor are we experts of any kind, just very enthusiastic amateurs, and welcome comments from anyone who agrees with us (kidding :) any comments, perhaps especially differing ones would be most welcome!**

A very nice unposted card. 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!

26.00 USD

One of four wonderful cards published by G. B. Falci of Milan, out of a number of great Italian cards from the teens and twenties we got for the shop this week.

We are still researching G. B. Falci, the publisher. We have always loved their "soft focus" images. Unfortunately, there is no artiste or photographer attribution on this one.

On each of the four cards we have from this series, there is a word or phrase at the base of the card chosen to express the models mood. This is not uncommon for romantic Italian postcard images produced at that time. Complete series were able to describe a gamut of emotions, or a single card like this one, sent to a lover, or rejected suitor, might offer a clear message without a need for any further comment :)

At the base of this particular card, is the phrase, "Eppur ti penso," or "And yet, I think about you."

This is our favorite out of the group, priced a bit higher, because the image is just superb :)

It's interesting to us that French romance postcard images were almost always light and airy, while so many of the Italian ones, though there was of course much sweetness and light there as well, often explored "the dark side of romance," moving sometimes in the direction rejection, jealousy, tragedy, danger, etc. So much fun!!!

If you look very closely at her headband, you will see the classic Mediterranean engraved pattern present on the large flat links of her chain-like headband. This detail, as well as the model's lovely long hair, are great examples of the way Art Nouveau took its time slipping into (interweaving with) Art Deco, particularly in our Italian cards. **Of course, we are not art historians, nor are we experts of any kind, just very enthusiastic amateurs, and welcome comments from anyone who agrees with us (kidding :) any comments, perhaps especially differing ones would be most welcome!**

A very nice unposted card. 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!

22.00 USD

One of four wonderful cards published by G. B. Falci of Milan, out of a number of great Italian cards from the teens and twenties we got for the shop this week.

We are still researching G. B. Falci, the publisher. We have always loved their "soft focus" images. Unfortunately, there is no artiste or photographer attribution on this one.

On each of the four cards we have from this series, there is a word or phrase at the base of the card chosen to express the models mood. This is not uncommon for romantic Italian postcard images produced at that time. Complete series were able to describe a gamut of emotions, or a single card like this one, sent to a lover, or rejected suitor, might offer a clear message without a need for any further comment :)

At the base of this particular card, is the phrase, "Ti Odio," or "I hate you." Oh My!

It's interesting to us that French romance postcard images were almost always light and airy, while so many of the Italian ones, though there was of course much sweetness and light there as well, often explored "the dark side of romance," moving sometimes in the direction rejection, jealousy, tragedy, danger, etc. So much fun!!!

If you look very closely at her headband, you will see the classic Mediterranean engraved pattern present on the large flat links of her chain-like headband. This detail, as well as the model's lovely long hair, are great examples of the way Art Nouveau took its time slipping into (interweaving with) Art Deco, particularly in our Italian cards. **Of course, we are not art historians, nor are we experts of any kind, just very enthusiastic amateurs, and welcome comments from anyone who agrees with us (kidding :) any comments, perhaps especially differing ones would be most welcome!**

A very nice unposted card. 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!

22.00 USD

One of four wonderful cards published by G. B. Falci of Milan, out of a number of great Italian cards from the teens and twenties we got for the shop this week.

We are still researching G. B. Falci, the publisher. We have always loved their "soft focus" images. Unfortunately, there is no artiste or photographer attribution on this one.

On each of the four cards we have from this series, there is a word or phrase at the base of the card chosen to express the models mood. This is not uncommon for romantic Italian postcard images produced at that time. Complete series were able to describe an entire gamut of emotions, or cards like these, sent to a lover, or rejected suitor, might offer a clear message without a need for any further comment :)

At the base of this particular card, is the phrase, "Ti Sfido," or, I challenge you."

It's interesting to us that French romance postcard images were almost always light and airy, while so many of the Italian ones, though there was of course much sweetness and light there as well, often explored "the dark side of romance," moving sometimes in the direction rejection, jealousy, tragedy, danger, etc. So much fun!!!

If you look very closely at her headband, you will see the classic Mediterranean engraved pattern present on the large flat links of her chain-like headband. This detail, as well as the model's lovely long hair, are great examples of the way Art Nouveau took its time slipping into (interweaving with) Art Deco, particularly in our Italian cards. **Of course, we are not art historians, nor are we experts of any kind, just very enthusiastic amateurs, and welcome comments from anyone who agrees with us (kidding :) any comments, perhaps especially differing ones would be most welcome!**

A very nice unposted card. 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!

24.00 USD

Gorgeous, soft focused image of beautiful actress Ilia Di Marzio, published by G. B. Falci of Milan. The artistic blending of tone in the image, and its title, "Malizie," playfully, "Mischief," or more darkly, "Malice" (the photographer's, or publisher's, interpretation of the image), almost places it, for us, within the pictorialist movement of photography. All that shimmering netting woven of fine metallic thread! What a magically Haremesque image! Like something right out of the 1001 Nights!

Signorina Di Marzio is unfortunately one of those artistes about whom we've yet to learn very much. She apparently gained popularity in the 1920s, performing in the operettas (in Italy, at that time, the term operetta most particularly referred to light musical theater, more than to "operettas" of the "classical" variety). We ran across brief mention of her being known for her interpretations of work by Franz Lehar (Composer of "Die Lustige Witwe," or "The Merry Widow"), but we couldn't find any other references to this.

The only definite references we found beginning on Wikipedia Italy, pertained to her having been married to the Italian ethnologist, linguist and author, Ferruccio Caressa (1877-1947), who apparently compiled a dictionary much used by travelers and the military in the Italian colonies of East Africa, and with whom she had a son named Wolfgang! Fringe trivia, but still interesting, we hope :)

But even lacking biography, this is certainly a magnificent image. 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!

26.00 USD

Italian Actress in Soft Focus with Long Hair and Black Lace III, by G. B. Falci, circa 1920s

One of four wonderful cards published by G. B. Falci of Milan, out of a number of great Italian cards from the teens and twenties we got for the shop this week.

We are still researching G. B. Falci, the publisher. We have always loved their "soft focus" images. Unfortunately, there is no artiste or photographer attribution on this one.

On each of the four cards we have from this series, there is a word or phrase at the base of the card chosen to express the models mood. This is not uncommon for romantic Italian postcard images produced at that time. Complete series were able to describe a gamut of emotions, or a single card like this one, sent to a lover, or rejected suitor, might offer a clear message without a need for any further comment :)

At the base of this particular card, is the phrase, "Eppur ti penso," or "And yet, I think about you."

This is our favorite out of the group, priced a bit higher, because the image is just superb :)

It's interesting to us that French romance postcard images were almost always light and airy, while so many of the Italian ones, though there was of course much sweetness and light there as well, often explored "the dark side of romance," moving sometimes in the direction rejection, jealousy, tragedy, danger, etc. So much fun!!!

If you look very closely at her headband, you will see the classic Mediterranean engraved pattern present on the large flat links of her chain-like headband. This detail, as well as the model's lovely long hair, are great examples of the way Art Nouveau took its time slipping into (interweaving with) Art Deco, particularly in our Italian cards. **Of course, we are not art historians, nor are we experts of any kind, just very enthusiastic amateurs, and welcome comments from anyone who agrees with us (kidding :) any comments, perhaps especially differing ones would be most welcome!**

A very nice unposted card. 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!

18.00 USD

Really wonderful! Not the typical Pierrot image! A beautifully and brightly-colored hand-tinted card published by Bleuet, probably in the 1920s, showing Pierrot wooing Colombinette under the moon, while holding a mandolin in one hand. We love the wonderful scarves that grace each of the lovers' heads.Very nice coloration. 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

Manon Loty, beautiful star of the Paris music halls in a wonderfully classic "pin-up" pose. Very nice card, circa 1900.
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!

12.00 USD

Beautiful! Classic Belle Epoque look. So cute. We aren't familiar with the photographer Dainef, but the card was published by G. Piprot of Paris, one of our favorites. Published circa 1905 and posted 1908. A lovely card.
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

Really a lovely image, produced by B. Bing of Austria. Unfortunately, we have no background info. Probably a publicity still of two actresses as they appeared in a popular stage production. 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!

16.00 USD

Stanislav Julian Ignacy, the Count Ostorog, took the name Walery as a pseudonym for his photographic work, just as his father, the elder Count Ostorog had before him. In those days it was not seemly, don't you know, for a member of the aristocracy to besmirch the family name by openly dabbling in a trade like photography :)
The elder count had already made a name for himself as a photographer of celebrities in England (among his credits was Queen Victoria), before his son took over the business upon the elder count's death in 1890. It was in 1900 that the younger Walery moved from London to establish himself, in opulent digs, in Paris, where he seems to have specialized in portraits of Belle Epoque showgirls. Though his output doesn't appear to come even close to the prolific Leopold Reutlinger (a competitor of his, whose images we frequently display in our shop), Walery was responsible for a great many wonderful images of such well known performers as Mata Hari and later, the great Josephine Baker.
This image of Mlle. Gallet, about whom we have found no biographical information whatsoever, was published by Monsieur G. Piprot of Paris, sometime between the years 1900 and 1904.
A wonderfully evocative card (don't you just love the curled toe on her heeled slipper?), in very nice unposted condition.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

3.00 USD

Posted from Belgium in 1904, a very cute image of Belle Epoque dancer, Mlle. Caux. Postcard shows a bit of wear. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

1866 was the year in which the opéra comique "Mignon" by Ambroise Thomas (based upon a novel by Goethe) opened with great success in Paris. From there, its popularity spread through Europe and the Americas.Though the opera went through a number of changes in language, in endings (from happy, to tragic, and back again), etc., it remained hugely popular, and the story, of a tragical Gypsy girl (you'll get no spoilers here), took hold in the popular imagination.

When, at the turn of the century, postcard collecting became a huge craze, the character Mignon became a postcard favorite. We love the broad variety of Mignon images, almost all of them easily identifiable as Mignon, not only by the text "Mignon" usually prominent on the card's face, but by the character herself: a lovely young Gypsy waif, barefoot, in somewhat ragged clothing, and bearing a mandolin.

Of course, through market saturation (marketing being even then, much like what it is now :), there grew to be almost numberless variations on the theme. Mignons with lyres, on horseback, half-dressed and sultry-eyed in haystacks, cute toddler Mignons, even cuter baby Mignons, even cat and dog Mignons! And we do love almost all of them :)

This one is very interesting. 60 years, more or less, had passed between the date of the opera's opening and the printing of this image. Note that there is no "Mignon" title printed on the card. Our Gypsy waif has become decontextualized, now an unnamed character type off the "silver screen," with those classic "racoon" eyes that pretty much began as a technical innovation in the new medium of silent film*, and it's likely that the youngest generation of postcard buyers when purchasing this card, no longer even associated the image with the original opera!

*Racoon eyes were applied on silent film actors in order to accentuate desired characteristics of those most expressive of the facial features: the eyes. This was not merely an application of black eye makeup (as we might have thought), but a complex balance of what were often several colors, depending on an actor's skin tone, color of eyes, hair, etc. Lavender, blue, black, yellow, red, create different effects in "black and white."

Below, is a link to one of the more popular arias from the opera Mignon, "Connais-tu le pays?" or "Do you know the land?" a lovely, wistful song in which Mignon expresses her (almost metaphysical) longing for her home.

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

A great 1920s Mignon image 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!

16.00 USD

Here is a delightful image, by Monsieur Ogerau of Paris, of Belle Époque dancer Suzy Deguez performing her signature dance.

Mlle. Deguez made quite a name for herself performing something called the "Danse des Cheveux," or "Hair Dance." We haven't yet uncovered anything definite on the origin of Mlle. Deguez' dance, but think it's probable that it was an interpretation of the Danse des Cheveux performed by young unmarried women among the Berber people of Morocco.

La Belle Époque was an era in which interpretive soloists, whether classically trained, like Cleo de Merode, or less so, like Mata Hari, could become wealthy and famous by performing versions of centuries-old dances originating in foreign lands where, in the early 1900s, the European powers maintained colonies.

Although Deguez' Hair Dance was probably drawn from North African sources, and Mata Hari's best known work was apparently based upon Indonesian temple dances, Mata Hari, on at least one occasion, argued against Deguez' right to perform certain routines, claiming that they were too close to her own. This kind of dispute was not at all uncommon at that time, and would sometimes have to be settled in courts of law.

The Berber Danse des Cheveux, perhaps originating in Tunisia, was sometimes prepared for by soaking the dancer's hair in water and oil, and then rubbing the hair with sand, in order to stiffen the strands, allowing for better range of motion. Below we have a link to four interpretations of middle eastern hair dances in which the dancers' hair show not the slightest sign of being dredged in sand, but are great fun just the same. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQyohrTlSiM&list=PL56380FB8868585BD&index=3

A wonderful card with some 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, 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

Louise Armandine Duval (1879-1940) who took the stage name Armande Cassive, was a popular comic actress of the French theater.
Raised in an Ursuline convent, she began her work on the stage in the late 19th century, and also appeared in film in later years. Below is a quote by critic Carl Van Vechten (writer, photographer, patron of the Harlem Renaissance, and long time friend of Gertrude Stein) from "The Merry-Go-Round," in which he heaps praise upon Mlle. Cassive, apparently considering her a very funny lady, indeed!

"I sometimes think that _"Occupe-toi d'Amelie"_ is the most satisfactory play I have ever seen; it is certainly the most delightful. I do not think you can see it in Paris again. The Nouveautes, where it was presented for over a year, has been torn down; an English translation would be an insult to Feydeau; nor will you find essays about it in the yellow volumes in which the French critics tenderly embalm their _feuilletons_; nor do I think Arthur Symons or George Moore, those indefatigable diggers in Parisian graveyards, have discovered it for their English readers. Reading the play is to miss half its pleasure; so you must take my word in the matter unless you have been lucky enough to see it yourself, in which case ten to one you will agree with me that one such play is worth a kettleful of boiled-over drama like _Le Voleur_, _Le Secret_, _Samson_, _La Vierge Folle_, _et cetera_, _et cetera_. In the pieces I have mentioned Feydeau, in representation, had the priceless assistance of a great comic artist, Armande Cassive. If we are to take Mr. Symons's assurance in regard to de Pachmann that he is the world's greatest pianist because he does one thing more perfectly than any one else, by a train of similar reasoning we might confidently assert that Mlle. Cassive is the world's greatest actress."

Van Vechten was writing about a play by that grandson of Moliere, Georges Feydeau, the famous French play-write, whose farces are acknowledged forerunners to the Surrealist, Dadaist, and Absurdist schools of French theater. The play to which he refers was produced in 1908, approximately 10 years before Feydeau contracted syphilis, and going slowly mad, died three years later, at age 58 ( alas, every now and then we receive a sharp reminder that la Belle Epoque was not all rose petals and laughter).

Feydeau's plays (he wrote at least 60 of them), were not terribly well respected by the literati of the time, but very popular nevertheless, and Van Vechten appears to have been ahead of his time yet again, since today, Feydeau is considered to be one of the finest play-writes of Belle Epoque France.

Mlle. Cassive first met Georges Feydeau when she was only 14, and refused a small part in one of his plays. Years later, in 1898, she accepted his offer for the lead in "The Lady from Maxim's," which she helped make a tremendous success.

Mlle. Cassive was to become one of Feydeau's favorite actresses, and appeared in many of his productions. She enjoyed great success for decades, but was possibly typecast, since following Feydeau's death, in 1921, her career flagged almost to nothing. in 1940, the year German forces marched into Paris, Armande Cassive ended her days sadly; dying in Paris, by all accounts unknown, alone, and in poverty.

A gorgeous card by Leopold Reutlinger, showing the young Cassive in happier times. Very nice condition too, with lovely hand-tinting, and only minor age tanning.
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.