14.00 USD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A very nice card, in fine, unposted condition.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

12.00 USD

A thought, or a memory, particularly associated with love, is actually the origin of the common name for that flower we call the pansy. Its name was taken from the old French, pensif (meaning thought), and put to use in English long ago.

Shakespeare, himself, made use of it in different instances. We learn from Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, for example, that the juice of it, "on sleeping eyelids laid, will make a man or woman madly dote upon the next live creature that it sees." In this case, Oberon was referring to "heart's ease," yet another name for the common European wild pansy, much used in herbal medicine, and the progenitor of the 19th century (and beyond) cultivated garden flower that we are so familiar with.

Because the word for "thought" in French is "pensée," and its homonym, "pensée" is also the French name for the flower, pansy, we run across many of these cards in which an image of embracing lovers is overlaid onto, or placed near, an image of a pansy, with a text that translates as "Think of me," or "Thinking of you," or as in this case, simply, "A Thought."

And this was not merely wordplay, but just one small example of the use to which the "Language of Flowers," so popular in those times, was put, when it was actually rather important to know the symbolic "meanings" of different flowers in order to correctly read the intentions of the person giving them to you. Silly parlor games, we might think, but no more so than anything "in fashion" can be deemed silly. Certainly one can be "un-fashionable" and muddle through just fine (I, for example, am a muddler!), sometimes even wearing our lack of fashion as a bold statement. But our personal response to fashion, will always be part of the way we communicate culturally, don'cha think? :)

A lovely, historically relevant, card, published by Alfred Noyer, and dated on the reverse, 1916.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

11.00 USD

Superb photographic portrait of unidentified theatrical performer, published in Geneva. No photographer attribution, either.
A fine card in fine 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!

17.00 USD

Lovely Belle Epoque opera star Lina Cavalieri isn't really slouching. It's a thoughtful pose! and what an expression :)

Photographer A. Bert was responsible for many wonderful theatrical portraits. We're dating this card to the 1910s, simply by appearance and because many of Bert's photos seem to have been taken during that time. We haven't gotten any bio information on Monsieur Bert just yet, but we're still looking.

A very nice card, and an uncommon image of an opera diva who was, in her time, called the most beautiful woman in the world. It was said that if you were performing in a theater, you never wanted La Cavalieri to take in the show, because if she did, rather than watching your performance onstage, all eyes would be on Cavalieri in her box seat.

The stamp is boldly placed in such a way that it almost appears as if Signorina Cavalieri is dodging it by leaning to the left :)

Some people collect postcards with stamps, some prefer them without. We mention that there are chemical solvents obtainable from distributors of stamp collecting supplies that one can brush onto stamps, and that dissolve the paste adhering them to the card, leaving almost no residue whatsoever. At Red Poulaine, the most we ever do in terms of altering the condition of the card as it comes to us, is to sometimes remove pencil marks with an art gum eraser. Anything beyond that we leave to the collector. We do tend, though we obviously love the medium of the postcard, to sell our cards more as images, common, scarce or rare, than as postcards, per se, and therefore lower our price on a card when the face is obscured by a stamp, or writing.

Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

19.00 USD

In addition to the Grande Roue de Paris, which would remain the largest Ferris wheel in the world for almost a century, the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900 had a tremendously popular Japanese pavilion, showing off the art, architecture and culture of Japan, and this card was possibly produced in response to that. That's just a wild guess since Japanese art and culture had been introduced popularly to the people of Paris at the Exposition of 1867, and had already inspired a great deal of interest. Asian art of both the far and near east made important contributions to the Art Nouveau, or Jugendstil, movement which was at its peak in 1900.

In any case this is one of the nicest turn of the century photographic portraits of a Japanese woman in traditional dress we've seen in some time. The detail, and buttery tone are perfect. The card itself is in excellent 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!

11.00 USD

Since it first opened in Paris, in the 1860s, the opera Mignon, the tale of a Gypsy girl's adventures, captured the European imagination. Images of Mignon on postcards were very popular, and though most of those we have listed in our shop were from the early 1900s, we can see here, that the character's popularity continued on, this image having been produced almost 80 years after the opera's first opening. The bindle, bandana, and mandolin, even the forlorn expression are relatively unchanged, it is only the blonde, "thoroughly modern" hairstyle that brings this Mignon into the "Jazz Age" :)

A very nice card in lovely posted 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!

14.00 USD

Really a very lovely bathing scene image by Heinrich (Henry) Traut of Munich, Germany, a prolific photographer of the Jugendstil Epoche who has quite a following among collectors today. Published by Rotophot of Berlin. Nearly perfect, unposted, condition on this card with only very minor wear to edges and corners.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

14.00 USD

Really a very lovely bathing scene image by Heinrich (Henry) Traut of Munich, Germany, a prolific photographer of the Jugendstil Epoche who has quite a following among collectors today. Published by Rotophot of Berlin. Nearly perfect, unposted, condition on this card with only very minor wear to edges and corners.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

risque,semi nude,bathing scene,henry traut,rotophot,vintage postcard,
german postcard,goddess,nyad,tinted postcard,naiad

The Marsh Maiden 3, A Bathing Naiad by Henry Traut of Munich, circa 1905/10

14.00 USD

Really a very lovely bathing scene image by Heinrich (Henry) Traut of Munich, Germany, a prolific photographer of the Jugendstil Epoche who has quite a following among collectors today. Published by Rotophot of Berlin. Nearly perfect, unposted, condition on this card with only very minor wear to edges and corners.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

14.00 USD

This precious image of two young Algerian women, is one of four wonderful postcards we are featuring this week that deserve attention for a couple of reasons beyond the beauty of the images themselves.

First, they fall under the category of what French deltiologists (otherwise known as "postcard geeks," like us :), call "précurseurs,"
a term applied to early postcards printed prior to 1904, and having the undivided back side, which was by regulation reserved for the recipient's address only, and where no other text was allowed. This sometimes resulted in letters composed in tiny script, swirling around the images on the face of these cards in wonderfully inventive ways, creating their own little mixed media art form that is perhaps appreciated by no one but us! (kidding...there are others out there :)

But these particular cards, produced probably in the late 1890s, and being examples of some of the very earliest "picture postcards," provided ample space on their faces for written communication. Cards of this type are not rare, by any means, but it is especially nice finding such wonderful examples that have not been written on.

The second point of interest is in the image subject generally. Algeria had been one of France's colonies for about 70 years at the time these photos were taken.
Because most of our cards are of French stage performers from the period known as the "Belle Epoque," images of women in colonial Algiers taken during that period, in native dress, are particularly interesting to us.

This is because so much of the art and entertainment media in France during la Belle Epoque, drew freely upon elements of native Algerian dress in the creation of what is sometimes called the "costume orientale," a particularly evocative, sexy (sometimes just plain silly, from our modern perspective), and romantic style of theatrical costume. This variety of costume was used in ballet and opera, in bawdy vaudeville productions, solo interpretations of traditional dance (including belly dancing, of course), promotional and advertising material by great masters like Alphonse Mucha, fine art paintings and sculptures submitted to the Paris Salon, and of course, photographs (many of which were turned into examples of one of our favorite mediums of small, popular art, the postcard :).

Jean Théophile Geiser 1848-1923 moved with his family, while a very young child, from his native Switzerland to Algeria in the early 1850s. By the late 1860s he had opened his own photography studio and over the next half century enjoyed great success, both in the winning of international awards for his work, and financially, through the sale of countless of his photographic images on picture postcards.

Though probably best known today for his "ethnic" nudes and costumed dancers, the popularity of which in France, no doubt played a great role in the prevalence of the "costume orientale" and "haremesque" imagery in Belle Epoque art and theater, he also traveled extensively throughout the east, photographing and writing on a broad array of subjects.

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

This image of a young Algerian woman preparing to dance, is one of four wonderful postcards we are featuring this week that deserve attention for a couple of reasons beyond the beauty of the images themselves.

First, they fall under the category of what French deltiologists (otherwise known as "postcard geeks," like us :), call "précurseurs,"
a term applied to early postcards printed prior to 1904, and having the undivided back side, which was by regulation reserved for the recipient's address only, and where no other text was allowed. This sometimes resulted in letters composed in tiny script, swirling around the images on the face of these cards in wonderfully inventive ways, creating their own little mixed media art form that is perhaps appreciated by no one but us! (kidding...there are others out there :)

But these particular cards, produced probably in the late 1890s, and being examples of some of the very earliest "picture postcards," provided ample space on their faces for written communication. Cards of this type are not rare, by any means, but it is especially nice finding such wonderful examples that have not been written on.

The second point of interest is in the image subject generally. Algeria had been one of France's colonies for about 70 years at the time these photos were taken.
Because most of our cards are of French stage performers from the period known as the "Belle Epoque," images of women in colonial Algiers taken during that period, in native dress, are particularly interesting to us.

This is because so much of the art and entertainment media in France during la Belle Epoque, drew freely upon elements of native Algerian dress in the creation of what is sometimes called the "costume orientale," a particularly evocative, sexy (sometimes just plain silly, from our modern perspective), and romantic style of theatrical costume. This variety of costume was used in ballet and opera, in bawdy vaudeville productions, solo interpretations of traditional dance (including belly dancing, of course), promotional and advertising material by great masters like Alphonse Mucha, fine art paintings and sculptures submitted to the Paris Salon, and of course, photographs (many of which were turned into examples of one of our favorite mediums of small, popular art, the postcard :).

Jean Théophile Geiser 1848-1923 moved with his family, while a very young child, from his native Switzerland to Algeria in the early 1850s. By the late 1860s he had opened his own photography studio and over the next half century enjoyed great success, both in the winning of international awards for his work, and financially, through the sale of countless of his photographic images on picture postcards.

Though probably best known today for his "ethnic" nudes and costumed dancers, the popularity of which in France, no doubt played a great role in the prevalence of the "costume orientale" and "haremesque" imagery in Belle Epoque art and theater, he also traveled extensively throughout the east, photographing and writing on a broad array of subjects.

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!

7.00 USD

This image of a beautiful young woman of the Ouled-Nails people of Algeria, dressed in all her finery, is one of four wonderful postcards we are featuring this week that deserve attention for a couple of reasons beyond the beauty of the images themselves.

First, they fall under the category of what French deltiologists (otherwise known as "postcard geeks," like us :), call "précurseurs,"
a term applied to early postcards printed prior to 1904, and having the undivided back side, which was by regulation reserved for the recipient's address only, and where no other text was allowed. This sometimes resulted in letters composed in tiny script, swirling around the images on the face of these cards in wonderfully inventive ways, creating their own little mixed media art form that is perhaps appreciated by no one but us! (kidding...there are others out there :)

But these particular cards, produced probably in the late 1890s, and being examples of some of the very earliest "picture postcards," provided ample space on their faces for written communication. Cards of this type are not rare, by any means, but it is especially nice finding such wonderful examples that have not been written on.

The second point of interest is in the image subject generally. Algeria had been one of France's colonies for about 70 years at the time these photos were taken.
Because most of our cards are of French stage performers from the period known as the "Belle Epoque," images of women in colonial Algiers taken during that period, in native dress, are particularly interesting to us.

This is because so much of the art and entertainment media in France during la Belle Epoque, drew freely upon elements of native Algerian dress in the creation of what is sometimes called the "costume orientale," a particularly evocative, sexy (sometimes just plain silly, from our modern perspective), and romantic style of theatrical costume. This variety of costume was used in ballet, opera, in bawdy vaudeville productions, solo interpretations of traditional dance (belly dancing, of course), promotional and advertising material by masters like Alphonse Mucha, fine art paintings and sculptures submitted to the Paris Salon, and, of course, photographs, many of which were turned into examples of one of our favorite mediums of small, popular art, the postcard :).

The brothers Neurdein had a studio in Paris from 1863 until just before the outbreak of WWI. So though pre-dating it by a few years, their careers pretty much spanned the whole of La Belle Epoque. Etienne Neurdein (1832-after 1915) stayed primarily in Paris, taking portraits in the studio, while his brother Louis Neurdein (1846-after 1915) traveled widely, spending much of his time in Algeria. This image is one of Louis'.

This card has some definite age spotting particularly evident in the blank area, and will be priced accordingly. 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

This superb image of an Algerian woman in fine costume, is one of four wonderful postcards we are featuring this week that deserve attention for a couple of reasons beyond the beauty of the images themselves.

First, they fall under the category of what French deltiologists (otherwise known as "postcard geeks," like us :), call "précurseurs,"
a term applied to early postcards printed prior to 1904, and having the undivided back side, which was by regulation reserved for the recipient's address only, and where no other text was allowed. This sometimes resulted in letters composed in tiny script, swirling around the images on the face of these cards in wonderfully inventive ways, creating their own little mixed media art form that is perhaps appreciated by no one but us! (kidding...there are others out there :)

But these particular cards, produced probably in the late 1890s, and being examples of some of the very earliest "picture postcards," provided ample space on their faces for written communication. Cards of this type are not rare, by any means, but it is especially nice finding such wonderful examples that have not been written on.

The second point of interest is in the image subject generally. Algeria had been one of France's colonies for about 70 years at the time these photos were taken.
Because most of our cards are of French stage performers from the period known as the "Belle Epoque," images of women in colonial Algiers taken during that period, in native dress, are particularly interesting to us.

This is because so much of the art and entertainment media in France during la Belle Epoque, drew freely upon elements of native Algerian dress in the creation of what is sometimes called the "costume orientale," a particularly evocative, sexy (sometimes just plain silly, from our modern perspective), and romantic style of theatrical costume. This variety of costume was used in ballet and opera, in bawdy vaudeville productions, solo interpretations of traditional dance (including belly dancing, of course), promotional and advertising material by great masters like Alphonse Mucha, fine art paintings and sculptures submitted to the Paris Salon, and of course, photographs (many of which were turned into examples of one of our favorite mediums of small, popular art, the postcard :).

Jean Théophile Geiser 1848-1923 moved with his family, while a very young child, from his native Switzerland to Algeria in the early 1850s. By the late 1860s he had opened his own photography studio and over the next half century enjoyed great success, both in the winning of international awards for his work, and financially, through the sale of countless of his photographic images on picture postcards.

Though probably best known today for his "ethnic" nudes and costumed dancers, the popularity of which in France, no doubt played a great role in the prevalence of the "costume orientale" and "haremesque" imagery in Belle Epoque art and theater, he also traveled extensively throughout the east, photographing and writing on a broad array of subjects.

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

Striking image by Leopold Reutlinger, circa 1900-1904, in which his use of lighting is strongly reminiscent of the theatrical portraits made by Jakob Schloss of New York, an American contemporary of Reutlinger's.

Charlotte Wiehe, born Charlotte Hansen (1865-1947), was a Danish actress who was born in Copenhagen, but spent much of her career in Paris and on international tour.

She began her career as a very successful dancer with the Royal Theater Ballet in Denmark, for which she danced from 1881 until 1890, but in 1890, following her marriage to the actor Anton Wilhelm Wiehe, she made a switch to the People's Theater as a stage actress.

In 1899, this marriage was dissolved, and Mlle. Wiehe married Hungarian violinist and composer Henri Berény, with whom she traveled to Paris. There, she was soon involved as a director and actress at the popular Théâtre des Capucines. Henri Berény composed the music for several operettas she performed there.

In the early 1900s she toured in Europe and the U.S. with a French company. We read mixed reviews of productions in New York, where her skills in pantomime (a very popular form of stage craft at that time) were highly lauded, but at least one reviewer had a problem with her Danish accented French.
Despite this challenge, she did very well in France! Our impression was that the New York reviewer was more nit-picky about French pronunciation than the French themselves, which is kind of funny.
Also, during this period, she made a silent film in London.

In WWI, the French government confiscated her possessions because of her being married to a Hungarian (Hungary being allied with Germany at the time). Though they encountered some problems in their marriage ( Wiehe and Berény divorced in 1920), he was apparently the love of her life, as they remarried in 1929, and remained so, apparently until his death in 1932.

Miss Wiehe remained active as a performer internationally. She returned to Paris in the 1920s, was still appearing in productions, even during WWII (by then in her 70s), and lived to the age of 82, when, after having returned to Denmark, she passed away in 1947.

A wonderful card in very nice condition with minor age spotting on the reverse.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

19.00 USD

We love the composition of this strange little RPPC. If it was just a snapshot of a man dancing in a brassiere, it might still be interesting, or not, depending on the context. After all, although we've never attended one personally, word is that this is a pretty common practice at "frat" parties! :)

But the way this image really works for us, is not even at center stage, where the obvious action is taking place, but rather diagonally, between the two other men.

We have first the spectator, in what was presumably modern, conventional dress (for circa 1940 Algeria, Morocco, or Egypt, just guessing), and then the seated man in the checked pants and loose white tunic, whose singing (and perhaps hand clapping) directs the dance.

This might have been nothing more than a silly stunt, or these might be street entertainers, or the scene might have a cultural significance immediately apparent to someone more familiar with that place and time, but for us, the diagonal line between the two not-dancing men is a direct path through the looking glass, as it were. We become the spectator, standing outside, and peering into a place where up is down, standing is sitting, man is woman, and conventional dress becomes brightly patterned and ostentatious. Very weird and dream-like, and we love it!

As with so many RPPCs, this is very possibly the only remaining example of this wonderful image in existence! We know nothing about any of the subjects, the photographer, or even the geographical location of this card's origin, only that it was produced on Agfa print stock (Actien-Gesellschaft für Anilin-Fabrikation). This was a very big German producer of photo chemicals and print paper that shipped worldwide, so no country of origin help there, but by the style of the "Agfa" mark on the back of the card, we can at least date the paper to pre-1945. Finally, the brassiere helps us narrow it down a bit. Apparently the "bullet" bra first surfaced in the late 1930s, but didn't really become popular until after WWII, so our photograph was probably taken sometime between 1939, when the bullet bra appeared, and 1944, the last year Agfa paper bearing the particular mark on the back of our card, was produced.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

12.00 USD

Gorgeous Art Nouveau composite piece by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris. Exquisitely hand-colored. Posted in 1907. Some creasing on a corner, and on this glossy finish card, little dents and thumps are apparent close up, but don't show up well on our scan, so please be advised! Otherwise, a remarkable card that affords its holder a magical window into that gilded time and place,,,but we rhapsodize :)

Also from 1907, please enjoy a snippet of Robert W. Chambers work, a prolific American author, and very much a favorite of ours, who was known to use Belle Epoque Paris as a setting for many of his fictional pieces:

"Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume ; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of rose-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees"

"all a glisten with golden bees," huh? Wow. his writing was so wonderfully evocative! If you'd like to check out one of his best known works, you can download (upload...I never remember) "The King in Yellow," onto your PC, or even your kindle, FOR FREE! Just follow below link to Internet Archive, an absolutely free, no need to register, no strings attached, source of out of copyright written works! We often make use of it in our research work, or just for a good read.

https://archive.org/details/kinginyellow00chamgoog

Wonderful card. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

36.00 USD

This card is a special, special, treat! La Belle Oterita, who (we've only recently discovered) used to be billed as La Belle Otero's younger sister, was apparently dancing in Rio de Janeiro in September of 1906, when she received flowers from someone (presumably in the audience), and a request for a private audience.

In the message she wrote on the front of the card, in the violet ink so popular at that time, she thanked them for the beautiful flowers, and wrote that she would await their visit! Now that is fun!! This card then, was seemingly not purchased by an admirer at the theater, or in a shop, but one the dancer herself had delivered to her admirer, inviting them to her dressing room after the performance!

Was it a handsome gentleman? Would they perhaps have dinner together after the show? Or was it a young girl, an aspiring dancer, starstruck, and hoping for some professional advice? Who knows? Definitely a one of a kind card though, and we are very pleased to share it with you :)

La Belle Oterita has been one of our favorites for quite some time. Though we don't personally see any close resemblance, her cards have frequently been mistakenly listed as images of the much better known Belle (Caroline) Otero, and we used to wonder if this extraordinarily cute dancer had chosen the name Oterita ("Little Otero"), intentionally associating herself with Otero in order to further her career. Well, now we know that the answer to that question is yes! But perhaps for a very good reason.

Was she La Belle Otero's little sister? Why not? Caroline Otero had siblings, we know that, so it's certainly possible that a younger sister chose to follow in the famous dancer's footsteps. On the other hand, many performers have embellished their backgrounds in order to make themselves more fascinating to their audience, and it's seen not so much as a negative thing, as some dark deception, but rather as just another piece of "theater." :)

A wonderful image by Gerlach of Berlin, and a wonderfully personal connection with the artiste, herself!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

33.00 USD

We've had cards with this particularly charming image of La Belle Oterita in our shop a number of times, but never an autographed version! This came into our hands with another card, out of the same collection. That one too, was signed, though with an additional message, and dated 1906 in Rio de Janeiro. We are particularly fond of the highly decorative tambourine in this photo.

La Belle Oterita has been one of our favorites for quite some time. Though we don't personally see any close resemblance, her cards have frequently been mistakenly listed as images of the much better known Belle (Caroline) Otero, and we used to wonder if this extraordinarily cute dancer had chosen the name Oterita ("Little Otero"), intentionally associating herself with Caroline Otero in order to further her career. Well, now we know that the answer to that question is yes! But perhaps for a very good reason.

We recently learned that she used to be billed as La Belle Otero's little sister. True? Why not? Caroline Otero had siblings, we know that, so it's certainly possible that a younger sister chose to follow in the famous dancer's footsteps. On the other hand, many performers have embellished their backgrounds in order to make themselves more fascinating to their audience, and it's seen not so much as a negative thing, as some dark deception, but rather as just another piece of "theater." :)

A wonderful image, and a wonderfully personal connection with the artiste, herself!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

22.00 USD

One of our favorite and most magical subgenres of "Lovely Lady" postcards has to be that of the Marvelous Maenad. These are somewhat idealized, and presumably toned down, versions of those wild maidens of ancient Greece, who in their worship of Dionysus, god of wine and sensual abandon, got up to all kinds of mischief.

The maenad as an image, was practically the poster girl of La Belle Epoque, expressing that rich, earthy, "joie de vivre," which has come to be seen as so expressive of the era. Of course we can't forget that Maenad images also celebrated the grape harvest and wine production (not just the drinking of it :), a very important contributor to the economy of France, and so in some ways, were patriotic images too!

In our Marvelous Maenad section, we're not all that particular about whether the model is depicted as a woodland sprite, a pagan priestess, or if they're just a couple of Belle Epoque chorus girls unwinding after a tough dress rehearsal. The postcards we list in this section might have been published anytime between the 1890s and the 1930s. Basically, if they're wearing grapes, grapevines, animal skins, or any of the other accoutrements no self respecting maenad could do without, this is the section they'll end up in. Welcome to the Bacchanal!!! :)

La Vigne was a wonderful series of images made in the early 1900s by Monsieur Walery, aka Stanislaw Julian Ignacy, Count Ostorog (1863-1935). He was the son of Count Stanislaw Julian Ostorog the elder. Both men were well known and well respected photographers. The elder Count, born in Lithuania in 1830, grew up in Paris, was a professional soldier (an officer in various armies), and becoming a British citizen in the 1860s, took the name Walery as a working name (we read somewhere that his wife's (the Countess) name was Waleria, and that he adapted his working name from hers). Queen Victoria sat for him, as did many other notables of Victorian society.

Having taken the same working name as his father, and though usually thought of as a French photographer, Walery the younger, whose photographs are the ones that most interest us here at Red Poulaine, probably spoke an unaccented Queen's English of the upper classes despite his romantic name and title, and was likely English to the core. Though himself a successful photographer in London, he moved to Paris in 1900 and opened a lavishly decorated studio on the Rue de Irondes, where he made a specialty of theatrical portraits.

A marvelous image of a really cute (and corseted) stage performer in a fantastic maenad get-up, beautifully hand-tinted and in very nice posted 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

Superb image of Belle Epoque stage performer Mlle. Marville photographed by Reutlinger of Paris. Dated 1901, this card was published by SIP (Société Industrielle de Photographié). Wonderful tone and detail. Unposted and in lovely condition. She is adorned with cherries, ans this is rather a nice corset image too.
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!