16.00USD

Henri Manuel took this photograph of Vera Sergine, who was the wife of Pierre Auguste Renoir, and the mother of Claude Renoir, in addition to being a popular actress on the Belle Epoque stage, and a star of the early silents. Just for fun, we are including (though definitely Not For Sale), an image of a portrait Pierre Renoir painted of Vera, and so, for those of you interested in the French impressionists and post-impressionists, but lacking the 514.000 dollars ncessary to purchase the painting whose image we share in this listing, you might like possessing a very close relation! :) Very nice un-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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new 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!

22.00USD

Gorgeously hand-tinted card with image of a dancer we believe to be Germaine Rose, performing the Danse du Sabre. Very nice condition, though with stamp affixed to the front, as was often the custom in those days. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

12.00USD

Alfred Noyer, the hugely prolific publisher of French picture postcards, was also deeply involved with the Salon de Paris, the world renowned exhibitions of art that were often the making of a young, or old, painter's career. Noyer's production of cards with the images of Salon winners did much to popularize art, and make available for pennies images otherwise out of reach.
Emile Friant (1863-1932) was a painter of la Belle Epoque who was very well respected in his day, and judging by this gorgeous image, painted in 1919, we can well see why. A nice, unpublished card. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

29.00USD

We come across our Lily every now and again. She was a big hit in her native England, in Europe, and she also rode high on the bills of variety theaters in the U.S. Clearly one could not take Lily anywhere without fear of embarrassment, as she was forever tying herself up in knots when trying to express herself, and had the reputation of getting herself in a twist over the very smallest of things! :) Magnificent photo by Martin Gerlach of Berlin. 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!

11.00USD

Probably published circa 1905, this French card, posted 1910, presents a lovely portrait of a young girl with flowers, a spirit of Spring. Some wear to edges and corners present, also very minor shades of the postal cancellation on reverse side shows through. 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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new 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!

19.00USD

We love the way in which the magical is suggested in this Rotophot of Berlin image, as in so many other images from this time period, without the introduction of a single truly fantastic element. These images make us feel much as we might when reading a fairy tale, as if, at any moment, something truly marvelous will happen.

Nymphs, Naiads, Dryads, and Faerie folk so often cropped up in La Belle Époque imagery, and postcard publishers were responsible for bringing many of these “fantaisies” into being. These images reflected a blossoming of a fairy and folklore revival, and a fascination with the western occult tradition as in the case of writers like Dion Fortune, Madame Blavatsky of the Theosophical Society, and others, but on a more basic level, a popular yearning for the magical, for myth made manifest.

In contrast with French magical images, that seemed to focus more on the "sweet and sexy" aspects of this mythical universe, the German images often had a darker feel to them, as in this image. We feel that although we have a lovely setting, and a beautiful model for this image, she could as easily be a Lorelei, charming sailors to their deaths, as a benign influence working for the "good."

Rotophot, or Rotophot Gesellschaft fuer photographischen Rotationsdruck m.b.H., was a successful publishing house that was also a major printer, (the two did not always go hand in hand). It was established in 1900 by Heinrich Ross, whom many of our customers will recognize as the publisher of many thousands of wonderful film star postcards during the 20s and 30s. Rotophot was also one of the major competitors of NPG, or Neue Photographische Gesellshaft, one of our favorite publishers of quality real photo images of the period.
Although there are minor flaws in this card, bumped corners, a slightly careless effort on the part of the colorist, etc., it is a powerfully magical image that we hope will please a discerning collector of this variety of card. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

19.00USD

Wonderful! Brightly hand-tinted image of French artiste Simon (yes, it is Simon, not Simone as we might think), Girard. Great Belle Epoque theater image. 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!

19.00USD

Following a period of around 200 years of self imposed cultural isolation, Japan underwent the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and opened wide its gates to trade with other nations. Japanese culture was suddenly accessible to westerners, and it was only thirty or so years after this, in 1904, that Puccini wrote the hugely successful opera, Madame Butterfly. Talk about jumping on the bandwagon, these gals, performing in kimonos, under the name, "The Butterflies," were almost certainly riding on the coattails of that opera's popularity, and the resurgence of Japonism that followed!
We can't find any information on this trio, and because their name was "The Butterflies," instead of "Les Papillons," they may well have been an English trio of dancers performing in France, but, in any event, this wonderful image was photographed by the great Walery of Paris, probably sometime between 1905, and 1910. Beautiful, and such fun, and filled with such wonderful contrasts and inconsistencies! The umbrella's Japanese style decoration, in contrast with its European design, the European tea cups! The darling kimonos with the lapels, and European decolletage! The flowers in their hair, in the French, Belle Epoque, fashion. We could go on, but it is such fun, we'll let you draw your own conclusions. A very nice, unposted card with minor wear to 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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new 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!

19.00USD

Wonderfully fun image of artiste Vincenti gamboling about en pointe in classical garb, with an aulos, the ancient Greek double flute, an instrument used, according to Plato, in Dionysian frolics! Oh my! We would be guessing this card's period to be somewhere between 1905 and 1910 were it not the work of famous Berlin photographer Ernst Schneider, who seems to have worked primarily in the 1920s, and for whom credits predating 1915 are difficult to find, so we will place this card somewhere in the teens, but if anyone has an idea as to its age, please let us know. Nice unposted condition with minor corner and edge 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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new 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!

24.00USD

Excellent image of Mlle. Olida in a back-bend, probably snapping her fingers rapidly. See the pearls wrapped round her upper arm, and the halter of coins? The period of time it took to actually take a photograph in this era was, of course, considerably longer and required strength and patience on the part of the dancer holding the pose. Just wonderful. album mark in upper right corner, otherwise, in very nice condition, and even so, really, since older postcards were so often stored in albums that over years of storage left diagonal marks in their 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!

16.00USD

Wonderful turban image. Vilma Banky was born in Budapest, in 1901, and began her acting career in Europe, but later sailed for Hollywood, where she has a star on the "walk of fame," and is probably best known for starring opposite Rudolph Valentino in E.M. Hull's "Son of the Sheik." Gorgeous card with a very subtle bluish discoloration, not effecting the image in any way that we can see, but there, so we mention it. 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!

18.00USD

Very modern in feel, this is a wonderfully charming image of a young actress in costume as Pierrot, Pierrette, or Colombinette. Why don't we know which character she portrays? Because these stock characters emerged from within the 16th century tradition of la Commedia dell'arte in Italy, and like Punch and Judy puppet shows, told countless variations of age old stories revolving around just a few characters; lovers, fools, servants, masters, who by the time they reached the early 20th century stage, had swapped costumes, genders, and motivations so many times that in some ways, to the audience, it must have ceased to matter. They would be immediately and comfortably drawn into the short play in much the same way that an early 21st century American watcher of popular television might be drawn into the latest incarnation of Star Trek. "Oh my! Mr. Spock is showing emotion, and Captain Kirk is being indecisive!!! Whatever will become of all the redshirts? (Yes, we loved that episode too :). Precious card. Nice posted condition, with very minor wear to edges and corners. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

12.00USD

Lovely image by E David, a publisher we don't run across very often, but who was responsible for a number of wonderful flapper images. This one is a doozey, but suffers from some wear to 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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new 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!

18.00USD

Wonderful image of actress Olga Gregg. The GG mark often appears on images taken by the Berlin photographer Gerlach, and this looks like his work, though unattributed. Olga looks as if she might be wearing a costume out of a production of The Merry Widow, originally "Die Lustige Witwe," a hugely popular operetta which premiered in Vienna in 1905, then in England, 1907 with equal success. Very nice un-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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new 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!

19.00USD

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

Lovely Helena (also Elena) Makowska, was born in that part of Imperial Russia which is now the Ukraine, and became a great star of the Italian and German silents.
Of historical interest: At the outset of WWII, she was arrested in Berlin and confined for a long period of time to a German prison camp. Later released, she devoted much of her time, for the remainder of the war, to theater work on behalf of the allied war effort.
This is such an elegant, understated portrait. Beautiful.
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!

14.00USD

Fern Andra (1893-1974), was raised in the circus. She was in a high-wire act at age 4, but entered the film industry at age 6, in 1899. She is usually thought of as a German actress, because much of her film work was accomplished in Germany, but she was born in Illinois, and died in South Carolina. An awful lot of stuff went on in between, but we'll have to refer you to Wikipedia which has a nice, concise, biographical article.
To see Miss Andra in a wonderful German Expressionist silent horror film, follow the link to Youtube. If you like that sort of thing, you will NOT be disappointed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ1273eN5iQ

A very nice unposted card with the NBC stamp of approval (Neue Bromsilber Convention, not that other old thing :) 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!

9.00USD

This is an almost perfect example an early French picture postcard from about 1900, when cards of this sort were actually designed so that the front, picture, side was the side upon which one composed a greeting, or communication, while the back side was reserved exclusively for the address. In France, it was not until 1905 that cards were designed with separated backs, one half of which could be used for a message. I think in the U.S., this change didn't occur until 1906.
Cecile Sorel was, for a very long time, probably the single biggest star of French theater, was very well known internationally, and went on to be quite popular in silent films.
The one flaw in this beauty of a postcard is a thumb crease in the lower center area. Ouch. Our price will reflect this fault. 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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new 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!

14.00USD

"After staying up far too late one night, reading the story "Berenice" by Edgar Allen Poe, Herbert became suddenly aware of an overpowering obsession with his cousin Emily's right eye..."

We humbly apologize for our unsightly humor, which may be difficult for some of our readers to envision, but then, some brands of humor are, much like our friend Herbert's strange and unusual focus, an acquired taste. Still, this is only one point of view. :)

Wonderful German postcard of the Jugendstil Epoche. This card was printed by Rotophot, one of the biggest competitors of NPG, or the Neue Photographische Gesellshaft (one of our favorite printers of fine picture postcards). Interestingly, in the stampbox on the reverse of this card, we find the logo of the “Verein Photographischer Reproduktions-Anstalten GmbH,” or PRA . This was a cartel of postcard printers predating the NBC, about whom we have written in the past. The founder of the PRA was Arthur Schwartz, none other than the director of NPG. Now just add some broth and a few vegetables and you have a hearty bowl of alphabet soup with something really strange floating about in it! Herbert's favorite :)
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!

18.00USD

His Royal Majesty! :) Marvelous costume. Rudolf Christians (1869-1921), was born in Germany. As a young man, he performed on the stage, as he is pictured here in costume for a production of King Henry the Fifth. In 1913, he began acting in motion pictures. He moved to the United States, and was quite successful with a handful of films, and in 1921 was starring in "Foolish Wives," an Erich von Stroheim spectacular, which bore the distinction of being the first "million dollar picture." Von Stroheim was extremely lavish in his expenditures on this film, going so far as to buy for his actors monogrammed silk underwear, so they would feel more "aristocratic."
Sadly, Mr. Christians died halfway through the production, so that a stand-in, with his back turned to the camera, had to finish up his role.
Mr Christians was married to actress Bertha Klein. His daughter, Mady Christians was also a very well known actress, both in the U.S., and in Germany.
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!

12.00USD

Wonderful image of Actress Mlle. Rimidoff in the costume of a queen. Beautifully hand-tinted. Posted in 1905. 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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

And please come visit our brand new 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!