24.00USD

A hush falls over the audience. Even the calliope has ceased its melodious charm. 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 colors 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.

Although this is not technically a circus or variety act card, the film from which the image is taken, Des Lebens Ungemischte Freude, or A Life of Unadulterated Joy, is a German circus film from 1917, starring a circus personality.
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!

19.00USD

The 60s had nothing on the aughts when it comes to psychedelic imagery. This image could easily have graced a poster advertising the appearance of Jefferson Airplane at Winterland in '66 :)

This is just one of four beautiful images, each of which features a beautiful woman in a mermaid gown reclining sultrily on a divan. Perhaps she is merely waiting for a handsome and scantily clad man with a fan, or better yet grapes, or... well, we're sure your imagination can supply other possibilities.

View our other images in this series:
2) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161821207
3) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161812534
4) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161824485

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, there is no additional 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

The 60s had nothing on the aughts when it comes to psychedelic imagery. This image could easily have graced a poster advertising the appearance of Jefferson Airplane at Winterland in '66 :)

This is just one of four beautiful images, each of which features a beautiful woman in a mermaid gown reclining sultrily on a divan. Perhaps she is merely waiting for a handsome and scantily clad man with a fan, or better yet grapes, or... well, we're sure your imagination can supply other possibilities.

View our other images in this series:
1) https://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161820675
3) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161812534
4) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161824485

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, there is no additional 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

The 60s had nothing on the aughts when it comes to psychedelic imagery. This image could easily have graced a poster advertising the appearance of Jefferson Airplane at Winterland in '66 :)

This is just one of four beautiful images, each of which features a beautiful woman in a mermaid gown reclining sultrily on a divan. Perhaps she is merely waiting for a handsome and scantily clad man with a fan, or better yet grapes, or... well, we're sure your imagination can supply other possibilities.

View our other images in this series:
1) https://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161820675
2) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161821207
4) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161824485

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, there is no additional 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

The 60s had nothing on the aughts when it comes to psychedelic imagery. This image could easily have graced a poster advertising the appearance of Jefferson Airplane at Winterland in '66 :)

This is just one of four beautiful images, each of which features a beautiful woman in a mermaid gown reclining sultrily on a divan. Perhaps she is merely waiting for a handsome and scantily clad man with a fan, or better yet grapes, or... well, we're sure your imagination can supply other possibilities.

View our other images in this series:
1) https://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161820675
2) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161821207
3) http://www.etsy.com/your/listings/161812534

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, there is no additional 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!

7.00USD

Gorgeous color! Lovely image. Posted in Hungary in 1914. 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

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!

Helena Makowska was born in that part of Russia which is now the Ukraine, was a great star of the Italian and German silents. Later in her life, 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 acting work on behalf of the allied war effort.

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

Though most of the cards we sell fall somewhere between the 1890s and 1930, we do sometimes add a few outliers, and this one is certainly worthwhile. This is an image of four of the Fallone children, part of a traveling Gypsy family of musicians, who performed throughout France, but mainly in, and around the Burgundian city of Dijon. One of the best known of them, Tony "Tieno" Fallone, a very well respected accordionist, settled in that city, founding a recording studio, a school of music, and a musical instrument store. Fallone Music in Dijon is apparently a thriving business to this day. Below, is a link to their website, which in addition to advertising their business, offers a little family history, and a number of wonderful photographs, including one of the vehicle in which they used to travel. The website is in French, but the link we offer is to a translated version, and in English.:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fallonemusic.com%2Fhistorique.php

This card was posted in 1936, when Tony was 12 years old. This might have been a considerably older image at the time, and Tony Fallone may have been one of those pictured, but we've no idea, really. Below is a quote from a book by Michael Dregni, "Gypsy Jazz: In Search of Django Reinhardt and the Soul of Gypsy Swing," in which he mentions the Fallones, and the souvenir cards they sold back in those days:

"...accordianist Tony "Tieno" Fallone. Born in 1924 and pumping an accordian by the time he was six, Fallone was early on enlisted in his family's traveling band. La Troupe Fallone was a miniature musical ensemble of child prodigies—and curiosities. They became a famous sight in France playing flea markets and /fettes foraines/, and post cards of the children were sold..."

Although we were unable to locate on Youtube any music recorded by Tony, or any of the Fallones, we offer below a Youtube link to a remarkable accordion piece composed by Tony Fallone and Andre Astier, and beautifully performed by Eric Bouvelle, titled "Route Express." We are not big accordion aficionados, but this really is impressive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_MtIEuLdfw

Another link below, is to a clip from a fantastic film, "Gadjo Dilo," with some rather more "traditional" Rom music and dance. Though unrelated to our card, PLEASE don't miss this. Gadjo Dilo is a favorite movie of ours, and the song, "Tutti Frutti" is really wonderful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TjGQbUz36Q


A fine card 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!

28.00USD

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 stayed primarily in Paris, taking portraits in the studio, while his brother Louis traveled widely, spending much of his time in Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia. This image, then, is one of Louis'. Louis was born in 1830, which makes him at least 70 years old when he took this photograph. In some ways, the Neurdein Brothers were, to the non-French peoples of the middle-eastern colonial interests of France, what photographer Edward Curtis was to the America Indian, capturing through the camera lens, traditional costume and environment, though Louis Neurdein seems to have been rather fond of the alluring pose, which is not something we recall from Curtis' work.

This is a fantastic card in marvelous condition, one of those it is difficult for us to let go of, but if we kept all of these for our collection, we simply wouldn't be able to keep a shop! Such wonderful detail of costume. 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!

24.00USD

Wonderful Margaret Livingston image. Miss Livingston (1895-1984) was practically the most fatale of all the silent femmes (most respectful apologies to Miss Bara:), though unlike Theda Bara, she didn't find herself typecast, and also managed a successful transition to the talkies. Still, after marrying the very successful bandleader Paul Whiteman in the early 30's, she retired from film work. If you've never seen her play the part of the city woman in Murnau's "Sunrise," please do. She destroys the poor man in a most devastating way. The film is so heartbreaking, it almost stops being entertainment, but it certainly does Murnau (maker of "Nosferatu"), and all involved, considerable credit. Thanks to Wikipedia!

This is a fine, scarce, Ballerini and Frattini card in near fine condition, and does us considerable credit, just having it in our shop! :) Enjoy!

P.S. The misspelling of Miss Livingston's name (she was sometimes billed as Marguerite Livingston, and sometimes as Margaret Livingstone, but never, as far as we know, as Margaret Liwingstor), only adds to the rarity of the card, though that is pretty much a technical deltiological detail :)
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

Vilma Banky is a wonderful image subject whom we are fortunate to get into our shop every so often. This is a still shot from the 1926 film, "The Winning of Barbara Worth," in which Miss Banky starred opposite the original "British invasion," Ronald Coleman, and the Kevin Kostner of the the 1930s and 40s, Gary Cooper. What a romance triangle! Below, please follow the link to a 7 minute Youtube clip from the film, in all its golden glory. We couldn't find a full-length version online, but the clip will give you a wonderful taste :) For those of you who followed a link we had on a previous Vilma Banky card listing to "Son of the Sheik," you will see a very different Vilma on this one. No more the steamy Bedouin danseuse, but now the very sweetest of homespun Kates. She was really something, was Miss Banky, and the clarity on the clip is great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrSj0uHnrXg

Incidentally, "...Barbara Worth" was based on a novel by the same name, by a hugely successful American author of the early 20th century, Harold Bell Wright. A household name in his prime (around 1910?), he is pretty much forgotten now, but his stuff, if very dated, was really quite a lot of fun, and if you ever run across a copy (usually to be found as a lonely old hardcover at the bottom of the box in a church rummage sale--you know, where all the treasure is!), we honestly do recommend you give it a try.

Wonderful image, wonderful card. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

14.00USD

Really a lovely image. Lucette Darbelle was a very popular French chanteuse in the early teens and into the 20s. She performed in a number of the great night spots of Paris and many theatrical reviews are available (in google translatable French), online. All of the performance notices we came across were between 1910 and 1924, so although this image does look a bit older to us, we'd place it just generally in the teens, except that GG was a German publishing house out of Berlin, the photographer was probably Martin Gerlach himself, and so the likelihood is that this photo is pre-war, and an early one of Lucette. The lace is really marvelous, no? And what a beauty she was.

Martin Gerlach Jr. (1879-1944), was one of the most renowned photographers in Austria during his day. He learned his art from his father, Martin Gerlach Sr. The GG trademark found at the bottom of many finely photographed German postcards of the Jugendstil Epoche was the logo for Gerlach and Gerlach. However, most of the Gerlach cards that pass through our shop were published between 1900 and 1915, and can therefore be attributed directly to Martin Gerlach Jr., since his father passed away in 1899.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 will soon 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

Second Sunday in May is coming up in just one week! Happy Mother's Day! We thought we'd feature four cards this week with images either directly relating to motherhood, or close enough :)
We hope it's a wonderful day for all moms and their children, and wish you all the very best. Please feel welcome to take advantage of a 25% discount on any item in the shop by using the coupon code THANKSMOM, at check out, through May 12th.

Lovely portrait of a mom and her babe, looks as if it was posted in 1911, but can't be certain.
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!

***Our apologies to our wonderful international customers for the sudden increase in shipping costs. We have been advised that our international postal rates have pretty much doubled, so until we see what's what, we're charging 8.00 dollars for 1st class shipping in a rigid photo mailer. But we're not interested in making a profit with our shipping fees, and we will refund any amount left over beyond our cost.

18.00USD

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

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

***Our apologies to our wonderful international customers for the sudden increase in shipping costs. We have been advised that our international postal rates have pretty much doubled, so until we see what's what, we're charging 8.00 dollars for 1st class shipping in a rigid photo mailer. But we're not interested in making a profit with our shipping fees, and we will refund any amount left over beyond our cost.

16.00USD

The story is told this way: Once there was a poor and humble Georgian named Niko Pirosmani. He was a house painter, a painter of signs, and of simple pictures of people and animals that had in them a spark of magic to touch the hearts of his fellow Georgians.

One day a famous French actress on tour stopped for a bit in Tblisi, the town where Niko lived, and Niko fell in love. It was said that of all things this actress loved flowers, especially red roses, so Niko, being only a simple man, and feeling a desperate kind of passion, took all the money he had in this world, he sold all of his canvases, his brushes, everything he owned he sold, and with this money he bought red roses; thousands, perhaps a million of them, and he filled the public square beneath her hotel window with these brilliant flowers. A few old grandmothers say that they can still remember how throughout Tblisi, on that day, the air was rich with the perfume of those roses.

In the morning when the actress, whose name was Marguerite de Sevre, awakened, she looked out her window to find the morning sun shining down upon the thousands, even a million, scarlet roses in the square below. Watching from a discreet distance, Niko saw her surprised smile, and wept for joy. Marguerite saw the flowers, but she did not see Niko.

Well, Marguerite de Sevre returned to Paris, back to the bright gaiety of her life there, but Niko, poor Niko, utterly ruined by this one impulsive act, slowly died of liver failure and malnutrition.

Ah well, perhaps it is only a story.

This image, though not identifying a photographer, was published by Kunzli Frere, or the Kunzli Brothers, Carl and Max, who from the early 1870's in Zurich, were in the art publishing business, and by the turn of the century had branch houses in both Paris and Barcelona.
The photographer may have been the great Ogerau of Paris, who was identified as the photographer of a portrait of actress Suzanne Derval, during this same period, sitting in what appears to have been this same chair, so possibly the chair was in Ogerau's Paris studio?

The card is 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 beginning today, when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free!

17.00USD

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!

Lydia Johnson in a great turban image. Lydia, (1896-1969) was actually a Russian actress, born Lydia Abramovic, in Rostov. She appeared in silent films in Russia prior to the revolution, but the politics of the new government did not agree with her, so she left the country eventually settling in Italy. There, she worked mainly on the stage, but continued to act in films well into the 1950s. She took the name Lydia Johnson as a stage name (Albert Johnson was the name of the dancer she married while still an actress in Russia).
A very nice, unposted card of one of our favorite faces.
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!

***Our apologies to our wonderful international customers for the sudden increase in shipping costs. We have been advised that our international postal rates have pretty much doubled, so until we see what's what, we're charging 8.00 dollars for 1st class shipping in a rigid photo mailer. But we're not interested in making a profit with our shipping fees, and we will refund any amount left over beyond our cost.

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 diva's of the grand opera, and of the operetta too, flappers, flappers, more flappers, and of course, and perhaps especially, those femmes fatales who with one smoldering glance would melt a heart, or break it in two. Have fun!

Stacia Napierkowska (1886-1945), born Renée Claire Angèle Élisabeth Napierkowski in Paris, France, was of Polish extraction. We apologize for having mistakenly identified her as a Russian actress in a previous listing. Her first film role was in 1908, and between that year and 1926, she appeared in no fewer than 86 films. Like many French actresses of the time, she got her start on stage, in this case as a dancer at the Folies Bergeres. One of our favorites is the 1915 serial Les Vampires, by Louis Feuillade. This was still accessible online as of a few months ago. A bit slow by today's standards, of course, but great atmospheric fun. In this wonderful silver gelatine image, Mlle. Napierkowska wears a gorgeous embroidered dress.
Please follow link below to a great site and a very detailed article on this actress:

http://filmstarpostcards.blogspot.com/search/label/Stacia%20Napierkowska

A very nice unposted card.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

14.00USD

Great image of the sort that could have inspired that old, "You've come a long way, Baby!" Virginia Slims slogan from the 60's. We haven't been able to identify this actress, but we'll keep trying, and we've run across a number of images of her. Nice posted condition with just enough wear and silvering to lend it a lovely antique quality. 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 will soon 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

Remember when as children we would pass around Valentines from school desk to school desk saving the nicest one for our sweetheart? Ah, first love :) Remember when, on the first of April, you would pin a paper fish to your friend's back without them knowing and call out "Poisson d'Avril," or "April Fish?" No? Well. not being older French persons, (just really ancient Americans), we don't either. But it sounds like such fun!
In Belle Epoque France, this was a standard, and we think charming, April Fool's Day prank--in Italy and Belgium also, apparently. Also common was to post, or to secretly slip into a friend's or sweetheart's possession, a paper fish upon which the following phrase would be written: " Qui vous l'envoie?" or, "Who sent this?" ***Please Note*** That is exactly the phrase inscribed on the back of this card! Well it's a bit late for April Fool's Day, but this Belle Epoque artiste holding aloft a huge blue-green fish was just too wonderful to resist no matter what the season. Clearly, postcard publishers do not seem to have been slow to put to use any type of newfangled gimcrackery. After all, why would their customers go to the effort of snipping a fish out of colored paper, when for a few coppers they could obtain an amazingly designed Poisson d'Avil image of just the right size to slip between the pages of someone's book, or into someone's handbag? And, come to think of it, what an awesome collection a few of these wonderful "April Fish" cards would make, and how obviously tasteful and discerning would be the proud possessor of such a collection! What an idea! Hmmm... :) Nice condition, posted in 1907.
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

Though unidentified, this charming portrait of a mother and her daughter has been attributed to the German photographer Heinrich Traut, and was produced by the oranotype method at N.P.G. of Berlin. So sweet!

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!