14.00 USD

"Borellismo was a word used in Italy in the teens to describe the Lyda Borelli craze. Girls went on diets and strove to imitate her twisted postures. She was like a decadent version of the Pre-Raphaelite beauty--thin, with wavy blond hair and strange but picturesque poses. She portrayed characters who were doomed and otherworldly, often bordering on the supernatural. Her Rapsodia Satanica (1915), a compelling film about an old woman who makes a pact with the Devil for eternal youth, is an splendid introduction to this fascinating star."
Above quote from a short article at Stanford.edu. Lyda Borelli was so wonderful. If you venture into the wildwood of youtube and search for her, you will be well rewarded. Lots of beautiful clips to enjoy. Brief observation though, we managed to watch a wonderful, partially-tinted copy of Rapsodia Satanica, and Lyda Borelli was not thin! She was deliciously beautiful, her portrayal wondrously evocative, but if anything, she was downright saftig! Very nice card with Signorina Borelli posing on a camelback couch in a gorgeous gown with a fringed bodice and some lovely lace trimmings!
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

La Princesse des Canaries was an opera bouffe by Charles Lecocq that premiered in the 1880s and continued to be quite popular for many years. An English language version, Pepita, was also produced and like the original, met with great success.

Paulette Del Baye was a popular stage performer of la Belle Epoque, and following the First World War, also made a number of silent films. One of them, "The Fruitful Vine," made in 1921, is notable for the appearance of a young Basil Rathbone, who is now well remembered for his film portrayals of Sherlock Holmes, but then, as a worldly old shoe salesman once confided in me, "...the game's a foot..." to which I coquettishly responded, "But surely, my good sir, it is my leg that you are pulling."

Somebody get the hook!.

Lovely image by Saul Boyer of Paris, postmarked in what looks like 1905, or '06.
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 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!

26.00 USD

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!

12.00 USD

Beautiful amber-tinted image by Superfot of Italy. Posted from the short lived Kingdom of Yugoslavia, in 1926. A really lovely card. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

14.00 USD

The Sisters Lorrison as they appeared at Anthony's in Paris in the early 1900s, in high chignons and adorned with mums. They were a very popular act internationally at the turn of the century. This card was published right around 1900, and posted in 1904. Wonderful hand tinting, and a great example of Belle Epoque/Art Nouveau "classical" costume design and head decoration. Quite a lot of imagery and info on the Sisters Lorrison is available online. In our images, we have added below, a link to a brief review of the "Sisters," taken from what appears to be a collected anthology of the entertainment periodical "Pick Me Up"

http://books.google.com/books?id=1YUXAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA364&lpg=PA364&dq=Sisters+Lorrison+Pick+Me+UP&source=bl&ots=QTVztisZH8&sig=d12tw2p8-GQ8wL9HlQt35WtY66I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=U-vwT_qcG6K82wXa_5GCAg&ved=0CLgBEOgBMAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Note: We can't get the URL to link to the article, but if you copy it and paste it into your browser's address bar, you can see the article.

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

We do specialize in fantasy, here at Red Poulaine. It's true! Theatrical fantasy, even, and sometimes, perhaps, a little phantasy too, though seldom. Every now and then, though, we need to ground ourselves a bit with a few RPPCs (Real Photo Post Cards), in order to get a glimpse of what life offstage was like.

After all, if you ever find the absolutely right pair of silver slippers, and tapping them together three times, saying, "There's no place like Belle Epoque Paris, there's no place like Belle Epoque Paris, there's no..." and Poof! you arrive there, you had better have an idea of what it was like, non? Today we are going to feature four RPPCs from France, picturing real people, who worked, or patronized businesses in those bygone times.

Great image of a working class hotel/restaurant in Belle Epoque France. Advertized in the window are wines, daily special menu, and rooms to let. Probably relatively simple fare. Wonderful dog :) These old RPPCs were often loved half to death. pinholes in two of the corners, and general wear. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

19.00 USD

We do specialize in fantasy, here at Red Poulaine. It's true! Theatrical fantasy, even, and sometimes, perhaps, a little phantasy too, though seldom. Every now and then, though, we need to ground ourselves a bit with a few RPPCs (Real Photo Post Cards), in order to get a glimpse of what life offstage was like.

After all, if you ever find the absolutely right pair of silver slippers, and tapping them together three times, saying, "There's no place like Belle Epoque Paris, there's no place like Belle Epoque Paris, there's no..." and Poof! you arrive there, you had better have an idea of what it was like, non? Today we are going to feature four RPPCs from France, picturing real people, who worked, or patronized businesses in those bygone times.

This is a wonderful one of a family taking refreshment at a sidewalk cafe. We confess to being pretty puzzled by the menu. Grog? Punch? Interesting stuff :) The upper left corner of this card is damaged. 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!

2.00 USD

We do specialize in fantasy, here at Red Poulaine. It's true! Theatrical fantasy, even, and sometimes, perhaps, a little phantasy too, though seldom. Every now and then, though, we need to ground ourselves a bit with a few RPPCs (Real Photo Post Cards), in order to get a glimpse of what life offstage was like.

After all, if you ever find the absolutely right pair of silver slippers, and tapping them together three times, saying, "There's no place like Belle Epoque Paris, there's no place like Belle Epoque Paris, there's no..." and Poof! you arrive there, you had better have an idea of what it was like, non? Today we are going to feature four RPPCs from France, picturing real people, who worked at, or patronized businesses in those bygone times.

Out of the four RPPCs we are listing today, this one is probably later, maybe the 1920s? We think, judging by the toys in the window, probably no later than that. We apologize for this card's condition. We just thought it would be fun to include this one along with our Hotel, Cafe, and Laundry. Great image, but the card is in TERRIBLE shape. Please look at our scans closely before buying it. And, since it is really only here for fun, we are pricing this bit of history at only $2.00 dollars, which when all is said and done, is about our cost on it.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

22.00 USD

The Blanchisserie "where our shirts were made white and smooth by the pretty blanchisseuses singing all day over their work;" wrote expat art student William Chambers Morrow, author of the wonderful journal, "Bohemian Paris of Today," 1899. Below is a link to his book, where you can enjoy it online, or put it on your book tablet at no cost whatsoever :)

https://archive.org/details/bohemianparisto00cucugoog

And what were these blanchisseuses singing? Why naturally, the songs made popular in the "caf conc" (the cafe concerts) where they were sung by the very beauties whose images we sell here in our shop, of course.

We do specialize in fantasy, here at Red Poulaine. It's true! Theatrical fantasy, even, and sometimes, perhaps, a little phantasy too, though seldom. Every now and then, though, we need to ground ourselves a bit with a few RPPCs (Real Photo Post Cards), in order to get a glimpse of what life offstage was like.

After all, if you ever find the absolutely right pair of silver slippers, and tapping them together three times, saying, "There's no place like Belle Epoque Paris, there's no place like Belle Epoque Paris, there's no..." and Poof! you arrive there, you had better have an idea of what it was like, non? Today we are going to feature four RPPCs from France, picturing real people, who worked, or patronized businesses in those bygone times.

This one, of a laundry, but particularly of a laundry specializing in making things white again, pictures probably the women who owned the business, and the women who worked there.
Wonderful image, and let's not forget the doggies! Every business kept a dog in those days. Dogs chased out the rats! But these dogs, though probably working dogs, were obviously loved :)

And what of the humble blanchisseuse? Was her life one long baneful humdrum? Well, according to William Chambers Morrow, the above author, it was not. He recounts a visit he and a friend paid to a local caf conc, where everyone was dressed to the nines and having a fine old time, and who did he run into there? None other than one of his favorite blanchisseuses, robed in her finery, and with her beau, who though he wore no cuffs, sported a silk cravat! Ah, Paris in the Quartier Latin. "There's no place like..."

A really wonderful card in very nice condition. Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

16.00 USD

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!

18.00 USD

La Princesse de Caraman-Chimay, aka Clara Ward (17 June 1873 – 9 December 1916), was an American lumber and steel heiress from Michigan who became a society darling in all the American papers when, in 1890, she married Marie Joseph Anatole Pierre Alphonse de Riquet, Prince de Caraman-Chimay, a Belgian prince more than twice her age, becoming, herself, an honest to goodness princess. Yes, we have always loved to thumb noses at monarchy, but boy, do we ever love it when one of our own becomes a member of a royal family (case in point: Grace Kelly :).

By 1895, Clara, Princess of Chimay had given birth to two children, a son and daughter. She, and her husband, the prince, apparently loved eating out in the fancier dining spots in Paris. In fact, famed chef, Escoffier named two dishes after Princess Clara.

In around 1896, the Prince and Princess were dining out in Paris at a restaurant where a Hungarian Gypsy violinist by the name of Rigó Jancsi was providing the entertainment. Apparently some form of electrical attraction passed between Princess and violinist, because shortly thereafter they began an affair resulting in their running off together in December of 1896. The couple traveled to Budapest, Hungary, where another dish, this time a chocolate sponge cake, was named in honor of Rigó Jancsi.

The Prince of Chimay divorced Clara, she and Rigó Jancsi were married, and traveled to Egypt, where apparently, according to newspaper accounts, she embarked on the adventure of teaching Jancsi to read and write.

Times got tough for the couple however, and returning to Paris, Clara, still often called the Princess of Chimay, began performing, or at least posing in flesh-toned body stockings, on the stages of various Parisian music halls, which brings us to our card, a wonderful, hand-tinted piece of Belle Epoque history. By the way, Post Impressionist artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec produced a lithograph of her and Rigó in 1897, titled "Idylle Princière."
Of course, high society generally despised Clara, while no doubt all of Paris (and Gypsy violinists everywhere) loved her, for the incomparably flamboyant romance of her life choices.

***WARNING*** It might not be safe for you to gaze too long upon this image!!! Kaiser Wilhelm II was said to have forbidden publication of her images within the borders of the German Empire, as he found her beauty "disturbing."

Clara soon met another lover, either before, or after, her divorce from Jancsi, which occurred not too long after their marriage. This third husband was Signore Peppino Ricciardo, who was a waiter whom she met on a train. The moral of this story might possibly be that if you can catch a princess at table, when she is being well fed and entertained, she cannot possibly say no to you!

Finally, and apparently not too long after her third marriage, Clara met her fourth and final husband, Signore Cassalota, a station manager who worked for a small Italian Railway. According to the Wikipedia article from which we drew all of our biographical information (Thanks Wikipedia!), Clara was still married to her fourth husband when she died, aged 43, in Padua Italy, in 1916.

Okay, so it's a sad story, or a funny story, or a bit of both, but either way, a remarkable story for a remarkable 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!

22.00 USD

Mlle. Xaviere De Léka, also Deléka, or Deleka, posing in a really wonderful Art Nouveau costume for famed theatrical portraitist Professor Edward Stebbing.
We've done a good bit of digging in our attempt to provide some biographical background on this performer, but have come up with very little. She performed at the Moulin Rouge in about 1900-1904.
In 1907, she was mentioned in an article, which appeared in the Kansas City Star, on the subject of tight-lacing, or what was often termed the wasp-waist fad. According to this article, Mlle. Jane Dirys did not wear a tight-laced corset. Mlle. De Léka did. And famed sculptor, Auguste Rodin, did not approve :)

Thanks to a wonderful thesis by Joseph Albert North, for Durham University in which Mlle. De Léka figures briefly, we know she was performing on stage a "danse d'apaches" routine in Rome in about 1912, and was then hired to appear in a number of Italian silent films produced that same year, before returning to Paris, where she was to appear, again, at the Moulin Rouge.

Then, finally, we came across a short obituary in Variety Magazine, for April, 1914, which states that, "Xaviere De Leka, cafe concert chanteuse, and also Mlle Lambell, comedienne, died in Paris, April 6th." Unfortunately, it says nothing about how, or if together or separately.

It always feels a little sad to us when we come across marvelous images of these brightly shining stars of human beings, but can learn so little about them. In this case we are actually luckier than in many, where virtually nothing turns up.

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!

19.00 USD

Gorgeous Reutlinger image of stage performer and notorious Belle Epoque courtesan Emilienne D'Alencon in hand-tinted veil. Born Émilie André, in 1869 Paris, she began her career when she was fifteen years old. She performed with trained pink rabbits, and as a ballerina. As a courtesan, she was very successful, being maintained in style, for a time, by King Leopold II of Belgium, among others.

She retired from the stage in 1906, but continued to live the high life, enjoying the magnificent wealth that those gifts of valuable jewels and property showered upon the famous courtesans of the period by powerful lovers afforded her. She was one of "Les Grandes Trois," the Three Great Ones, also the "Three Graces," or sometimes, "Les Grandes Horizontales." The other two of this infamous trio were Liane De Pougy, and Carolina (La Belle) Otero.

These three competed with one another for status and notoriety, and their antics were closely followed by the rich and poor alike, with the same excitement as many in the sixties and 70s viewed the activities of the Kennedy's, or today, the British Royals.

In terms of competition between "Les Grandes Trois," the website edwardianpromenade.com relates the following tale:

"The most startling display of wealth was a showdown in Maxim’s between Liane de Pougy and Caroline Otero. This restaurant was a courtesan’s domain, where no respectable woman was allowed or would even admit to acknowledging its existence, and the right entrance signaled one’s place in the hierarchy. One night, La Belle Otero entered Maxim’s in an evening gown with a plunging neckline and her entire collection of jewels. They blazed at her neck and ears, in her hair, on her bosom, her arm, hands and waist, and one or two sparkled on her ankles. The crowd was stunned, but they were even more stunned when Liane–tipped off by a friend–entered a few minutes later in a simple white evening gown. In her wake was her lady’s maid who carried a velvet cushion on which sat a jewelry box weighted with jewels. She won that round."

According to Wikipedia France, by 1931, her fortune exhausted, Mlle. D'Alencon was forced to sell off her most valued possessions, among them, a valuable collection of porcelain night lights.

She passed away shortly after WWII, in 1946, and was buried where she was born, in Paris.

A fine card 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 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

What amazing hair! Marguerite Bresil was born in 1880. She made her first appearance on the stage of the Theatre Gymnase in Paris, in 1899, and within a few years was a tremendous star. We have long admired this image and are so pleased to have found one so beautifully hand-tinted for the shop. Such an expression. Photo by Leopold Reutlinger of Paris, published by S.I.P., or Societe Industrielle de Photographie. A lovely card in very nice condition, circa 1905.

***Point of Interest*** A footnote on page 331 of the book "Cartier," by Hans Nadelhoffer, reads that "the "Recamier" hairstyle was popularized by the actress Marguerite Bresil."
So, in keeping with Red Poulaine's reputation of being highly regarded by all practical time travelers as a valued source of both images and ephemeral information, we offer you the link below, to a blog entry offering step by step instruction in the Recamier Coiffure!

http://frazzledfrau.tripod.com/titanic/recamier.htm

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

Lovely find. This Leo card was decorated with real feathers. Postcards were often decorated with sequins, tiny beads, ground glass, metallic glitter, feathers, and even hair, achieving sometimes astonishing results. This was sometimes done commercially, by the publisher, and sometimes done, as a craft project, by card collectors. It is very difficult to find any reliable history on the practice and process of postcard decoration, but we have read that kits, of a sort, were sold to the public, for the purpose of hand-coloring, or otherwise decorating, these cards. This is a lovely example.

*** PLEASE NOTE*** As was often the practice, these feathers were attached to very thin paper with some variety of adhesive, and then that paper glued down to the face of the card. When we removed the card from the plastic sleeve it arrived in, one section of the feathered paper came loose from the card. We just barely brushed a gluestick across the surface of the card beneath the feathered paper and re-affixed it in its original position, but beware. This card and its decorations are in the neighborhood of 90 years old, so need to be treated with care. Thanks, Red

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!

24.00 USD

Ernest Louis Desire Le Deley was a well known publisher of postcards in France from 1900 until 1930, when ELD went bankrupt. Thanks to the Metropolitan Postcard Club's publisher list (a fantastic information resource, link below), for this info.

http://www.metropostcard.com/publishersl.html

Beautiful long-haired model posing "en collant" (in body stocking). Lovely, subtle, hand coloration of the trompe l'oeil. This is a truly fine example of a risque body stocking image from the "naughty aughties." Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

18.00 USD

"We shall soon know, beyond any shadow of doubt," declared Chief Inspector Duclos with an air of supreme confidence, "whether or not it was you, my fine young fellow, who upon the afternoon in question, removed from said windowsill the cherry tart which Madame Charrier had placed there to cool only moments before."

Young Pierre Tourneur, eager to clear his good name, took up the two bio-electrically sensitive thought extractors in his small, trembling hands. Would the inspector's machine prove his innocence? Or was the inspector, as many of his subordinates in the Special Crimes Unit seemed to believe, a mere phantasist, and mad as the proverbial March hare?

"And now, for the moment of truth," the Inspector exclaimed with a triumphant snap of his fingers. Then, with a gleam in his eyes, and an expression of sheer delight twisting his features, he threw the small, innocent looking, black switch.

Now, you tell one :)

The message written on the reverse of this card, may give some clue as to the real nature of this apparatus. It looks very much like a Duchenne machine, a device invented by Guillaume Duchenne, in the mid-1800s, to further his study of electrophysiology, but we find it's much more fun making up our own reasons for its existence.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.

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

And please come visit our blog at:

redpoulaine.blogspot.com

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

18.00 USD

A wonderfully strange little card. We absolutely love it! A young lady greets the morning in her birthday suit, and is met by an alien butterfly! We should point out that either this butterfly was drawn and colored onto the finished image during the card's commercial production (which is not at all unlikely), or it was drawn onto the card later, by someone who loved the image enough to further decorate it. In either case, it's just so neat!
The card's borders remind us that the trimming process, at that time, was imprecise at best, and what looks (in our scan), like a scratch in the area below her upraised arm, is some kind of a ghost flaw, and simply not evident at all, when we examine the 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!

18.00 USD

Mlle. D'Armoy was one of the queens of the body stocking postcard. Lovely image by Walery of Paris.
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

Charming image of Miss Haslam, who graced the Paris music halls of la Belle Epoque. This was taken by Walery of Paris during the time she was performing at the Alcazar Club and the card itself, was produced under the star label by Monsieur G. Piprot, who operated a postcard production company out of number 2 Rue de l'Amsterdam in Paris. 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!