18.00 USD
Wonderful image by Herr Gerlach of silent film Queen Fern Andra with horse. We love this series of cards.
The Ogden Standard-Examiner, in 1927, recounted one of Fern Andra's many escapades in Germany during the First World War, at which time, accused of espionage, she was housed in a prisoner of war camp, and only weeks away from execution by firing squad. But, Kaiser Wilhelm (apparently a fan) interceded on her behalf. Could that have been true? Perhaps. Who can say at this point?
The Germans did in fact suspect her of spying during that war, and later in her life she acknowledged that she had acted as a courier for the allies, memorizing coded secrets and carrying that information to American agents in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 1922, American newspapers reported that "German" film actress, Fern Andra, had been killed in an aeroplane crash in Germany, the plane having been piloted by no lesser a personage than Lothar von Richthofen, a WWI flying ace and the brother of the "Bloody" Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. Lothar von Richthofen had also perished in the crash. True?
Well, not any part having to do with Miss Andra, no. She was not actually a German actress but an American one, who was called the "German Mary Pickford," and was one of the biggest stars of the silent film industry in that country (and in all of Europe) between the mid 1910s and the mid 1920s. She hadn't been killed in the plane crash either, but was the sole survivor, though very badly hurt.
By that time, she was better known as the Baroness Fern Andra, since to avoid further accusations of spying during the war, she had married the Baron Friedrich von Weichs, a nephew of Empress Zita of Austria and also a former member of the Baron von Richthofen's fighter squadron. Though her husband, Baron von Weichs was killed in that war, Miss Andra held fast to the title of Baroness for the rest of her days, and over a few subsequent marriages.
Born in 1893 Illinois, the stepdaughter of a high wire performer and a mother she claimed was an opera singer, but who after more recent research is thought to have been a backstage costume dresser and seamstress, she was named Vernal Edna Andrews, and it was likely under that plain old American name that she was performing in circus and vaudeville acts as a child (apparently she was up on the high wire at the tender age of four.
Fern Andra's adventures don't stop here. A remarkable life! She was a film actress in more than 80 motion pictures, a dancer, a circus and vaudeville performer, a screenwriter, a director, a producer, an aviatrix, yes, and perhaps a spy. She not only fell under suspicion of spying for the allies against Germany in the first world war, but twenty years later, because of her long residence in Germany, and an association (no one says just how personal) with a young scriptwriter named Joseph Goebbels (many, many years before he became one of the most important figures of Hitler's Third Reich), she also fell under suspicion by the U.S. government of spying on Germany's behalf during the run up to WWII. Her story goes on and on... but we can't.
Google this gal! and definitely follow this link to Youtube, where you can see her in the wonderful German Expessionist horror film "Genuine," by the director of "The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari," Robert Weine. Miss Andra performed in the title role, and wore it well.
She doesn't wear much else, actually. The film caused quite a furor, because much of her costume was quite literally painted on! Make popcorn and settle in. Great fun :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4dwATAiq4c
A magically atmospheric image by the great Georg Gerlach of Berlin, in very nice unposted condition.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.
The item you are considering for purchase is, unless otherwise noted, a vintage postcard of approximately 5 and 1/2, by 3 and 1/2 inches. Postage is for fully-insured, first class shipping in a secure photo mailer (to avoid any damage to your purchase in the mails), and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will not charge for postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.
And please come visit our blog at:
redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!