22.00 USD
I Have to say that one of the many little rewards of engaging in this work is the discovery of unidentified images of famous Belle Epoque performers. An unidentified image always adds a little extra spice to a shop window, and then, to someone's special collection.
Lovely faux-nude "précurseur" (French term for early postcards with undivided back). We can't know exactly when this card was printed, but probably between 1895 and 1904. This also appears to be an unidentified, and very early image of famous Belle Epoque actress Cécile Sorel!
Though the text "Suzanne Surprize" sounds as though it might have been the title of a soft-rock song from the early 70s (and hey, who knows, it could have been! think "Suite Judy Blue Eyes" CSNY :) it is French though, meaning "Suzanne surprised," and though we haven't traced the origin of the theme, there were at least two well known French sculptures, one "Suzanne Surprise," and one "Suzanne Surprise au Bain" (Suzanne surprised in the bath), produced during la Belle Epoque.
The "Pose Plastique" was very popular for a time. Sometimes the curtain would rise displaying a tableau of statues, marble-white, or perhaps gilded, mimicking a famous sculpture familiar to many in the audience, but then suddenly the statues would move...they weren't statues at all, but actors and gymnasts often attired in close fitting, faux-nude, union suits, made up and carefully posed.
So in this card, Suzanne Surprise the sculpture, may well have become a "pose plastique" performed by an actress who would later become one of the great queens of French stage and early film, La Comtesse de Ségur, better known as Cécile Sorel. Compare our third and fourth listing images for yourself. the third image is of a close crop of the performer on our card (reversed for easier comparison), and the fourth is of Mme. Sorel, Sociétaire de la Comédie-Française! I have to say we are convinced :)
Fun stuff, and since it was printed during that time when only the recipient's address was allowed on the back-side of the card, the publisher left plenty of room on the front-side for personal messages.
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!