18.00 USD
Professor Edward (Sometimes Edouard) Stebbing, was a prolific photographer in Belle Epoque Paris. Though we have been unable to find much in the way of biographical information on this man (what he was a professor of, for example), what we've been able to gather suggests to us that he was an expatriate Englishman living in Paris. He published extensively in British journals on the photographic process, and was also an inventor, creating what some call the first "roll film" camera, an image of which we include in our listing images (though not for sale :). This image is thanks to the George Eastman House (a link below to that website, which offers some specifications on this wonderful camera, that listed for $12.00 dollars in 1887).
http://www.geh.org/fm/Brownie2/htmlsrc/ms810500001_ful.html
Many of Professor Stebbing's theatrical portraits were printed and published by Monsieur G. Piprot, of "Etoile," or "Star," publishing, in Paris. M. Piprot was himself a photographer of some note, and together, Stebbing and Piprot accomplished wonderful work that lent itself beautifully (as we can see here), to hand-tinted postcard images. It's wonderful how choices made by the colorists, could so dramatically effect end results. Note that the filmy veil she no doubt swirled around herself in this routine seems to have had silk-screened onto its surface flower decorations in a distinctly Art Nouveau style. This design is clearer in some other images from this series, and we'd certainly love a close up view of this fabric!
The artiste, Vampa, or La Vampa, as she was also called, is another about whom we've found very little history. We know that she performed not only in France, but in Germany as well, since portraits of her by Herr Gerlach of Berlin pop up now and then. She might possibly have taken her stage name from the aria "Stride la Vampa," or "Flame of Jealous Love," in Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore, which was still, fifty years after its premier, a popular opera, and exceedingly romantic, or perhaps it was just the Italian word "vampa," that inspired her, meaning flame, or also "blush" :)
A wonderful card, 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 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 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!