19.00 USD
One of six lovely hand-tinted postcards in a series of the "bathing beauty" variety, circa 1906-08 (1906 at the earliest, because Germany adopted the "new" divided back cards at that time, two years after France had done so, and no later than 1908, because the "P.R.A." design in card's stamp box was the logo for "Verein Photographischer Reproduktions-Anstalten GmbH,” a cost and quality control organization of silver bromide photo postcard printers and publishers--a cartel of sorts--that went defunct in 1908.
We have no information on the photographer or model. For those interested in the history of G.G. of Berlin though (the printer/publisher), we recently came across a catalogue offered for sale online titled "Galerie Alter und Moderner Meister," a collection of color lithographs produced by Georg Gerlach & Co. A.G., Berlin in 1888, giving us a little more insight into G.G. (Georg Gerlach). It suggests that like many other early picture postcard publishers, G.G. began as a printer of art prints, was therefore already set up (at least partially) for production, and when the picture postcard boom hit at the turn of the century, jumped right in.
In 1888, G.G.'s location was at 42 Chausee Strasse, Berlin, and in 1910, after they'd become very successful with postcard publishing, architect Max Richter designed new buildings for them which were still standing as of 2010 and designated an historical site.
All of this casts some doubt on the idea that those hundreds and hundreds (vast understatement :) of wonderful theatrical portraits and "fantaisies" were actually photographed by Georg Gerlach himself, who had to have been rather busy running a large company that not only published, but also printed those series of postcards, in addition to other lines of production.
Also, the fact that the company was well established by 1888 makes it unlikely that publisher Georg Gerlach was also the Austrian painter named Georg Gerlach, which is a question that sometimes comes up. That painter was born in 1874, which would have placed him running the printing and publishing firm in Berlin (in 1888) at age 14...unlikely.
Nor does there seem to be a connection between G.G. Co Berlin and photographers Martin Gerlach Sr., or Martin Gerlach Jr. (as we previously were led to believe), Since both father and son were primarily working out of Vienna Austria, not Berlin. There are a number of G.G. Co postcards attributed to the photographer Martin Gerlach online, through various sources, but we suspect this is simply confusion due to them being signed "Gerlach," and we haven't through our research been able to establish any definite connection.
Returning to the question of whether or not Georg Gerlach was a photographer as well as a publisher though, we have wondered if those cards that actually bear the name "Gerlach," printed out in a script font might not have been photographed by him. Questions :)
G.G. Co. of Berlin may have closed its doors in 1939, but we've only found a hint of that so far.
It's a shame that we find so little information on a publisher of some of the finest theatrical portraits of the period. If anyone out there has any further information on G.G. Co. A.G. Berlin, please share!
A lovely card! 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!