33.00 USD
Fantastic clown image!! No history on performer Leo Billwarek, unfortunately...still looking :) The photograph was made at the Atelier R. Grunberger in Prague, probably between around 1906 and 1914, but we're guessing before 1910. On the backs of their cabinet cards produced in the later 1800s, the Grunberger Studio advertised that it was the first studio (presumably in Prague) to offer color photography.
This particular clown might fit into the category of the "Auguste," or der "Dumme August," a technical term pertaining to performance clowning. It is a type of clown character, the pathetic, clumsy one that is made a fool of, not the malicious one doing the teasing. We read in one article that the Auguste is also often face-painted in a particular way these days, but of course these things change over time and the nasty boo-boo on his head is the big "Auguste" indicator :).
Postcards featuring circus clowns in authentic period costume are a very collectible genre of picture postcards and this one, in its very nice condition--and autographed!!-- is quite the find!
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.