18.00 USD
When it comes to film star images of the 1920s, certainly Ross Verlag of Germany, which produced over 40,000 images in its time, has everyone beat hands down for variety, but for print quality and evocative style, one of our very favorites would have to be Cinemagazine Editions of Paris. Here is a truly magnificent example. In this particular case, we have a photo out of the G.L. Manuel Freres Studio of Gaston and Henri Manuel (the latter, no doubt well known to our regular visitors for his Belle Epoque theatrical portrait images).
Francisca Lopez, later known as Raquel Meller, was born in Tarazona, Aragon. She was the daughter of a blacksmith and a grocer. At the age of ten, her father passed away and she went to live with her aunt, the abbess of a convent. Soon she was faced with the prospect of becoming a nun, an idea not much to her liking, so, though still a child, she ran away from the convent and took a job in the city, as a dressmaker's assistant. Here is where the story gets marvelously fairy-tale-like in quality.
As she toiled through the long days with her needles and thread, working embroidered patterns into the robes and cloaks of Catholic bishops, wealthy ladies, and the like, she amused herself and helped pass the hours by singing the simple country songs she'd learned as a child, but so beautifully that crowds would gather outside the shop window to listen. By thirteen, she was singing in bistros, and soon became known even to the king and queen of Spain. She eventually took the stage name of Raquel Meller, grew famous as a chanteuse, then as a silent film star. Charles Chaplin was one of her biggest fans. Sarah Bernhardt said that she was the finest actress in Europe, (excepting, of course, herself), :) She was rumored to have been the person who denounced Mata Hari as a spy to the French Government, in a fit of jealous rage, upon discovering that her lover was having an affair with the infamous dancer. If you follow the below link, you can hear Raquel sing "la Violetera."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q71Q5EMyQzk
A really wonderful card in near fine, unposted condition. 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.
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!