This cabinet card features a pretty young costumed actress playing the role of a crusader. Notice her sheathed sword, plumed helmet, and high boots. An ebayer has written me to say that the actress in this photograph is French operetta singer and actress, Laurence Grivot (1843-1890). However, I have not been able to confirm that identification. This lovely photograph comes from a well respected studio in Boston, Massachusetts. The studio is Warren’s Portraits and it was located at 465 Washington Street. The photographer was George K. Warren. Warren’s Studios photographed many celebrities and notable people in Boston. SOLD
This rare color tinted vintage real photo postcard features French artiste and courtesan, Manon Loty. Her photograph is by Leopold Reutlinger and the postcard was published by SIP as part of a series (No.987). The undivided card was published circa 1902. Loty was quite the beauty. Although there is no shortage photo postcards featuring Manon Loty, this particular card is rare. Loty was a popular entertainer. She was often seen at Maxime’s, a Paris gathering spot for wealthy royals and industrialists. Men made arrangements with the Belle Epoque courtesans who gathered there. A 1910 article in Pearson’s magazine, mentions her as an example of a “mercenary woman” SOLD
This cabinet card portrait of a young child is a bit unusual because the image features other cabinet cards within it. The child is intensely staring at the photographer while holding a cabinet card in his/her hand. There is a stack of cabinet cards lying on the table. One can imagine that the photographer decided to use the cabinet cards as a prop for this image. The photographer of this image is Luther M. Rice. Mr Rice is a familiar name to the Cabinet Card Gallery. The gallery features a photograph by Charles E. Holman, the brother-in-law of Luther Rice. Rice taught Holman the photography business. The pair worked together for a number of years and in 1879 Rice sold the studio to Holman. Rice was born in Massachusetts in about 1886. In addition to being a photographer, he was also a watercolorist. He began working in Warren (Ohio) by 1868. He partnered with Isaac D. Bliss in 1870 and worked independently from 1875 until 1891. He also had a studio in Chagrin Falls (1896-1897). All dates mentioned in this brief career biography are approximate. Rice’s obituary appeared in the “Bulletin of Photography” (1913). He was 86 years old at the time of his death.
This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $25.00 or best offer
These vintage real photo postcards feature French actress and dancer, Anne Regina Badet (1876-1949). She was a major star of the Opera-Comique in Paris. She made her debut at the Grand Theatre de Bordeaux where she became a principal dancer She received much acclaim for her portrayal of Conchita Perez in “The Woman and the Puppet (1910)”. Postcard 1 shows her in this role. Her stage acting led her to a brief film career (eleven movies between 1908 and 1922). The Los Angeles Herald (1906) described Badet as the “new Paris pet” and that her dances in the Opera “Aphrodite” had “caused a furor among theater goers. A critic wrote that he went to see the performance because the opera was a “masterpiece” and because he wanted to see the star soprano, Mary Garden, interpretation of her role. Instead, he reports he was most drawn to the performance by Regina Badet. Miss Badet retired from stage and screen in the early 1920’s.
The photographer of the image on Postcard 1 is listed as “Bert”. I believe that this is a photographer who partnered with celebrated photographer Paul Boyer, renowned for his celebrity and theater images. This postcard was published by F. C. & C.
Postcard 2 offers a second portrait of Miss Badet. The pretty actress is wide eyed and wearing a lot of jewelry. The photograph was taken by Henri Manuel (1874-1947). In 1900, Manuel opened a portrait studio in Paris with his brother Gaston. He quickly became well known for his portraits of politicians, artists, and athletes. His images were used by news agencies . His studio became the largest studio in Paris and it attracted many young photographers who sharpened their skills there. In 1925 the brothers expended their business to include fashion photography. They worked for such designers as Chanel, Patou, and Lanvin. The studio shut down during World War II and many of their photographic plates were destroyed. Manuel was the official photographer for the French government from 1914 through 1944. SOLD Postcard 3 features a photograph of Miss Badet that was taken by celebrated photographer, Paul Boyer. SOLD
Postcard 4 features a photograph of Badet taken by the Oricelly studio. SOLD
This charming 1938 advertising postcard from the Rawleigh Company announces the upcoming visit of a Rawleigh salesman to a retail customer, likely a small grocery or general store. The card serves as both a product advertisement and a practical reminder of an in-person sales call — a common strategy used by Rawleigh in their extensive door-to-door and small-business sales operations. The front of the postcard is colorfully illustrated with a box of Rawleigh’s Doughnut Mix alongside a plate of golden fried doughnuts, while the reverse features bottles of Rawleigh Vanilla Compounds and a beautifully frosted layer cake. The ad copy promotes doughnut and gingerbread mixes, vanilla flavorings, malted milk, and other desserts — emphasizing convenience and taste, with phrases like “Folks Go Wild About Them” and “What Women Prefer.” The card is marked “Printed in USA – 5-38-500m”, indicating it was printed in May 1938. It also carries the promotional code “Adv. Not. 38-14.” The W.T. Rawleigh Company was founded in 1889 in Freeport, Illinois by William Thomas Rawleigh. Originally focused on home remedies, the company became one of the leading door-to-door distributors of household products in North America, offering everything from vanilla extract and liniment to spices, flavorings, baking supplies, and household cleaners. Rawleigh salesmen (known as Rawleigh men) became familiar figures in American towns and rural areas throughout the early 20th century. They were known for bringing their products directly to consumers, sometimes traveling by horse and buggy in the early days. The brand built a reputation for reliability, quality, and variety. Though its dominance faded in the postwar era, Rawleigh continued into the late 20th century and its legacy lives on — the name was revived and Rawleigh products are still available today under the umbrella of Vitasource. This postcard is in excellent vintage condition with vivid color, strong printing, and clean edges. It is unused and unposted, with a blank address section on the back (see scans).
This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $8.00 or best offer.
This striking vintage risque postcard features a dramatic sepia-toned studio portrait of Emma Darwin, identified by name printed in the upper right corner. The image captures her in an elegant, theatrical pose, standing barefoot with a long, sheer drape flowing from her arms to the floor. Her short, softly waved bob hairstyle and confident gaze are characteristic of the Art Deco era, strongly suggesting the 1920s. The composition is highly stylized, with a soft-focus woodland backdrop and carefully arranged fabric creating movement and sensuality without explicit nudity. The presence of French text on the reverse — “Carte Postale” with “Correspondance” and “Adresse” — supports French publication. The card appears to be of continental European origin, most likely French, and dates to circa 1925, which aligns well with the hairstyle, fashion, and theatrical styling. The publisher or photographer is not explicitly named beyond the logo (located near bottom right corner), which may represent the studio or publishing house. Without a clear imprint, this is likely a French studio production distributed commercially during the mid-1920s. These types of theatrical and dance portrait postcards were popular collectibles during the interwar period. Regarding Emma Darwin, she appears to have been a stage performer or exotic dancer active in the 1920s, likely within European cabaret or theatrical circuits. Preliminary research revealed no information about a dancer with that name. Her styling is consistent with continental revue, cabaret, or interpretive dance performers of the Art Deco period. This is a beautiful example of 1920s Art Deco performance photography, combining elegance, theatrical flair, and continental European style. SOLD
A charming and intimate real photo postcard capturing two young girls—likely sisters—posed together outdoors beside a calm body of water. The older child stands protectively with her arm gently resting across the younger girl’s shoulder, creating a tender and natural composition that speaks to familial closeness. Both girls wear light summer dresses with delicate trim, matching socks, and sturdy leather shoes typical of the late 1920s into the 1930s period. Their large hair bows and the younger child’s curly hairstyle add a delightful touch of personality and period charm. The photograph appears to have been taken in a casual, possibly lakeside or park setting, with softly blurred water in the background providing a pleasing contrast to the crisp focus on the children. The candid warmth of their expressions—especially the older girl’s broad, confident smile—makes this an especially appealing image. This postcard has pleasing tonal range and clear detail. The postcard has minor edge and corner wear. See Scans.
This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $14.00 or best offer.
This vintage real photo postcard features Crown Prince Wilhelm and his wife, Crown Princess Cecilie. The photo was taken by the Emilie Bieber studio (Berlin and Hamburg). She was a very successful and talented photographer during a time when female photographers were uncommon. The postcard was published by Von Gustav Liersch. Readers may be wondering about these Royals. Who are these people? Prince Wilhelm (1882-1951) was the last Crown Prince of Prussia and the German Empire. He married Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1886-1954) in 1905. The pair’s marriage wasn’t rock solid. The Crown Prince had affairs with both American opera singer Geraldine Farrar and dancer Mata Hari. This vintage photo has a German stamp and is postmarked in 1907. (SOLD)
This elegant early twentieth-century Romanian postcard features a beautiful portrait of A.S.R. Printesa Maria, identified clearly along the lower margin of the image. “A.S.R.” stands for Alteța Sa Regală—Her Royal Highness. The reverse of the card is printed in red ink and the card is identified as part of a Romanian royal series issued by A. Brand of Sinaia, with distribution by C. Sfetea of Bucharest, both known for publishing royal portrait postcards in the early 1900s. Based on the divided back and typography, this card likely dates from approximately 1905 to 1915. Princess Maria of Romania (1900-1961) was the daughter of King Ferdinand I of Romania and Queen Marie of Romania. Her mother, Queen Marie, was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Tsar Alexander II of Russia, placing Princess Maria within the wider network of European royalty. In 1922, Princess Maria married King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and became Queen Maria of Yugoslavia. After her husband’s assassination in 1934, she became Queen Mother and remained an important royal figure until her death on June 22, 1961. This portrait therefore captures a young princess who would later ascend to queenship in another European monarchy. The portrait itself is refined and beautifully composed. Princess Maria is shown as a young woman wearing a soft, fur-trimmed hat adorned with a plume. Her long hair falls naturally over her shoulders, and she wears a delicate pendant necklace. The lighting is soft and flattering, typical of formal royal portraiture of the period, and her thoughtful sideways gaze lends the image a dignified and almost romantic quality. The sepia tones remain warm and appealing, enhancing the overall aesthetic of this early royal postcard. SOLD
This wonderful rare antique Judaica real photo postcard shows two young children posed in a studio, the older child standing in a dark romper-style outfit with striped stockings and the younger child seated on a pedestal in a white dress. The front is printed with the Hebrew Rosh Hashanah greeting which translates as “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.” This was likely made or sent as a Jewish New Year greeting card, and the image has especially strong visual appeal because of the children’s direct expressions, matching bobbed haircuts, and classic studio presentation. Real Photo Rosh Hashanah greeting postcards are very uncommon. The reverse is a divided-back postcard marked “Made in Canada” with an AZO stamp box. The stamp box style indicates that the card was published sometime between 1924 and 1949. The card has a handwritten message in Hebrew script, which appears to be Yiddish rather than Hebrew. Embossed in the image (lower right corner) is the photographers name and location. The photo was taken by the Shapira studio in Winnipeg, Canada. The photographer was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1894 and immigrated to Winnipeg around the turn of the century. Around 1912, he became associated with the German Art Studio, which later operated under the name Shapira’s Studios, and he remained active as a photographer until his death. Shapira was also involved in both professional and Jewish communal life, including membership in the Photographers Association of America and long service with the Hebrew Sick Benefit Association. This postcard is in good antique condition overall with a strong, clear real photo image. There is expected corner wear, light age toning, and small stains in the lower left corner (not affecting the image). The reverse has surface wear and a handwritten message (see scans).
This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $36.00 or best offer.
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 