THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This striking European real photo postcard features stage performer Betty Fischer, photographed in Vienna in 1913 by L. Gutmann, whose imprint appears at the lower right of the image: “L. Gutmann, Wien 1913.” The postcard presents Fischer in a full-length studio pose wearing a theatrical costume consisting of a short satin stage outfit with stockings, heeled shoes, and a large headscarf tied in a dramatic bow. The outfit would have been considered fashionably daring for the period and is typical of costumes worn in cabaret, operetta, and theatrical revue performances in pre–World War I Vienna. The German caption at the top translates roughly to: “That’s what the girls like so much!” suggesting the postcard was likely part of a theatrical or humorous series associated with stage performance culture of the period. Betty Fischer (1887–1969) was an Austrian operetta singer, born in Vienna and she spent most of her career in Vienna’s vibrant operetta and theater world. She began performing at a young age in variety productions and operetta and became an established performer at the Raimundtheater between 1900 and 1903. She then rose to prominence as a prima donna at the Theater an der Wien from 1903 to 1928, one of Vienna’s most important operetta venues. In 1928 she starred at the Johann Strauss Theater, and she also made guest appearances at other theaters in Vienna and in other musical centers. In her later years, she appeared in character roles at the Raimundtheater and also taught at the Vienna Conservatory. Fischer was considered an outstanding operetta singer in her day, known for excelling in both traditional operetta roles and contemporary works. The photographer L. Gutmann of Vienna was active in the early 20th century and is known for producing theatrical and portrait postcards of performers working in Vienna’s entertainment industry. His work is frequently encountered on postcards dating from the 1910s, particularly portraits of stage personalities. At the lower left corner of the front is a publisher’s logo that appears to be the intertwined letters “OPG”, standing for Osterreichische Photographische Gesellschaft (Vienna, Austria), a firm that issued theatrical and actress postcards in the early 20th century. Printing on the front of the postcard indicates that it was published in 1913. The postcard is in very good antique condition with a strong, clear image and pleasing contrast. There is light  corner wear consistent with age. Under close inspection, a very faint line is visible in the right background area near the subject’s knee, lightly extending across part of the image; it does not affect the subject and is relatively unobtrusive, mentioned here for accuracy. Overall, this is a clean and highly displayable example an Austrian opera star photo postcard. See scans.  

This postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $22.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236722549768

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

These real photo postcards feature the elegant German actress Grete Reinwald, who began her career as a celebrated child model and went on to achieve recognition on stage and in silent films. Born in 1902 in Stuttgart, Grete Reinwald started modeling as a child and quickly gained popularity in Germany. Alongside her siblings Hanni and Otto, she became a fixture in early German cinema and theater. She transitioned into film during the silent era and continued acting into the 1930s, admired for her expressive face and natural charm. She passed away in 1983, leaving behind a rich legacy in German performing arts. 

Postcard 1 captures Reinwald in young adulthood in a graceful, studio portrait taken by Atelier Balázs, a well-known photographic studio. Grete is dressed in a flowing, embroidered dress featuring a detailed swirling floral motif across the bodice and skirt. The dress is belted at the waist and paired with a wide-brimmed hat that adds a sophisticated flair to her ensemble. She holds a bouquet of large flowers—possibly carnations or peonies—adding a touch of natural softness to the scene. Her expression is one of calm confidence, and she gazes slightly to the side with a pleasant, relaxed smile. Her posture, with one hand resting on her hip and the other holding the bouquet, exudes poise and charm. This image perfectly captures her transition from a cherubic child star to a refined young woman, retaining her signature warmth and beauty. The postcard was published by Ross Verlag, a prominent German publisher of celebrity postcards, and is marked 536/2, indicating it is part of their numbered photo series. The clarity of the photo, Grete’s fashion-forward appearance, and the reputable publisher all contribute to its desirability among collectors. (SOLD)

Postcard 2 is a studio portrait taken by Alex Binder, a well known celebrity photographer. Grete flashes a beautiful smile beneath a wide brimmed hat. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag. The card is marked 1136/2, indicating it is part of a series. (SOLD)

This striking real photo postcard features a studio portrait identified in period handwriting as “Lizzie of the Rocking Girls.” The image shows a young woman posed in a three-quarter view, her elaborate curled hairstyle and theatrical costume suggesting that she was a stage performer rather than a private studio sitter. Her blouse features decorative embroidery typical of stage or costume wear, and the dramatic lighting and soft-focus photographic style are consistent with theatrical portrait photography from the early 20th century. The caption “Lizzie of the Rocking Girls” likely refers to a theatrical troupe, musical comedy chorus line, vaudeville act, or touring stage company. During the circa 1905–1915 period, many small traveling performance groups—often called “girls” troupes (for example, chorus lines, dance revues, or musical comedy ensembles)—produced and sold photographic postcards of individual performers as souvenirs. These postcards were commonly sold after performances or used for promotional purposes, which would explain the professional quality of the portrait and the identification written directly on the image. The term “Rocking Girls” may refer to a song-and-dance troupe, possibly associated with a musical revue or vaudeville circuit. Many such groups had names like “The ___ Girls,” and individual performers were often marketed by first name only, which suggests that “Lizzie” may have been a stage name rather than a full professional name. Preliminary research found no information about the “Rocking Girls” which suggests that this may have been a regional or touring vaudeville company, making the postcard a scarce and interesting piece of theatrical ephemera. The postcard back has a divided back style. This real photo postcard can be dated to approximately circa 1908–1913, based on several visual and production clues. The postcard is in good antique condition overall, with a strong, clear image and pleasing contrast. There is light corner wear consistent with age. A small, faint spot is visible in the right background area a way from the subject’s chin. This postcard is an overall well-preserved and very displayable card. See scans.

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $22.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336507708040

This cabinet card captures the the charm and innocence of a very fashionable young girl. She appears comfortable in front of the camera. She appears to be in her teenage years. The photographer of this pretty girl is Canadian born, John Jefferson Gibson and he took this photo at his Ann Arbor studio. He was a portrait photographer in Michigan in the 1880’s to 1893. Gibson also had studios during his career in Bay City and Detroit, Michigan. He married a Ypsilanti resident, May Clark, in 1889. Gibson was the official portrait photographer at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. The Gibsons stayed in Chicago after fair and they opened a photography studio. Gibson died in 1902 at a young age (between 30 and 40 years-old). His cause of death was tuberculosis. After his death, his wife took over the studio and eventually it became the Montgomery Wards Portrait studio. Jefferson took many series of photos at the University of Michigan and this work has been published in Journals and it is currently held at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan.  (SOLD)

This is an interesting early twentieth-century Cuban postcard depicting a traditional milk vendor, or lechero, delivering milk on horseback. The image shows the rider seated calmly on a light-colored horse beside railway tracks, carrying large metal milk containers in saddle baskets. The scene captures a moment of everyday life in Cuba during a time when milk was commonly delivered door-to-door before refrigeration and modern dairy distribution. The printed caption at the bottom of the card reads: “CUBA — Lechero — Milk seller.” The fact that the caption includes English language, likely reveals that this postcard was meant to be sold to tourists who had a profound interest in occupational postcards. Postcards depicting occupational scenes such as this—milk vendors, street sellers, and other everyday trades—were especially popular with travelers visiting Havana during the early 1900s. The word “lechero” is the Spanish term for a milk vendor who transported fresh milk into towns and neighborhoods, often selling it directly to households. In many cities across Latin America and the Caribbean during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, milk was delivered daily by riders or cart drivers who carried large metal milk cans similar to those visible in this photograph. A particularly interesting detail in this postcard is the pair of large metal milk cans secured in wooden carrying crates attached to the saddle. These containers were early transport milk churns designed to be tightly sealed to prevent contamination or spillage while traveling through town. In warm climates such as Cuba, milk sellers sometimes wrapped the cans with damp cloth or straw coverings to create a simple evaporative cooling effect that helped keep the milk fresh during the day. Milk vendors typically collected fresh milk early in the morning from nearby dairies and transported it into town in these containers. The milk was then measured and poured directly for customers, often using a smaller serving container carried along with the larger storage cans. Because refrigeration and pasteurization were not yet widespread, the milk was meant to be sold and consumed the same day. Note that there is a sign over the window in the building seen in this postcard. “Mina” can be translated as “mine” or a “mining facility”. Likely related to the mine is the railroad tracks running along side the building. The publisher of this lithographic postcard was M. Lazaro. He was located on Obispo Street in Havana. Obispo Street is one of the city’s most historic commercial streets and a well-known center of tourist shops, photographers, and postcard dealers during the early twentieth century. A Cuban one-centavo green stamp appears on the reverse of the card. The postcard is postmarked Bordeaux, France, indicating that the postcard was mailed internationally. The postcard remains in good antique condition overall with strong photographic detail and clear printing. There is general age toning and light handling wear. There is minor corner wear. The stamp remains attached on the front with a visible postal cancellation. The reverse shows the original message and address in ink along with the printed Cuban postal markings. Overall, this is an appealing and historically interesting occupational postcard documenting a traditional milk delivery scene in early twentieth-century Cuba (see scans).

This postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $18.00

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236708188277

This is a beautiful carte de visite portrait of a young woman taken by photographer Aug(ust) Haraldsson of Christiania, Norway (now Oslo). The sitter is elegantly posed in three-quarter view, looking slightly off to her right with a calm and reflective expression. Her light eyes and delicate features are sharply captured, giving the image a quiet dignity and presence. She wears a high-collared dark dress or jacket with a velvet bodice, secured at the throat with an ornate round brooch featuring a dangling chain. Her hair is fashionably short and softly curled, framing her face in a way that was in vogue during the 1880s–1890s. A small earring is visible in her left ear, adding a subtle touch of refinement. The overall impression is one of youthful poise and gentle elegance. The photographer’s imprint appears on the front mount and in elaborate gold script on the reverse, which reads: “Aug. Haraldsson, Nedre Slotsgade 19, Hjørnet af Carl Johansgade, Christiania.” Haraldsson was an established portrait photographer in Christiania, operating from this address in the late 19th century.  (SOLD)

This photograph is mounted on a textured cabinet card mount measuring about 6.25 by 9 inches, with the photographic image itself measuring about 4 by 5.5 inches. The mount features a decorative crest emblem printed near the lower left corner, while the photographer’s imprint (J. B. Pearlstien) appears at the lower right.The studio address places the studio in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, an area that experienced substantial industrial and residential growth during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Greenpoint developed into a busy working-class district with factories, shipyards, and immigrant communities. Pearlstien was a talented photographer. The refined composition, elegant lighting, and carefully arranged pose suggest the work of an experienced studio photographer. Portraits of this style were particularly popular between about 1905 and 1915, when cabinet card mounts were still used but photographic formats were gradually shifting toward smaller prints and postcards. Here is some information about the photographer. Julius Bernhardt Pearlstien is listed in Trows Business Directory of the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens (1899) as operating a photography studio at 39 Greenpoint Avenue in Brooklyn. He was born sometime between 1877 and 1879. Pearlstien became a US citizen in 1900 while living in Brooklyn. He registered for the draft (World War I) in Brooklyn in 1917. In regard to condition, the photograph itself remains clear and well preserved, with good contrast and pleasing tonal range. The image has surface wear at its center bottom. The mount shows age-related wear consistent with its age, including light toning and handling marks. There is a small chipped corner at the upper left of the mount, along with minor edge wear. The reverse shows areas of surface disturbance where an old album mount or adhesive may once have been present. Despite these signs of age, the cabinet card remains an attractive and displayable antique portrait, with the image itself remaining strong and visually appealing (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $14.00 or best offer.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236689841541

This is a charming late-nineteenth-century cabinet card portrait of three adorable young children, photographed by the New York City studio of Spamer & Spier. The portrait presents two little girls and a young boy posed together in an elegant studio setting, creating a delightful and carefully composed family image typical of the Victorian period. The photographer has arranged the children around a decorative studio pedestal and backdrop. One girl sits atop the pedestal while another sits below on a fur-covered studio prop. The young boy stands beside them wearing a tailored jacket with a large bow tie, giving him a slightly more formal and grown-up appearance. One especially appealing detail is the small stick or rod the boy is holding. This object was likely a studio posing stick or decorative prop, sometimes used by photographers to help steady young subjects or simply to give children something to hold so they would remain still during the exposure. It may also resemble a child’s riding crop or toy baton, both of which were occasionally used in portrait studios as props to convey a sense of confidence or playfulness in young sitters. The cabinet card mount itself features attractive scalloped edges, a decorative style that became popular toward the late 1880s and early 1890s.  Spamer & Spier operated their studio between 1891 and 1902 and during that time, this cabinet card was produced. The studio was located in upper Manhattan along Third Avenue in the Harlem district. Photographic studios in this area served the rapidly growing population of northern Manhattan during the late nineteenth century. This cabinet card remains in excellent antique condition. The photograph retains good contrast and clarity, and the children’s faces are nicely rendered. The decorative scalloped edges remain intact and attractive. The reverse of the mount is blank. Overall, this is a very appealing and well-preserved Victorian cabinet card portrait (see scans). 

This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $48.00 or best offer.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336496805526