YVONNE ARNAUD: BEAUTIFUL FRENCH PIANIST, SINGER, AND ACTRESS

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POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

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The pretty woman seen in these vintage real photo postcards is Germaine Yvonne Arnaud (1890-1958). She had a noteworthy career as a pianist, singer, and actress. She was most popular in her native France, as well as Britain. Arnaud was brought up in Paris and at the age of nine, she entered the Paris Conservatory where she studied piano. In 1905 she won a major competition for her skills in playing the piano. For the next six years, she performed with many of the leading orchestras in Europe and America. In 1911, at age 21, she began acting on the stage. Her first lead role was in the musical “The Girl in the Taxi”. After an operation damaged her vocal cords, she switched to acting in plays. She began her transition in the hit farce “Tons of Money” (1922). She played a role in the hit, “A Cuckoo in the Nest” (1925). She played in two Broadway productions; “And So To Bed” (1927) and “Canaries Sometimes Sing” (1930). In the 1930’s and 1940’s, she played dramatic roles in films. The IMDb credits her with 21 film roles between 1920 and 1958, Later in her career, she still performed as a pianist. Britain’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre was named in her memory. Arnaud was married to actor Hugh McLellan in 1920. She was president of the “League Against Cruel Sports” from 1948 to 1951. Founded in 1924, the league is Britain’s leading charity that aims to stop the persecution, abuse, and killing of animals for sport. For example, the organization campaigns against Bull Fighting and Fox Hunting. Yvonne Arnaud was very popular; she was a sitter in 80 portraits in the collection of Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. The YouTube video below captures Arnaud playing piano with an orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli. The music was recorded in 1932. She is playing “Valse Caprice Op.76” which was composed by Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921). The French composer was unique compared to his contemporaries in that he wrote music in many genres including chamber music, opera, symphonies, sacred choral music, concertos, and solo piano. He had many musical talents. evidenced by the fact that he was a composer, conductor, organist, and pianist.

Postcard 1 highlights the beauty of Miss Arnaud. Note her romantic headdress. Her photograph was taken by Lucien Walery, a celebrated photographer who operated a studio in Paris. He was known for his portraits of actresses and cabaret dancers from the city’s music halls. He was well known for his portraits of Mata Hari and Josephine Baker. Much of his work was done in the genre of nude/erotic photography. He photographed the beautiful women of Paris between the early 1900’s and the 1920’s. This hand color tinted postcard is part of a series (no. 5111). It has a postmark of 1907.   SOLD                                                                                                              

 Postcard 2 is also a vintage real photo card portrait of Yvonne Arnaud. She looks beautiful in this color tinted postcard. This postcard was printed in Britain and was part of the Lilywhite Photographic Series (no. L 4, 501F). The publisher, Lilywhite Ltd, Halifax (L.L.H.), was founded by Arthur Frederick Sergeant. He also was the founder of Halifax Photographic Company which was based in Halifax, England. Lilywhite began publishing postcards in 1910; and in the 1920’s, the company took over Arrow Series Postcards. The company then published postcards under both the Arrow and Lilywhite names.  This postcard has a postmark of 1925. SOLD

Postcard 3 is a good illustration of the beauty of Miss Arnaud. Note her large loop earrings. The photograph is a bit risque due to her low neckline. Her photograph was taken by Sam Levin (1904-1992). He was born in the Ukraine but emigrated to France when he was two years of age. He is famous for his stage photographs and his portraits of movie stars. His studio was in Paris. Levin was a film photographer for 75 films. He was arrested by the Nazis during World War II and was sent to a camp. His crime was, being Jewish. The fact that he was sent to a detention camp rather than a death camp, indicates there was a high ranking Nazi official acting as his guardian angel. He photographed nearly all the major French and European movie stars of the 1950’s and 1960’s. He is particularly celebrated for his photos of Brigitte Bardot. Levin did over 180 magazine covers in the United States.  This postcard was published by Editons du Globe (Paris). SOLD

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BILLIE DOVE: BEAUTIFUL FILM ACTRESS, GIRLFRIEND OF FLORENZ ZIEGFELD : RPPC

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

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These vintage real photo postcards feature actress Billie Dove. Billie Dove (1903-1997) was an American actress. Her parents were Swiss immigrants. During her teenage years, she worked as a model to support her family. Florenz Ziegfeld hired her as a teenager to appear in the Ziegfeld Follies Revue. She was not a particularly talented dancer or singer, her beauty and acting ability were her major assets. In the early 1920’s she moved to Hollywood and began appearing in silent films. It has been written that Ziegfeld’s wife, actress Billie Burke, helped facilitate Dove’s transition to films. Apparently, Burke was trying to separate Dove from her husband because the pair were having an affair. It did not take long for her to become one of the more popular actresses of the 1920’s. Among her better known films was “The Black Pirate” (1926) with Douglas Fairbanks, and “The American Beauty” (1927). Dove was a ravishing beauty and was very photogenic. She married director, Irvin Willat, in 1923. The marriage had a six year duration. She then had a three year romance with Howard Hughes. Dove’s other interests included being a pilot, painter, and poet. After her last film, “Blondie of the Follies” (1932), Dove retired from films. It is thought that she retired because she was distraught about her role in her last film being “trimmed” by her co-star’s (Marion Davies) influential boyfriend (William Randloph Hearst). Hearst was upset because Miss Davise’s acting was overshadowed by Dove’s acting. Mr Hearst owned Cosmopolitan Productions which produced the movie. After retirement, Dove married oil executive Robert Kenaston in 1933 and the couple remained together until Kenaston’s death in 1970. She had a brief third marriage to an architect. It is interesting to note that jazz singer, Billie Holiday, borrowed Billie Dove’s first name when picking out her own stage name. Miss Holiday was an admirer of Miss Dove. The IMDb lists 50 movie credits for Billie Dove between 1921 and 1962.

Postcard 1 is a profile portrait was published by Cinemagazine – Paris Edition (no.313). (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was published as by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.3687/1).  Billie Dove looks beautiful in this portrait taken by Defina. The logo for First National Pictures can be seen in the image’s lower right corner.  (SOLD)

Postcard 3 features Billie Dove looking beautiful in this provocative portrait. The card is risque, considering Dove’s pose and revealing tight dress. Billie Doves portrait seen on this postcard was taken by Defina. This card was published by Ross Verlag’s Italian Edition (Bellerini & Fratini, Florence, Italy). Casa Editrice Bellerini & Fratini was one of the most renowned Italian publishers. The firm began publishing film postcards in the early 1920’s and later became a distributor for Ross Verlag. As of 1918, the firm was still in existence.  (SOLD)

Postcard 4 accentuates Billie Dove’s beauty and elegance. She is reclining gracefully on an ornate, upholstered sofa. Her expression is soft and alluring, with a slightly playful or flirtatious gaze directed toward the camera. She is wearing a light, likely beaded or embellished, sleeveless gown that exudes 1920s sophistication and glamour. A long, delicate strand of pearls adorns her neck, adding to the vintage style and suggesting wealth or high social status. Her accessories include dangling earrings, a bracelet, and what looks like a feather boa or decorative fur near her arm. Her hair is styled in the characteristic short, wavy fashion of the 1920s. Her makeup is subtle yet elegant, with attention to her eyes and lips to accentuate her facial features. The atmosphere is glamorous and romantic. The soft pose and luxurious backdrop suggest themes of wealth, fame, and vintage Hollywood allure. The sofa has an intricate pattern that matches the era’s lavish interior design aesthetic. The background fabric and curtains complement the overall tone of refinement. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin, Germany) as part of a series (no.4305/1).  SOLD

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CARNAVAL : NICE, FRANCE : THE MERMAID & FISHERMEN FLOAT : HISTORICAL : RPPC 1924

This vintage postcard features a photograph of the carnaval that was held in Nice, France in the year 1924. In the center of the photograph is a beautiful elaborate float that displays a mermaid and fishermen. The scene is packed with spectators there to celebrate the event. This unused postcard was published by Levy & Neurdein Reunis (Paris, France).  SOLD

Published in: on August 16, 2026 at 12:30 pm  Leave a Comment  

ADORABLE SIBLINGS : MENASHA, WISCONSIN : BEAUTIFUL CABINET CARD PORTRAIT

Three beautiful children pose for their portrait at at the Lockwood studio in Menasha, Wisconsin. The children are most likely siblings and judging by their fashionable outfits, they appear to be from a well-to-do family.  SOLD

Published in: on August 16, 2026 at 11:30 am  Comments (1)  

CUTE BOY AND HIS DOG “SPOT” : JOHN WINTERS NEILL : PHILADELPHIA, PA. : CAB CARD

This charming late 19th-century cabinet card shows a young boy standing beside his faithful dog. The child—identified in handwriting on the reverse as John Winters Neill, age 5 years old—poses solemnly next to his canine companion, “Spot,” age 3 years old. John stands with one hand resting gently on Spot’s back, his other hand holding a small riding crop or stick. His attire is typical for a well-dressed boy of the 1880s or early 1890s: a patterned blouse with an oversized bow tie and a pleated kilt-style skirt worn over dark stockings and button-up leather boots. Spot, likely a Collie mix, sits obediently at his side, gazing steadily toward the camera. The painted studio backdrop, with flowers and a rustic staircase, enhances the portrait’s home-garden atmosphere. The photographer is identified as the Marshall studio, a Philadelphia firm active during the late 19th century. His studio operated on Ridge Avenue in Philadelphia. The reverse of the card carries the handwritten note: “John Winters Neill, age 5 years old and dog Spot age 3 years old”. This inscription likely came from a family member or studio assistant, serving as an identifying caption for personal or archival use. During the Victorian and early Edwardian periods, it was quite fashionable to include pets—especially dogs in children’s portraits. Such compositions symbolized loyalty, innocence, and the bonds of companionship.  (SOLD)

Published in: on August 15, 2026 at 12:30 pm  Leave a Comment  

SWEET LITTLE BOY : ADORABLY DRESSED : SAILOR SUIT : RPPC 1924-1949

This vintage  real photo postcard features a sweet little boy wearing a sailor suit with short pants. He is adorable. He has a hand on an adjacent chair as he looks at and smile at the photographer. Judging by his complexion, the little boy may be from an unidentified ethnic group.  (SOLD)

Published in: on August 15, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  

ADORABLE GIRL WITH RIBBONS : G.J. VREELAND : ENID OKLAHOMA :SON OF ROSA VREELAND

This charming vintage photograph, measuring 6 x 4.25 inches, captures a young girl in the early 20th century, posed confidently with one hand resting on a carved-back wooden chair. Her stance, with one leg raised onto the chair’s rung, gives the image a spirited and slightly playful energy—suggesting a child comfortable in front of the camera. Her expression is calm and composed, with the faintest trace of a smile playing at the corners of her lips, giving her a sense of self-possession that is rare in children’s portraiture of the period.She wears a delightful checked dress with a high, ruffled collar and full sleeves gathered at the wrists. The dress is decorated with bands of detailed horizontal pleating and lacework near the hem, a popular style for girls in the Edwardian era. Her long hair, parted down the middle and styled into loose waves, is adorned with two large white hair bows—adding a delicate and feminine touch. She wears dark stockings and ankle-high leather button-up boots, typical of children’s fashion of the 1900s. The photograph was taken by George J. Vreeland, a professional photographer based in Enid, Oklahoma, whose elegant studio mark appears in the lower right corner of the original mount. George J. Vreeland was part of a photographic lineage—his mother, Rosa Vreeland, was a pioneering woman in the field of photography. Her career spanned over three decades during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She began her photographic journey in 1881 in McPherson, Kansas, establishing herself as a skilled artisan photographer and entrepreneurial studio owner. Throughout her career, she operated studios in various locations, including Salina, Hutchinson, and Marion in Kansas, as well as Colorado Springs, Colorado. Around 1901, she relocated to Alva, Oklahoma, where she continued her photographic work under the Vreeland Studio name. Rosa operated her own studio during a time when few women worked in this profession and earned a reputation for her technical skill and artistry behind the camera. She undoubtedly influenced her son’s work, and her legacy lives on in portraits such as this—well-composed, gently lit, and full of personality. The mount itself is beautifully decorated with pressed, embossed scrollwork framing the photograph, further emphasizing the image’s refined presentation.  SOLD

Published in: on August 14, 2026 at 12:30 pm  Leave a Comment  

CHARMING PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG GIRL : HUNTINGTON, LONG ISLAND, N.Y. : CABINET CARD

This captivating cabinet card features a young girl captured in the Huntington, New York studio of Frederick H. Lockwood, a renowned local photographer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The girl in the photograph exudes an air of refined innocence and quiet sophistication. Her long, wavy hair cascades over her shoulders, meticulously styled to reflect the beauty standards of the Victorian era. She wears an elaborately detailed coat, finely tailored with textured fabric, which adds depth to her overall appearance. A large, dramatic hat adorned with an extravagant plume sits proudly atop her head. Her gloves, tightly clasped in her hands, and the patterned fabric draped over her lap suggest a sense of composure and decorum. The girl’s expression is serene, almost wistful, her gaze turned slightly to the side as though she’s lost in thought or caught in a fleeting moment of daydreaming. Her subtle smile and delicate jewelry, including modest earrings, reflect a reserved yet genteel personality—perhaps a young lady of a well-to-do family. This photograph originates from the studio of Frederick Lockwood in Huntington, New York. SOLD

Published in: on August 14, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment  

RED RIDING HOOD : PRETTY GIRL : PICNIC BASKET : GERMANY : REAL PHOTO POSTCARD

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty little Little Red Riding Hood holding a picnic basket and walking through the woods. She is clutching a bouquet of flowers and gives the appearance of someone on a mission. 
Little Red Riding Hood is a European fariy tale about a young girl and a sly wolf. Its origins can be traced back to several pre-17th-century European folk tales. This
postcard has a German postage stamp. SOLD

Published in: on August 13, 2026 at 12:30 pm  Leave a Comment  

MRS. M.E. EDWARDS KNITTING AT AGE 86 : SALEM MASSACHUSETTS : CABINET CARD 1890

This warm and touching cabinet card portrait captures an elderly woman in a peaceful and dignified pose. The sitter, identified by the handwritten inscription on the reverse as Mrs. M.E. Edwards, sits in a carved Victorian chair, hands gently at work knitting. A ball of yarn rests in her lap, with knitting needles in her hands—a charming detail that brings personality and depth to this late 19th-century image. Her serene expression and calm gaze suggest kindness and wisdom, and her faint smile exudes gentle grace. Dressed in a dark, modest dress with a fine lace shawl and a brooch at her collar, Mrs. Edwards embodies the archetype of a matriarch from the 1800s. Her hair is neatly parted and pinned back in a simple, traditional style appropriate for the time. The setting is unembellished, allowing her character and activity to take center stage. According to the beautifully designed reverse of the card, this photograph was taken by Taylor & Preston, accomplished portrait photographers based at 188 Essex Street, Salem, Massachusetts. Their studio’s backmark boasts a richly detailed red illustration featuring photographic equipment, emphasizing their artistry and skill. The handwritten note on the back reads: “Taken Nov. 14, 1890 – Age 86 years – Mrs. M.E. Edwards”. Here is some information about the photographers of this cabinet card. George P. Taylor was at the Salem address that this photo was taken from 1866 through 1899. Taylor was born in 1836. He was educated in Salem schools and at the age of 17, he shipped on the White Swallow, to the Pacific.  Upon his return he was employed at D. W. Bowdoin’s photography studio.  From 1857 until 1859, he had a traveling photo studio and practiced throughout Massachusetts.  During the Civil War he had a studio in Alexandria, Virginia.  In about 1867, he partnered with Charles Preston and bought out the studio of William Snell. They established the firm of Taylor and Preston. Taylor ran the business. He retired in 1906 and died in 1911. Little information could be found about Preston. Some of the pair’s photographs are part of the historical collection at Salem State University archives. (SOLD)

Published in: on August 13, 2026 at 11:30 am  Leave a Comment