THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This is a wonderful early theatrical photo postcard of Maude Adams as “Peter Pan”. She was photographed by the Otto Sarony Company (New York). The image shows Adams in a warm, smiling bust portrait. This is a terrific example of an American stage postcard from the great early Broadway era, made especially appealing by its connection to one of the most famous theatrical roles of the early 20th century. Maude Adams was one of the greatest stars of the American stage. She appeared in 29 different Broadway productions. Born in Salt Lake City in 1872, she began acting as a child and became a major Broadway attraction under the management of Charles Frohman. Her greatest fame came through her association with J. M. Barrie, appearing in several Barrie works including The Little Minister, Quality Street, What Every Woman Knows, A Kiss for Cinderella, and most famously Peter Pan. Adams first played Peter Pan on Broadway in 1905, and the role became inseparable from her public image in America. She reportedly performed the role more than 1,500 times, and at the height of her career she was among the most successful and highest-paid performers in the country. Several sources state that Barrie wrote the the character Peter Pan, with Maude Adams in mind.  Adams was also known for her intensely private personal life. She never married, avoided the publicity machine more than many stars of her rank, and later withdrew from regular stage work. After retirement she became involved in stage-lighting experimentation and theatrical technology, and later taught drama at Stephens College in Missouri. Her long life after Broadway adds to her fascination: she was not only a legendary actress, but also a thoughtful, technically curious artist whose career bridged 19th-century theatrical celebrity and the modern stage. The reverse identifies the card as part of the “Collection of Leading Artists of the American Stage.” The publisher was Darwin D. Silberer (New York). The card has an undivided-back format, placing it most likely around c. 1905–1907, which fits well with Adams’s early Broadway association with Peter Pan. (SOLD)

This rare risque vintage real photo postcard features a pretty young soubrette named Trude Dietrich. She is posed in a sexually provocative manner and smoking a cigarette. For those not familiar with the term; a soubrette is an actress that plays a lively, flirtatious role in a play or opera. Miss Dietrich was a minor actress so her postcards are rare.  (SOLD)

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty young woman looking out a door and holding a handful of cash. In reality, she is not a woman, but instead, a transvestite. This lithographic postcard is part of a series called “Cabaret de Paris : Secret of the Boxes”. This series documents Paris’s transvestite performers. On the reverse of the postcard there is a credit for photographer, Thierry Diwo. Diwo (1958-2018) was a Cambodia based French photographer and publisher. He originally went to Cambodia in 1992 and he decided to stay. He married a Cambodian woman. Diwo was fascinated by the ruins of the great Khmer Empire and set out to publish photographs of them in books and on postcards. In 1994, he started a photography department at Royal University in Phnom Penh and he taught there three years. In 1997 he started a publishing company (Diwo Publisher) that produced postcards, books, posters, and photographs. After Diwo’s death, his wife continued to operate the company. SOLD

This striking real photo postcard captures a French soldier posing stoically beside a dramatic array of unexploded German aerial bombs, likely during or shortly after World War I. The photograph is a study in both scale and tension: the uniformed man, arms folded, cigarette nonchalantly tucked between his lips, stands shoulder to fin with three massive bombs—each labeled in white script with its weight: 100 kg, 50 kg, and 12 kg. I don’t think it was advisable to be smoking a cigarette near the explosive bombs, but what do I know?The caption below reads:”Bombes légères lancées par avions Allemands” (“Light bombs dropped by German airplanes”). The soldier wears the kepi and uniform of a French infantryman, marked with a unit number “62” on his hat and collar, and a military medal is pinned proudly to his chest. One source identifies the medals as being “The Croix de Guerre, the Bronze Star, the Bronze Laurel Branch. This soldier is highly decorated. His body language suggests a mixture of defiance and grim pride—likely meant to communicate France’s resilience in the face of aerial terror. The oversized bombs dominate the frame and serve as a powerful visual testament to the scale and threat of early 20th-century aerial warfare. One can imagine this postcard being distributed either as propaganda or as a souvenir.  (SOLD)

This is a crisp, bustling real photo postcard of downtown Hood River, Oregon, looking straight down the main business district with the hills of the Columbia River Gorge rising at the far end. The street is a parade of mid-century neon and projecting shop signs, angled parking, and late-’40s automobiles. Two men cross in front of a rounded sedan while other cars cruise past—great everyday life detail. This postcard has great signage. Visible signs include: SUPER CREAMED ICE CREAM; Bakery; FOSTER’S MEN’S WEAR;  REXALL DRUGS; HOTEL. Signs on the right side include: KEIR’S DRUGS – Toiletries; Eby’s FOOD STORE; GROCERY • MEATS (Hood River Market/Locker noted beneath); Apple Blossom CAFE; BOOKS • GIFTS; and farther down a projecting HOOD RIVER HOTEL sign. There’s also a US Route 30 highway shield mounted on the lamppost at right. The date that this postcard was published can be determined by the models of the automobiles seen in the image. the automobiles (rounded post-war bodies and bumpers) point to a publication date. Hood River was founded in the late 19th century on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. Hood River developed as an orchard and shipping hub (famous for apples, pears, and cherries) and later as the county seat of Hood River County. Its setting in the Columbia River Gorge made it a stop on US-30 / Historic Columbia River Highway. The publisher of this postard is Smith’s Scenic Views (Tacoma, Washington). Smith’s Scenic Views was a prolific Pacific Northwest maker/distributor of RPPC street scenes in the 1930s–1950s. (SOLD)

This charming real photo postcard captures a young woman proudly posing with her horse in a pastoral countryside setting, likely dating from the 1910s to early 1920s. The rider kneels beside her horse, affectionately holding the bridle while the mare (or gelding) stands squared and alert, one foreleg slightly lifted as if in motion. The scene conveys a wonderful spirit of rural leisure and early 20th-century equestrian enthusiasm. The woman wears a stylish wide-brimmed riding hat along with a crisp white blouse featuring subtle lace trim and puffed sleeves—a fashionable and feminine look of the Edwardian / early-post-Edwardian era. Her long skirt and riding boots suggest she was preparing for, or just returning from, a relaxed countryside ride. The horse is saddled and bridled, equipped with what appears to be an English riding saddle, hinting at the popularity of pleasure riding and genteel outdoor pursuits of the period. The photograph has an artistic cut-edge border, adding to its vintage charm and giving the image the feel of a personal keepsake rather than a mass-market postcard. The reverse features a VELOX stamp box, helping date the card to the 1907–1917 period, consistent with the fashion and photographic style. (SOLD)

This is a finely preserved cabinet card portrait of the burlesque / stage actress Lizzie Harold (Comley) in full theatrical costume, shot by The Sparks Photo-Publishing Co., Philadelphia. The card bears a clear inscription of her name on the back and the stamp of Russell Brothers, Boston. Russell Bros. was likely a theatrical photo retailer or distributor. In this portrait she wears an elaborately embroidered jacket, fringed bloomers, fitted tights, and a tasseled cap, posed against a dreamy studio backdrop evoking a misty rural scene. The costume is striking, with excellent detail in the braid, fringe, buttons, and fabric textures. The card is in very good condition, with strong contrast and little wear (see scans). Lizzie Harold was a late 19th-century singer/dancer / burlesque performer whose portraiture was circulated in theatrical photography formats and trading cards. While her documented biography is limited, her promotional portraits are known among collectors of theatrical ephemera. It is important to note that research reveals that she is sometimes referred to as Lizzie Harold Comley or Elizabeth Harrold-Comley. SOLD

This vintage real postcard features a fascinating portrait of “An Orthodox Jew Of Jerusalem”. The photographer of this portrait is Shlomo Narinsky and the card was published in 1921 by the Jamal Brothers (located in Jerusalem, Palestine).  The name “Palestine” is used because Israel was not established until 1948, long after this postcard was printed. There is both Hebrew and Arabic printed on the reverse of this card. This postcard portrait is included in the collection of the US Library of Congress. The card is from the “American Colony in Jerusalem Collection”. The photographer, Shlomo Narinsky (1885-1960), was born in Southern Russia (Ukraine). In 1904/1905, he studied photography in Paris and Berlin. He returned to Russia only briefly before immigrating to Palestine. He opened a photography studio in Jerusalem. He produced many postcards focusing on Palestine. He was known for his use of light and shadow in order to give his images a soft and romantic air. Shlomo’s wife, Sonja, was also a very talented and highly esteemed photographer. SOLD

The actress featured in this postcard is Barnhieri, a likely French performer from the early 20th century. While little documentation exists about her, she appears to be part of the Belle Époque entertainment scene, possibly a cabaret or stage actress. Many performers of this era were celebrated through postcards such as this one, which served as promotional materials and souvenirs for admirers. In this hand-colored real photo postcard, Barnhieri is elegantly dressed in a delicate, sequined gown with intricate detailing, likely a stage costume. Her gown has sheer, embroidered fabric adorned with sequins and beads, and it is enhanced with a subtle pink tint. She wears a large, decorative fabric flower in her dark, elaborately styled hair, which frames her face beautifully. Her expression is warm and inviting, with a soft smile that conveys charm and confidence. The photographer of this portrait is Leopold Reutlinger, a famous Parisian photography studio known for capturing actresses, dancers, and celebrities of the Belle Époque. The back of this postcard carries a short handwritten message in French: “Doux baisers, Anna et Piery” (“Sweet kisses, Anna and Piery”). The card is addressed to Mademoiselle Anna in the town of Migennes in the Yonne department of France. A French green 5-centime stamp is affixed in the top right corner, featuring an allegorical figure. The postmark is dated 1907, confirming that this postcard was sent during the height of the Belle Époque period. SOLD

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