THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of the multi talented actress, dancer, and singer, Gaby Deslys (1881-1920). Miss Deslys performed at the beginning of the twentieth century in both Europe and the United States. She was extremely popular worldwide. In fact, she was able to earn four thousand dollars a week when performing in the United States. She performed several times on Broadway. She had a dance named after her, “The Gaby Glide” (1911). You can find the sheet music, with Gaby on the cover, elsewhere on ebay. Her love life was the topic of much public gossip. She probably added to the sensationalism surrounding her by posing in a number of risque postcards. She was courted by many wealthy and powerful men, including the King of Portugal. Her life was cut short by the “Spanish” influenza. 
This striking real photo–style theatrical postcard features Miss Gaby Deslys, one of the most celebrated and fashionable stage performers of the early 20th century. The card was issued by The Philco Publishing Co.(London).  The portrait shows Deslys in an elegant three-quarter pose, turning slightly toward the camera with a confident yet playful expression. She is dressed in a lavish Edwardian costume, featuring puffed sleeves, decorative embroidery at the bodice, and a high, structured collar embellished with layered bands that resemble pearls or beadwork. Most dramatic is her enormous feathered hat, crowned with sweeping plumes and a prominent fabric rosette at the front—an extravagant fashion statement very much in keeping with Deslys’s reputation as a trendsetter whose costumes were widely copied on both sides of the Atlantic. The overall effect is theatrical, glamorous, and unmistakably pre-war. The reverse is a divided-back postcard that bears a handwritten message, neatly penned in dark ink. The message reads: “To Claire. Love, good wishes, kisses & every thing else good is the sincerest wishes of Ernest & Lena.” No stamp is present, suggesting the card may have been written but not mailed, or possibly hand-delivered. Based on the divided back format, the Philco imprint, and Deslys’s peak popularity, this postcard dates to circa 1906–1912, squarely within the Edwardian era. This postcard is in  good antique condition overall, with expected light surface wear and mild age toning consistent with a postcard well over a century old. There is a noticeable vertical mark originating at the top border and extending downward into the image, reaching the upper portion of the feathered hat. This appears to be a surface mark or printing/handling issue. The mark is not a crease, and it does not affect the subject’s face or body. There is minor corner wear and no tears or creases. The photographic image remains strong, with good contrast and excellent detail in the costume, facial features, and elaborate hat. The reverse is clean and fully legible, with the handwritten message clearly preserved (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $24.95 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336412384365

This vintage real photo postcard features French performer, Clara Faurens. Faurens was an actress and a singer. The New York Times (1912) described hear as a rival to the celebrated performer, Gaby Deslys. The photograph on this postcard was taken by celebrated portrait photographer, Leopold Reutlinger. His studio was located in Paris, France. He photographed many theatrical stars and other celebrities. The postcard was published by SIP. This vintage real photo postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

This real photo postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $6.00 

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336422447004

This is an elegant vintage French real photo postcard published by S.I.P. and photographed by Léopold-Émile Reutlinger, one of the most celebrated portrait photographers of the Belle Époque in Paris. The card is titled “DOLL” and bears the series number 1243. The image features a striking young woman in a gracefully draped, light-colored gown standing in a wooded or studio set suggesting a natural glade. Her long, wavy hair, ethereal expression, and the subtle hand-tinting of the photograph reflect the artistic aesthetic of early 20th-century Parisian portraiture, where actresses, dancers, and models were often captured in atmospheric tableaux rather than formal studio images. Léopold-Émile Reutlinger (1863–1937) was a Peruvian-born French photographer from a distinguished photographic family active in Paris from the late 19th century through the interwar period. His studio specialized in portraits of actresses, dancers, singers, and fashionable women, often used for postcards and theatrical publicity. There is no confirmed historical biography or theatrical record that clearly identifies the model referred to simply as “Doll” on this card. Unlike many other Reutlinger postcards that depict well-documented stars of French music-hall and theatre, this card’s subject appears to be a lesser-known model or performer whose stage name or mononym did not enter larger archival records. This postcard was issued sometime between circa 1905 and 1915, a heyday of Belle Epoque postcard collecting. This card is in very good antique condition. The image has excellent clarity and artistic presence. There is lovely light hand-tinting across the forest background and gown. The card has very light corner wear  and no creases, tears or paper loss (see scans). 

This real photo postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $19.95 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236607374380

This dramatic real photo postcard captures a U.S. Army training exercise photographed at Camp Lincoln, Illinois, in September 1908, as identified by the period handwritten inscription at the lower right of the image. The scene shows a group of uniformed soldiers assembled in a tent camp, clearly engaged in what appears to be a staged training or disciplinary drill rather than an actual execution. One soldier lies on the ground at center, theatrically posed with one arm raised, while a semicircle of fellow soldiers aim rifles and sidearms toward him under the supervision of an apparent instructor or officer. The exaggerated posture and casual demeanor of several participants strongly suggest this is a demonstration or mock scenario, likely intended to illustrate proper weapons handling, firing-line discipline, or battlefield procedure. Behind the men are rows of canvas Army tents, arranged in a formal encampment pattern beneath mature trees—typical of National Guard and regular Army training camps of the period. Camp Lincoln was located just west of Springfield, Illinois, near the Sangamon River. Established in the late 19th century, it served as a major Illinois National Guard training ground and was also used by regular Army units. By 1908, Camp Lincoln was actively hosting summer encampments, drills, and weapons training exercises as part of the U.S. military’s post–Spanish-American War modernization.  Camp Lincoln remained in military use through World War I and later became the site of Camp Lincoln Cemetery, now a well-known Illinois veterans’ burial ground. The soldiers appear to be holding U.S. Springfield Model 1903 bolt-action rifles, the standard service rifle of the U.S. Army beginning in 1903. These rifles are identifiable by their long barrels, wood stocks, and military sling hardware. Some soldiers also appear to be holding sidearms, likely Colt revolvers commonly issued during this eraThe presence of Model 1903 rifles aligns perfectly with the 1908 date noted on the card. This postcard has a Cyko stamp box dating the card sometime between 1904 and 1920. This postcard is in overall very good antique condition. The image remains strong with good contrast and clarity. There arwe no creases of tears. There is minor corner and edge wear. The inscription is clear and legible (See Scans).

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $45.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336411285260

This vintage real photo postcard features American singer, dancer, and comic performer, Fanny Fields (1880-1961), who was a successful performer in British music halls and pantomimes in the early 1900s. During her career she was frequently billed as “Happy” Fanny Fields. She was born, Fanny Furman, in New York City, to a Jewish family. She first appeared in variety shows in NYC sometime around 1899. In her act, she sang and told stories. In 1902, she performed in London and had a very positive reception. One reviewer described her as “one big bubble of mirth and merriment”. She toured with Welsh harpist, Nansi Richards. She also performed “The Suffragette”. In an accompanying monologue, she encouraged woman to make a stand for their rights. In 1912, she performed in front of King George V. She also starred in a silent film short entitled “Happy Fanny Fields and the Four Little Dutchmen” (1913). She retired from the entertainment business in 1913. She returned to the United States and married Dr Abraham Rongy (1878-1949). He was a gynecologist and set up maternity hospitals. In 1933, he published one of the first books proposing the legalization of abortion. Fanny became an active fundraiser for Jewish medical organizations. This postcard features a close-up portrait of Fanny Fields. She looks young and pretty. The postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no.4007 C). This postcard is unused and was published circa 1906. The postcard is in good condition (see scans).

This real photo postcard 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/236610955880

This charming real photo postcard depicts a young child standing and playing a violin, posed formally against a studio backdrop. The child wears a light-colored, ankle-length dress with vertical striping, puffed sleeves, and lace or ruffled detailing at the bodice, giving the image a distinctly late 19th / early 20th century European feel. The child’s softly curled hair frames the face, and the violin is held carefully under the chin, suggesting a staged studio portrait rather than a candid moment. The reverse reveals a Danish postcard, clearly marked “BREVKORT” (the Danish word for postcard). It is franked with a green Danish 5 Øre stamp featuring King Frederik VIII, which was commonly used in the early 1900s. The postcard is postmarked ESBJERG, with a clearly struck circular cancel dated 5.2.07. The address is written to a gentleman residing in Kolding, Denmark. A rough translation (original Danish) of the message on the reverse is: “Can you imagine listening to my little violin? Then you must come down here one day. Greetings from [signature].” The message is affectionate and informal, consistent with family or close acquaintance correspondence, and nicely complements the image of the child musician on the front. This postcard is in Good antique condition for a real photo postcard of this age. The image shows mild surface wear, particularly in the darker background areas. Corners and edges show light wear and there are no creases or tears. The photographic image remains clear, with good detail in the child’s face, clothing, and violin. The reverse shows postal wear, ink marks, and cancellations typical of a genuinely used postcard, with all writing, stamp, and postmark remaining legible (see scans).

This real photo postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $9.95 or best offer.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336412460472

This vintage real photo postcard features Marta Eggerth (1912–2013), the celebrated Hungarian actress and singer who became one of the most important operetta stars of the 20th century. Eggerth is shown here in a striking studio portrait, her face framed by her hands in a pose that emphasizes elegance, symmetry, and quiet intensity. The image has a distinctly early-1930s European glamour aesthetic, with soft lighting, refined makeup, and carefully styled hair typical of the period. Eggerth was born in Budapest, the daughter of a dramatic operatic soprano. She began singing as a child, and her mother devoted herself to developing her vocal and theatrical talents. Eggerth made her stage debut at just eleven years old, and while still a teenager toured internationally performing operatic works. By the early 1930s, she had achieved international fame, appearing in films in five different languages. While making a film, she met Polish tenor Jan Kiepura, whom she married in 1936. Together, they became an international sensation, appearing on stage and screen across Europe and the United States. In the U.S., Eggerth appeared on Broadway, including productions by Richard Rodgers, and starred alongside Kiepura in “The Merry Widow.” Between 1940 and 1945, she appeared in three Broadway productions. She also signed with MGM and made two films with Judy Garland. Remarkably, Eggerth continued performing well into old age; her final stage appearance occurred at age 99. IMDb credits her with 39 acting roles between 1930 and 1999, underscoring the extraordinary longevity of her career. The small diamond-shaped logo in the lower right corner of the image, with the initials resembling “FFD” and a series number, is associated with Film-Foto-Verlag (FFV), Berlin, a major German publisher of real photo postcards during the interwar period. Film-Foto-Verlag specialized in high-quality photographic postcards of film stars, singers, and performers. The postcard format, typography, and photographic style are fully consistent with early-to-mid 1930s German production, when Eggerth was at the height of her European film career. In regard to condition, this postcard’s image remains sharp with strong contrast and excellent facial detail. There is light edge and corner wear. The reverse is unused, clean, and free of writing. Overall, this postcard is in very good vintage condition (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $12.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236602752405

Offered here is a striking and historically rich late-19th-century lithographic postcard featuring the American opera singer Adrienne Osborne, a well-known soprano who enjoyed considerable popularity in Europe—particularly in German-speaking countries—during the 1890s. The image presents Osborne in profile, her hair swept back into a neat, classical bun, with soft lighting emphasizing her refined features and bare shoulders. The pose and photographic treatment are characteristic of continental studio portraiture of the 1890s, designed to convey elegance, poise, and artistic seriousness rather than theatrical flamboyance. It is an intimate and dignified likeness, very much in keeping with the way serious opera singers were marketed to educated European audiences at the time. Beneath the singer’s name appears the printed credit: “Nach Orig.-Aufn. v. Georg Brokesch.” This translates to “After the original photograph by Georg Brokesch.” In other words, this postcard image is not an original sitting, but a reproduction based on an earlier studio photograph taken by Georg Brokesch (1849-1896), a talented professional photographer whose work was frequently used by European publishers for celebrity portrait postcards. This was a common and accepted practice in the 1890s and does not diminish the card’s authenticity or period significance.The card was issued by Postkarten-Verlag Vogel, Leipzig, as indicated along the margin. Leipzig was one of the major European centers for postcard publishing at the turn of the century, especially for musical, theatrical, and operatic subjects. The printed number “118” identifies this image within the publisher’s series of celebrity postcards. In the upper right corner of the image appears the handwritten notation “6.11.97”. This date aligns closely with the German postmark on the reverse, strongly suggesting that the postcard was written and mailed in November 1897, during the height of Osborne’s European career. The handwritten message on the reverse is especially noteworthy for its insight into contemporary opera fandom. Transcribed below (original spelling and punctuation preserved as closely as possible): “Here is your promised card, I do not want it again as it will probably get so dirty going through the post. A.O. is my favourite opera singer, she is an American but speaks perfect German. She is much prettier than the others & far more graceful. With love in haste.” This is a remarkably personal and enthusiastic fan endorsement, praising Osborne not only for her voice, but for her appearance, grace, nationality, and linguistic ability—all qualities that mattered greatly to European opera audiences of the time. The comment that she “speaks perfect German” is particularly telling, underscoring how successfully Osborne integrated into the German operatic world, something relatively rare for American singers in the 1890s. The postcard was mailed from Germany, bearing a German Reich postage stamp, and addressed to London, England, highlighting the international circulation of opera culture and celebrity imagery at the end of the century. In regard to Miss Osborne. she was an American operatic soprano active in the 1890s, known especially for her performances in Germany and Central Europe. She was frequently described in period press accounts as both vocally accomplished and physically attractive, a combination that clearly resonated with audiences and collectors alike. While not a household name today, she was well known enough in her time to merit commercial postcard publication and devoted fan correspondence, as this example vividly demonstrates. This postcard is in very good antique condition for a postcard of this age. Expected age toning, light surface spotting, and mild edge wear are present. The image remains clear and well-defined, and the handwritten message is fully legible.  Overall, this is a well-preserved and visually appealing example of a circa-1897 European opera postcard (see scans).

This real photo postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $75.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336406068273