This uncommon vintage real photo postcard features Miss Barbara Babington, an Edwardian-era actress, singer, and comedienne, shown in a glamorous theatrical portrait by Rotary Photo (no. 4033A). Babington is posed with a bright, engaging smile, dark curly hair, an elaborate feathered stage hat, and a richly decorated off-the-shoulder costume with beadwork and lace. The message on this card identifies her as “the lady who took the part of Principal Boy in ‘Cinderella,’” which is a wonderful period detail. In British pantomime, the “principal boy” was the young male hero of the story and was traditionally played by a young woman, especially in the Victorian and Edwardian stage tradition. Barbara Babington was a working British music-hall and musical-comedy performer and not a major star. Professionally, however, she is traceable across several decades: she was active by 1907, when she was noted as singing on the variety circuit at the Tivoli, London, and Hippodrome, Wakefield; in 1916 she was touring with Horace Goldin’s illusion show and was billed as a comedienne; and later she appeared in London productions including “Worm’s Eye View” and the original West End production of “Annie Get Your Gun”. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo, part of the Rotary Photographic Series. The company was a prolific London publisher of photographic postcards, especially theatrical and beauty subjects. The firm began publishing postcards as early as 1901; one postcard-reference directory notes that Rotary was producing platino-bromide postcards as early as 1901. This particular postcard is especially appealing because the reverse is completely filled with a lively handwritten message mentioning snow, tobogganing, shop/business life, records, and even a request for more gin to sell. SOLD
This vintage advertising fashion postcard promotes BeBe Sport, a brand known for its stylish and functional athletic wear. Measuring approximately 4.25 x 6 inches, the postcard features a striking image of a female model showcasing BB Sport’s apparel, embodying the brand’s commitment to combining fashion with athletic performance. On the reverse side, the postcard highlights BeBe Sport’s latest collection, emphasizing its innovative designs and high-quality materials tailored for active lifestyles. The promotional text underscores the brand’s dedication to empowering individuals through fashionable sportswear that doesn’t compromise on comfort or functionality. While the model’s identity isn’t specified on the postcard, her confident pose and athletic physique exemplify the brand’s target audience—modern, active individuals who value both style and performance in their sportswear. This specific postcard was to be used to celebrate the opening of the BeBe sport store in Barton Creek (Austin), Texas.(SOLD)
Postcard 1 is a hand tinted vintage real photo postcard that features Madge Bellamy (1899-1990), an American stage and film actress. She was a popular leading lady in films of the 1920’s and 1930’s. The sound era put the brakes on her career and a romantic scandal in the 1940’s brought it to a total stop. Madge was a Texan. She was born in Hillsboro and was raised in San Antonio and Brownwood. Her father was an English professor at Texas A&M University. As a young child she took dancing lessons but soon, she was interested in becoming an actress. At age 9, she made her stage debut in “Aida”. She and her family moved to Denver, Colorado. She met Carlos Bellamy there and the two married. When Madge decided to leave the state to pursue acting, her marriage ended. Madge went to New York City and worked on Broadway as a dancer. In 1919, she replaced Helen Hayes in Broadway’s “Dear Brutus”, opposite actor, William Gillette. Her career took off thereafter. In 1920, Madge appeared in her first film as a supporting actress to Geraldine Farrar. She then signed a contract with the Triangle Film Corporation. Her “breakout role” was as the title character in Lorna Doone (1922). In 1924 she signed a film contract with Fox Film Corporation. She stayed there five years and during that time she appeared in two films for film director, John Ford. In 1925, she began to have difficulties with fox executives. In 1928, she appeared in Fox’s first talking film, “Mother Knows Best”. In 1928, she married for a second time. The marriage lasted 3 days before she and her husband separated. By 1929, Bellamy’s career entered a tail-spin. She had made poor choices out of her unbridled anger. Fan magazines gave her the nickname of “Miss Firecracker” due to her temperament. In 1929, she also quit her contract with Fox, right after they bought the rights to make a film out of Broadway play. The vehicle was bought with a plan to have Madge be it’s star. Bellamy later admitted she quit over money and added “I got too big for my britches”. She didn’t work again until 1932. She accepted roles in “Poverty Row” (B-movies) films. One of these films was “White Zombie” (1932) in which she appeared opposite Bela Lugosi. Her performance received many poor reviews from film critics. By 1940, Madge basically had no film career. However, she wasn’t done with drama. She was arrested after firing three shots from a .32 caliber revolver at her former lover of five years. The incident was premeditated. She was angry at her intended victim because he married a model shortly after ending their affair. Fortunately, her aim was poor and she missed. The only casualty was her ex boyfriend’s car which took a couple of shots into it’s body. Bellamy pleaded guilty to a lesser charge (violating gun laws), and received a suspended six month sentence and probation. Madge Bellamy’s IMDb filmography reports 61 credits between 1920 and 1945. This vintage postcard is provocative. This postcard is risque for it’s era. She is showing a lot of bare skin. The postcard was published while Madge was under contract with Fox. Therefore, the postcard is from before 1929. The card was published by J. Beagles and is part of the “Famous Cinema Star Series” (No.210P). (SOLD)
Postcard 2 offers another risque view of Madge Bellamy. Her alluring pose and short skirt qualifies this postcard to be considered provocative. This card was produced while Madge was under contract with Fox Films, sometime before 1929. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.3907/2). The postcard is in very good condition (see scans).
Postcard 3 is quite provocative. There are shades of Lady Godiva in this photograph. Miss Bellamy is pretty and scantily dressed. This postcard is risque for it’s era. The postcard was published while Madge was under contract with Fox. Therefore, the postcard is from before 1929. The card was published by Alfred Noyer and is part of the “Les Vedettes de Cinema” (The Stars of Film) series (No.200). This postcard is uncommon. (SOLD)
Postcard 4 is uncommon and provocative. Miss Bellamy is pretty and bare shouldered. Her alluring pose makes this postcard risque for it’s era. The postcard was published while Madge was under contract with Fox (note the logo in bottom right hand corner of the image). Therefore, the postcard is from before 1929. The card was published by Iris Verlag and is part of a series (No.480/2). SOLD
Postcard 5 showcases the beauty of Miss Bellamy. The postcard was published while Madge was under contract with Fox (note the logo in bottom left corner of the image). Therefore, the postcard is from before 1929. The card was published by Iris Verlag and is part of a series (No.480/3). SOLD
Striking oversized 5 x 7-inch Bebe fashion and fragrance advertising postcard featuring model and actress Olga Kurylenko before her international film fame. The card promotes Bebe Eau de Parfum and shows Kurylenko holding the distinctive red heart-shaped perfume bottle in a dramatic fashion portrait. Kurylenko began as an international model and later became widely known for playing Camille Montes opposite Daniel Craig in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace. Dating to approximately 2002–2003, the card reflects her early Bebe modeling work. SOLD
This wonderful uncommon antique real photo postcard, dating to approximately 1905–1915, features a mustachioed lacrosse goalkeeper posing in front of a net with his traditional wooden lacrosse stick. The athlete wears a distinctive striped wool jersey, white knee-length trousers, dark stockings, and heavily padded gloves, providing a fascinating glimpse of lacrosse equipment and sporting attire from the early twentieth century. The beautifully composed oval portrait captures the early days of organized lacrosse, a sport with origins among the Indigenous peoples of North America that became increasingly popular in Britain, Canada, and the United States during the nineteenth century. The divided reverse is unused and bears a penciled identification that appears to read “Harry Barkendale,” along with the word “Lacrosse,” although the player’s identity has not been independently verified. SOLD
Image 1 (Cabinet Card) features British actress, Lillie Langtry (1853-1929). She was born on the island of Jersey, was known as the “Jersey Lily”, and was known for her beauty. She had many prominent lovers including the future King of England, Edward VII. At 20 years of age she married a wealthy Irish landowner, Edward Langtry and quickly became part of London’s high society. Due to her great beauty, she became a sought after model for a number of well known portrait painters. Beginning 1877, she had a three year affair with the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward. At the suggestion of close friend, Oscar Wilde, she began a stage career. She made her debut in “She Stoops to Conquer” (1881) at the Haymarket Theatre in London. She then embarked on the first of many United States theatre tours where she was a resounding success. She continued to have a number of affairs including a relationship with New York City millionaire, Frederic Gebhard with whom she became very involved in the sport of thoroughbred horse racing. In 1897 she became an American citizen. She is known as one of the early celebrities to make money endorsing commercial products. Among the products she advertised were cosmetics and soap. The photographer of this cabinet card is famed celebrity photographer, Mora, of New York City. The image was copyrighted in 1884. To see other images by Mora, click on this site’s category of “Photographer: Mora”. SOLD
Image 2 is a charming and scarce “Midget Post Card” features a portrait of the famous actress Lily Langtry, one of the most celebrated stage actresses and social figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The front of the card shows Langtry in an elegant studio portrait wearing a large decorative hat adorned with ribbon and feather, dressed in elaborate period costume typical of her theatrical roles and society portraits. The postcard was published by Rotary Photographic Series. Rotary was a major British postcard publisher active in the early 1900s and is well known for producing high-quality photographic postcards of actresses, actors, and notable public figures. The card is marked “Midget Post Card,” a smaller novelty postcard format that was popular in the early 20th century. SOLD
This original cabinet card photograph features a tender portrait of two young siblings—likely sisters—captured in a professional studio setting during the 1890s. The older child stands with composure and curiosity, her expression calm and observant, while resting one hand gently on the baby’s arm. She wears a smocked white dress with full sleeves and a pleated hem, along with white stockings and dark buckle shoes. Her hair is carefully styled with a large ribbon bow. The younger child, likely under one year old, is seated securely in a studio chair draped with an ornate floral fabric. Dressed in a voluminous white gown with a scalloped lace collar, the infant gazes directly at the camera with wide, steady eyes and a serene expression. The careful posing and formal attire reflect the significance of this portrait—likely marking a milestone such as a birth or baptism. The backdrop is typical of the era, with a softly blurred painterly background to keep focus on the subjects. The overall composition and tone evoke warmth and elegance from a bygone era. The photographer’s mark at the bottom mount reads: Abercrombie – Pottstown, PA – Gold Medal 1893, identifying this as the work of the Abercrombie Studio of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Photos by Henry A. Abercromby can be found in the collections of the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library. Abercromby was born in England in 1850 and died in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in 1906. He was active in Orlando, Florida (1891-1895) and Pottstown (1898-1906). SOLD
Up for auction is a beautiful, highly collectible 1914 hand-colored antique postcard capturing the monumental architecture of the historic Temple Israel Jewish Synagogue in St. Louis, Missouri. The grand Neoclassical structure pictured here was built in 1907 at the corner of Kingshighway and Washington Boulevards. Designed by acclaimed local architect Harvey Ellis, the building was modeled explicitly after the classical Temple of Piety in Rome, defined by its massive, towering Corinthian columns. Founded originally in 1886 by Reform Jewish families, Congregation Temple Israel made this specific structure a landmark of American religious unity. In 1931, Temple Israel joined forces with neighboring St. John’s Methodist and Second Baptist Church to form the famous “Holy Corners Fellowship”, a pioneering interfaith alliance that shared dinners, services, and community work across decades. The vibrant street-level view on this card shows a large, bustling crowd gathered on the steps during the height of its Kingshighway era. The reverse features a fantastic snapshot of early 20th-century rural Missouri life. Sent from Chesterfield to Lohman, Missouri, the cursive message written by Arthur Hensel to his cousin Benjamin Stroble reads: “Hello Ben how are you we are all well we are done digging potatoes we are shucking corn now and we are done sowing wheat I am going to school I am having a fine time at school playing ball this is all the news I know for this time. From your cousin Arthur Hensel.” The card is completely intact with its original green 1-Cent George Washington postage stamp and a crisp, bold “Chesterfield, MO. 1914 postmark. SOLD
This exceptionally handsome circa-1880s cabinet card presents a distinguished unidentified gentleman photographed by the celebrated San Francisco photographer Isaiah West Taber (1830–1912). The sharply focused bust portrait is presented in an elegant embossed oval vignette and shows the sitter with neatly groomed hair and a substantial mustache, dressed in a dark three-piece suit with contrasting lapel edging, high white collar, and broad cravat or ascot-style neckcloth. A cravat was a wide piece of formal neckwear, an ancestor of the modern necktie, that could be folded or arranged decoratively at the throat and tucked into the waistcoat; this gentleman has further embellished his with a striking jeweled cravat pin or stickpin, apparently fashioned as a small floral or cross-shaped cluster. The stones have considerable sparkle in the photograph and may have been diamonds or another gemstone, although their material cannot be determined from the image alone. Taber was one of the most important commercial photographers working in late-19th-century California. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1830, he went to sea on whaling vessels as a teenager, traveled to California during the Gold Rush in 1850, worked for a time as a miner and farmer, and later studied dentistry before photography became his life’s work. He returned to California in 1864 to work with the prominent San Francisco firm Bradley & Rulofson and established his own Taber Gallery in 1871; his business became especially well known for society portraiture. Taber’s clientele and assignments reflected his considerable reputation: he photographed King Kalākaua of Hawaii, operated one of San Francisco’s premier photographic establishments, and was later selected for major international photographic work. His personal life is also unusually well documented for a 19th-century photographer: he married Annie Slocomb in 1871, and the couple had two daughters, Daisy and Louise; numerous photographs of Taber, his wife, his daughters, and their Oakland home survive today in the Bancroft Library’s Taber Family collection. Taber’s career effectively ended when the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed his studio and enormous archive of glass negatives, a particularly important loss to California photographic history. This photograph dates to circa 1885. SOLD
This sexy advertising postcard was published for Bebe Fashion. The pretty model is wearing a low cut white dress with a red rose floral print. Bebe Stores Inc.is a women’s retail brand that was established in 1976. This postcard was published by Max Racks. SOLD
