THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This uncommon vintage real photo postcard features celebrated English stage actress and singer, Miss Lily Elsie (1886-1962). The following is a review of Elsie’s performance in the “Merry Widow”. A critic for The Pelican (1907) wrote that “the youthfulness, the dainty charm and grace, the prettiness and the exquisite dancing with which Miss Elsie invests the part…. I share the opinion of most of the first-nighters, who considered it could not have been in better hands, and could not have been better handled…. The night was a genuine triumph for Miss Elsie, and she well deserved all the calls she received”. Elsie began her career as a child actress and before her big break had appeared in a number of Edwardian musical comedies. She was charming and beautiful and became one of the most photographed actresses of her time. Lily Elsie’s dad was a theater worker and her aunt was well known actress Ada Reeve. Shortly after the turn of the century she joined George Edwardes’ company at the Daly Theater. Some of her early appearances included “A Chinese Honeymoon”, “Lady Madcap”, “The Little Michus (1905)”. In the years between 1900 and 1906 she appeared in 14 shows. After the “Merry Widow” she appeared in  26 more shows including “The Dollar Princess” (1909) and “A Waltz Dream” (1911). She clearly was an actress who was in demand. Men paid her much attention but apparently she did not enjoy the attention. Lucile, her costume designer for “The Merry Widow” stated that Elsie was “absolutely indifferent to men and had once said that she disliked “the male character”. She added that men would only behave well if a woman “treated them coldly”. Now, some words about her marriage. In 1911 she he left the cast of a play in which she was performing to marry Major John Ian Bullough (1885–1936). Major Bullough was the son of a wealthy textile manufacturer. He was formerly married to actress Maude Darrell who only survived one year after their 1909 marriage. The marriage between Elsie and Bullough was reported to be very unhappy. Elsie’s health began to deteriorate and her husband pressured her to quit the stage and she was ready to do so. She returned to the stage during the war years (World War I) and was active in fund raising for the war effort. She next took a ten year break from the stage only to return once again. Her final performance took place in the Daly Theater in the play “The Truth Game” (1929). In addition to her theater career, Elsie made recordings, and appeared in two films, including D. W. Griffith’s “The Great Love” (1918). Also appearing in that film was Lillian Gish. In 1930 Elsie’s marriage ended in divorce. Her health began to deteriorate more and she developed hypochondriasis causing her to spend much time in nursing homes and sanitariums. Due to her psychological problems she had brain surgery. Her final years were spent at St. Andrews hospital in London. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4931D). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known studio of Foulsham & Banfield. The card was postmarked in 1908.

This real photo vintage postcard features a portrait of French performer Kath Belle. She looks quite beautiful in this portrait by celebrated New York photographer, Jacob Schloss (1875-1910). Early in his career Schloss worked for another esteemed photographer named Benjamin Falk. By the 1890’s, Schloss was well known as a photographer of beautiful woman with a specialty of photographing actresses and dancers. This postcard was published by SIP (Societe Industrielle de Photograpie).  SOLD

This especially attractive late-Victorian cabinet card portrays a young woman identified on the reverse as “Miss Laura Burch – Pine Bluff – Ark.” She is shown in profile wearing an elegant light-colored fitted dress with a richly ruffled and lace-trimmed bodice, decorative floral ornament at the shoulder, earrings, several rings, and a broad mesh-style bracelet. Her hair is arranged in an elaborate late-19th-century fashion, with curled bangs across the forehead and carefully arranged curls and rolls at the back. She rests one arm upon a fringed upholstered studio prop, creating a relaxed and unusually graceful composition. The reverse also bears a bold period inscription reading “H. A. Shinn, Photographer, Pine Bluff, Ark.” A second, much fainter pencil notation appears to read “Mrs. C. A. Alexander.” That may indicate that Laura Burch later became Mrs. Alexander but that hypotheses in not based on any real evidence. The photographer is particularly interesting. Arkansas business and city-directory research identifies H. A. Shinn as Henry A. Shinn, a photographer active in Pine Bluff for many years. He appears to have been associated with the earlier firm Pye, Bradford & Shinn in Pine Bluff as early as 1878. By 1883–84 he was operating at the northwest corner of Bonne and Lindsay, and in the 1888–89 business directory he was listed as proprietor and manager of the Pine Bluff Photo-Enlarging and Copying House at Second Avenue and Chestnut. His advertisement offered everything from small photographs to life-size portraits, including work in color and crayon as well as large permanent bromide enlargements. By 1892–93 the business was listed as H. A. Shinn & Co., with photographer Walter J. Perrings as his associate. The surviving directory record then shows a Harry A. Shinn operating Shinn’s Photo Studio in Little Rock beginning in the mid-1890s, at 120½ Main Street, offering carbon, carbonette, platinum and other fashionable photographic finishes. The chronology and initials strongly suggest a connection with the Pine Bluff photographer, although the directory compiler gives the Pine Bluff man as Henry and the Little Rock photographer as Harry, so I would not claim with absolute certainty that they are the same person. Personal information about Shinn is much scarcer, but a 1906 Pine Bluff newspaper notice concerning the marriage of Miss Mary Shinn describes her as the daughter of the late H. A. Shinn and states that he had been a prominent citizen of Pine Bluff. That at least tells us that the Shinn family had standing in the community and that H. A. Shinn had died by 1906. Based on Shinn’s documented Pine Bluff career, the mount style, and Laura Burch’s clothing and hairstyle, I would date this portrait to approximately 1888–1892, with circa 1890 being a very reasonable listing date.  SOLD

This dramatic vintage photograph shows a World War II German soldier in heavy field gear, likely on the Eastern Front. He is shown in close-up, wearing a German steel helmet with a heavy winter hood or neck covering wrapped around his head and face. His expression is intense, and the dirt and wear visible on his face and uniform give the image a stark battlefield quality. Across the front of his gear are two German-style stick grenades, commonly known as “potato masher” grenades. These appear to be M24-style stick grenades, with cylindrical metal heads and wooden handles. The rectangular item at the lower left appears to be a piece of field equipment, likely a pouch or case rather than a loose box being held; it may be a gas-cape pouch or other field gear, but I would not identify it more specifically with certainty. The photograph measures approximately 3 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches and has scalloped/deckled edges. The reverse has Cyrillic/Russian markings, including the word “ПОГАШЕНО,” meaning “cancelled” or “voided,” along with stamp and pencil markings. These reverse markings give the piece added interest as a possible archival or deaccessioned print of a wartime German military image. Please note that this image is available in reproduction form, so I am describing this item as a vintage photographic print rather than guaranteeing it as a one-of-a-kind original wartime snapshot. SOLD

This uncommon attractive and historically interesting undivided back vintage postcard presents a sweeping bird’s-eye view of Northport Harbor, a historic waterfront village located on the North Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, overlooking the Long Island Sound. The scene captures Northport at a time when it was still closely tied to its maritime roots—quiet, picturesque, and deeply shaped by the sea. Northport was originally a whaling and ship-building community, and many of the homes visible in this view reflect that 19th-century prosperity. Several of these houses were built by ship captains and merchants during the 1800s, and remarkably, many still stand today, lending the village its distinctive historic character. The postcard beautifully conveys this legacy: tree-lined streets descending toward the harbor, substantial frame houses, and a working waterfront dotted with sailing vessels and anchored boats. The harbor itself is shown alive with maritime activity, while the gently rolling shoreline and calm waters emphasize why Northport became such a desirable and enduring North Shore village. The front of this postcard is captioned “View of the Harbor, Northport, L.I.” and bears a handwritten date reading Dec 24, 1906, which matches the postal markings on the reverse. The card is an undivided back format, a style used in the United States prior to 1907—making this a classic example of an early American postcard. The reverse confirms its period use, with a clear 1906 postmark from Northport, N.Y.. Along the left edge is the publisher credit: “Published by Chas. E. Rowton, Palatka, Fla. (Made in Germany)”, indicating that while the publisher was based in Florida, the card itself was printed in Germany, as was common for high-quality postcards of this era. SOLD

This elegant real photo postcard features the iconic Miss Marie Lloyd, a beloved English music hall performer known for her humor, charisma, and a scandalous streak that kept her in both the limelight and the tabloids during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Published by the famed Rotary Photo Co. (series 1601 J), this sepia-toned image captures Lloyd seated on a carved wooden chair, dressed in a spectacular ruffled gown adorned with satin bows, floral appliqué, and shimmering beadwork. Her wide-brimmed floral hat and gloved hands holding a ribboned parasol suggest a theatrical persona—both lavish and coquettish. She wears earrings, a necklace, and a knowing smile, hinting at the saucy charm for which she was adored. The studio-quality lighting and posing reflect the craftsmanship of early 20th-century photographic postcard portraiture. Lloyd was born Matilda Alice Victoria Wood in London in 1870, She was the eldest of nine children. Her father,worked as a waiter, and her mother was employed as a dressmaker. From humble beginnings, she made her debut in the music halls at age 15. She quickly became a sensation with her comic songs and playful delivery, often filled with double entendres that skirted Victorian propriety. Some of her most famous songs included “A Little of What You Fancy Does You Good,” “The Boy I Love is Up in the Gallery,” and “Oh! Mr. Porter.” She dominated the British music hall circuit in the 1890s and early 1900s, and even performed in America. Despite her tremendous popularity, Lloyd’s personal life was tumultuous. She married three times and divorced twice. Her marriages tended to be volatile. Her third marriage was most scandalous. She was abusing alcohol and had public altercations with her husband. The pair’s rocky relationship was frequently chronicled in the newspapers.  Her later years were marred by heavy drinking, exhaustion from performing, and financial troubles. She collapsed on stage in 1922 and died shortly after at the age of 52. Her funeral drew thousands of mourners — a testament to her immense impact on British entertainment.  (SOLD)

This vintage real photo postcard features German stage and silent film actress, She also was a screen writer and a film producer. She was married to director, Heinz Paul. Hella Moja (1896-1951). She lost her parents at a young age. She worked as a translator for a German news agency. She was a translator for both Polish and Russian. She also wrote for the news agency. After receiving stage training, she made her debut in 1913 on Berlin’s Lessing theater stage. She also performed in Warsaw, Poland. In 1914, she began appearing in many silent films and became one of the most famous German actresses during World War I. In 1918, she established her own film company which produced 16 films. Moja also wrote 13 films. The IMDb reports that she acted in 49 films between 1915 and 1927. She had difficulties in the early 1930’s because she wasn’t of Aryan descent. Another source states she appeared in 7 films during the 1930’s. She then returned to performing on stage. From 1942 until her death in 1951, she worked as a prompter at Theater Kiel (Germany). She committed suicide in 1951. The stamp box of this postcard has an interesting story. “NBC” (Neue Bromsilber Convention) was a price cartel established in 1909 that continued until the 1930’s. The purpose of the cartel was to ensure that the minimum price charged for postcards was kept at a sufficiently profitable level. A number of postcard publishing companies joined the cartel in an effort to stave off the effect of competition on the pricing of postcards. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag. Moja’s photo was taken by Nicola Perscheid (1864-1930). The German photographer was esteemed for his artistic portrait photography, for his teaching photography, and for developing the “Perscheid lens”.  The logo for Moja Films can be seen in the bottom right corner of the image. SOLD