This vintage real photo postcard features a most adorable little girl in a fancy dress standing beside a spinning wheel and her cute dog. A spinning wheel is a device used to spin thread or yarn from fibres. It was an important tool prior to the Industrial Revolution. An inscription on the reverse of this photograph reveals that the girls name is Odette and the photo was taken in 1927. SOLD
This is a beautiful and tender 1906 cabinet card portrait by the highly regarded German court photographer Hermann Klebusch of Mannheim. The image shows a refined mother seated with her young son, who wears a handsome sailor-style outfit typical of children’s fashion in the early 20th century. The boy looks directly at the viewer with a calm, steady expression, while his mother gazes down at him lovingly. She is dressed in an exquisite high-necked blouse with intricate lace, ruffles, and puff sleeves—fashion hallmarks of the Edwardian period. The composition is elegant and intimate. The mother gently steadies an open book on her lap while the boy holds one corner of the page. The chair with its tassel fringe and the soft studio background add richness and depth to the scene. This is a superb example of German studio portraiture during a time when photographic ateliers were producing some of Europe’s finest family images. The front mount is printed in gold with the photographer’s name, Herm. Klebusch, along with the coat of arms indicating his designation as a Hofphotograph—a Court Photographer, a prestigious title granted to photographers who served royalty or nobility. The reverse is beautifully printed in gold, giving details about the photographer’s studio and stating the photograph was taken in 1906. The cabinet card remains in very good antique condition. The photograph itself is crisp and clean, showing only the faintest signs of age. Tonal range is strong. The mount is solid and attractive with light, age-appropriate edge wear but nothing distracting. The gold printing on both front and back remains sharp and vivid. Overall, this is a very well-preserved example with outstanding display appeal.
This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $48.00 or best offer
Interested collectors may view the listing here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236550543696
POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)
These vintage real photo postcards feature German silent film star, Lya Mara (1897-1960). She was born in Latvia. Mara was trained as a ballerina. She was a stage performer before World War I. Her rise to fame was rapid and her career spanned a number of continents. Her first film in Germany was in 1918. It was produced by renowned producer, Frederic Zelnick, whom she married in 1918. Zelnick promoted her into major stardom. Her popularity in film was illustrated by the hundreds of photographs of her produced into postcards, cigarette cards, and trade cards. She had exotic looks, expressive eyes, and ability to convey complex emotions non verbally. These attributes made her perfect for appearing in silent films. In film she displayed a combination of sex appeal and naivety. A serious car accident in the 1920’s interrupted her career. At the end of the 1920’s she appeared in a number of Austrian films. She was unsuccessful in making the transition into sound films. In 1933, with Hitler in power, Zelnick and Mara hightailed it to London. She spent the last years of her life in Switzerland. Her long filmography spans from 1916 to 1931.
Postcard 1 was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.1218/3). Mara’s photograph was taken by Ernst Schneider. He was considered to be one of the most celebrated studio photographers in Berlin during three decades (1900’s, 1910’s, 1920’s. He photographed many celebrities from the world of theater, opera, circuses, and film. He was also one of the most prominent fashion photographers in Berlin. In addition, he was well known for his nude photography and he published books showcasing his work in this domain. Sometime around 1908 Schneider began working with postcard publishers “Rotophot” and “Neue Photographische Gesellschaft” (NPG). In 1919 he began working with Ross Verlag. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 features Mara posed in a risque dynamic and theatrical stance, holding a tambourine aloft with both hands. She is dressed in a flowing layered skirt with pointed fabric panels, a midriff-baring top adorned with strands of beads, and numerous bangles and jewelry. Her footwear consists of strapped dance shoes, complementing her lively pose. Her playful smile and expressive gaze capture both glamour and motion, giving the portrait a sense of performance frozen in time. The photograph was taken by Atelier Balázs, Berlin, and published by Ross Verlag (No. 1740/4), one of the most prominent publishers of cinema postcards in Germany. The image is associated with a Zelnik Film production, as noted in the lower right corner. (SOLD)
This cabinet card captures a young boy posing for his portrait while wearing a winter coat and wide brimmed hat. The child has a dour expression and looks none too happy to be posing for a photographer. The boy is holding a stick of some sort. It is very likely a toy given to him to keep him occupied. The photographer of this photograph is J. C. Knowles. He operated a studio in New Bedford, Massachusetts. This cabinet card is in good condition (see scans).
This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $28.00 or best offer
Interested collectors may view the listing here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236416548135
This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty young woman and her collie dog. The photographers model is skimpily dressed and most of her legs are exposed. This image is risque for it’s era. The photographer is listed as “Underwood”. It is my hypothesis that this postcard was actually produced by the publishing company of Underwood & Underwood. This New York firm existed between 1882 and 1920. The company was founded by photographers Elmer and Burt Underwood in Ottawa, Kansas. The headquarters was moved to New York City in 1897. The firm grew and soon had offices in Toronto, Canada and London, England. Underwood & Underwood was known for publishing stereo-views, and in fact, they published nearly 40,000 titles. In 1910 they began to supply news photos for newspapers and postcard publishers. It appears that the image seen in this photo postcard was supplied by Underwood to the National Herald. Underwood & Underwood was sold to the Keystone View Company in 1921. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo (London, England) as part of a series (No. A362-3). SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features two adorable siblings clad in bathing suits preparing for the beach. Both children are holding shovels and the little boy is also holding a pail. They are ready to build castles in the sand. This postcard was published by Gale’s Studios, which had branches in multiple cities in the United Kingdom. This is likely a one-of-a-kind photo postcard. The postcard is in overall good condition (see scans).
This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $34.00 or best offer.
Interested collectors may view the listing here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236414234954
This memorial cabinet card was published in loving memory of William B. Banning (age 21). He died in 1888. This photograph was was likely commissioned by Mr. Banning’s family in order to keep his memory alive. The publisher of this card as well as Banning’s hometown are not indicated on the cabinet card. Preliminary internet research did reveal some information about William Banning. He was born on 7/26/1867 in Hartland, Connecticut. He lived there until his death. His father was Cowdry Ambrose Banning (1831-1918). He worked as a farmer. His mother was Marth A Bowers (Banning) (1841-?). He had one sibling; a sister named Clara Jane Banning (Barnes). He is buried in the East Hartland Cemetery in Hartland. I was unable to find his cause of death. SOLD
This is a real photo postcard featuring Miss Doris Stocker (1886–1968), a celebrated Edwardian musical comedy actress and singer. The postcard was published by Davidson Brothers of London (Series 2263) and photographed by the well-regarded studio of Bassano. Stocker is pictured in an elegant feathered hat and ruffled costume, her expression refined and engaging, which perfectly reflects her reputation as one of the most charming stars of the Edwardian stage. On the reverse, the card carries a handwritten note. The text, though incomplete, reads: “My Dear Alice, just a few lines to you hoping you are fairly quite well, what do you think about that idea about that box? I think it would be alright. we should…”The remainder trails off. Doris Stocker was born in Bombay, British India in 1886 and moved with her family to London in the 1890s. She became a chorus girl under George Edwardes at the famous Gaiety Theatre before moving into starring roles in West End musical comedies. Among her best-known performances were in The Cingalee (1904), A Waltz Dream (1911), Theodore & Co. (1912), and To-Night’s the Night (Shubert Theatre, New York, 1914). In 1917, she married Sir Henry Segrave, who later became famous for breaking world land and water speed records. Doris retired from the stage after her marriage and lived a quieter life, though she remained a figure of public interest, particularly following Sir Henry’s tragic death in 1930. He died in a racing boat accident while setting a racing boat speed record of nearly 99 miles per hour. She passed away in London in 1968. The postcard is in excellent condition for its age. The photographic image is clear with strong contrast. The reverse shows a neat handwritten message (see scans).
This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $14.95 or best offer.
Interested collectors may view the listing here:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/236274187182
This risque vintage real photo postcard features Stacia Napierkowska (1891-1945). was a French actress and dancer during the silent film era. She also directed films. She was born in Paris and began her theatrical career with the Folies-Bergeres. She was “discovered” by the director of the Opera Comique who signed her to theatrical work. Next, she acted in silent films and reached stardom after playing opposite Max Linder, an actor often considered the first international star. In 1913 she left Europe for the United States to begin her own international career. The painter, Francis Picabia, met her on the ocean trip and he produced a series of paintings for which she was the inspiration. During a dance performance in New York City, Napierkowska found herself under arrest for indecency. Upon returning to France, according to Wikipedia, she said “I have not brought away a single pleasant memory from the United States”. She also declared that Americans were “narrow-minded people” and that they were “utterly impervious to any beautiful impression”. IMDb reports that Napierkowska appeared in 91 films between 1908 and 1926. This postcard is quite risque for it’s era. SOLD
This endearing cabinet card captures a tender childhood moment — a small girl, dressed in a light gown, stands before a tall decorative mirror, holding her beloved doll close as she studies her own reflection. The mirror, draped with a fringed lace shawl and adorned with flowers, creates a composition that is both artistic and deeply human. The photographer of this portrait photo was Jacob S. Wissler (1850-1925) of Canton, Ohio. Wissler was a photographer listed in the Canton Business Directories beginning in 1882 and on up to 1900. The back of the mount is richly printed in red ink with Wissler’s elaborate logo and the phrase “Fine Crayons a Specialty,” dating the image to the late 1880s. The studio’s artistry and the touching innocence of the subject make this photograph a charming representation of Victorian sentimental photography. (SOLD)
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 