This vintage real photo postcard features the world’s first playboy bunny. Not really. This wonderful portrait captures French actress Miss Augus-Thyne in a risque costume and sporting long rabbit ears. Her exotic outfit also includes bells and pom poms. The “Ambassadeurs”, a Paris music hall, is printed on the top right hand corner of the front of the postcard. The portrait of Miss Augus-Thyne was photographed by celebrated Paris photographer Stanislaw Julian Ignacy Walery (1863-1935). Walery opened a studio in Paris in 1900 and was known for his portraits of showgirls. SOLD
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To me it looks as though Madame is dressed as a donkey (âne, on French) as the ears are quite long and she is wearing a harness with bells. There are a lot of references to donkeys in France, one such being the “dunce cap” which in French is the bonnet d’âne used to shame a child who has misbehave especially in class. Maybe, with such a elaborate costume, Madame was part of a farm parade or simply a celebrated “dunce” albeit a pretty one. The mind boggles. An Internet search of Poituou Donkey and Bonnet d’Âne may yield some clues! –Erik