GERALDINE FARRAR : PRETTY AMERICAN OPERA SINGER AND SILENT FILM STAR

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

This vintage real photo, Postcard 1, features Geraldine Farrar (February 28, 1882 – March 11, 1967). She was an American soprano opera singer and film actress. She was one of the most popular singers of the early 20th century and she appeared in several silent films as well as on stage. She was also a successful recording artist and a leading figure in the world of opera. She was known for her beauty, as well as her powerful and expressive voice. She was also known for her striking stage presence and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. Farrar had a particularly successful career at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she performed for many years. She also performed in many other major opera houses around the world including La Scala (Milan), The Royal Opera House (London), and the Opera-Comique (Paris). Geraldine Farrar was born in Melrose, Massachusetts, in 1882. She began her career as a singer in vaudeville and later studied voice in Paris. In 1902, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she quickly became one of the most popular singers of her time. Farrar retired from the opera stage in 1922 and settled in New York City. She continued to perform in concerts and recitals for several more years. She also appeared in a few films, including a silent film version of Carmen, in which she played the title role. This postcard photo of Geraldine Farrar was taken by Julius Cornelius Schaarwachter (1847-1904). The photographer has five portraits in Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. Farrar is dressed in costume for her performance in the opera “Faust”, by composer, Charles Gounod. SOLD

Postcard 2 is a rare close-up portrait postcard of Miss Farrar. SOLD

Postcard 3 is a rare photo of Geraldine Farrar that was published by Paul Fink (Berlin) as part of a series (No.S26). The postcard was postmarked in 1911. SOLD

Published in: on September 20, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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SHIRTLESS MSTR. MERINO : MUSCLE AND STRENGTH PHENOMENON : STRONGMAN : RPPC

This uncommon vintage real photo postcard features a shirtless body builder named Mstr. Merino. The caption on the postcard states “Mstr. Merino, Muscle & Strength Phenomenon”. The  body builder’s muscles have muscles. Note his right bicept. It appears that he has barbed wire looped around his right upper arm. Merino has something wrapped around his wrists. The wraps purpose is unknown to me. This postcard was published by Ernst Schneider & Company. The firm was located in Lubeck, Germany and was known for publishing a collection of postcards with portraits of male and female impersonators and cross dressers. These cards were produced between 1900 and 1930.  SOLD

Published in: on September 19, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TRINIDAD, COLORADO : CAWTHON’S AUTO CAMP : OLD GAS PUMPS & OLD CARS : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a view of Cawthon’s Camp in Trinidad, Colorado. Trinidad was a mining town with a colorful history. Cawthon’s Camp was an auto camp. A place for automobile tourists to stay during their trips. There are two old automobiles as well as old gas pumps seen in this photograph. There are also two large garages evident. This postcard was published by Sanborn as part of a series (No.2134). The Sanborn Souvenir Company was a major postcard publisher in Colorado. They were known for their real photo postcards. The firm was founded by Harold Sanborn who travelled throughout Colorado, Wyoming, and parts of Nebraska taking black and white shots of the western landscape, cityscapes, and landmarks. Harold’s son, William Sanborn joined him in the endeavor. The Sanborn company produced postcards from 1925 to 1957. SOLD

Published in: on September 18, 2024 at 11:35 am  Leave a Comment  
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FANNY DAVENPORT: AMERICAN STAGE ACTRESS (1880)

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2 (SOLD)

PHOTO 3 (SOLD)

The top Cabinet Card is an image of American stage actress, Fanny Davenport. The photograph is dated February 28, 1880. Miss Davenport (1850-1898) was thirty years of age when she sat for this photograph by Emil Scholl, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He photographed many celebrities and this site has a category that includes a number of his images.  To view these images, click on the category “Photographer: Scholl”. Davenport was born in London, England and educated in public schools in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1862 she appeared in ” Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady” in New York. In 1869 she became a member of the Augustin Daly Theater Company. She later formed her own company. She had great success in “Fedora” (1883) and “Cleopatra” (1890). Fellow actor, Otis Skinner, in a backhanded compliment stated that “Miss Davenport was a handsome woman, her business sense keen and her industry untiring. To these qualities rather than her acting, she owed the late success in which she accumulated a fortune in her productions.”

The second photograph features a portrait of Davenport by Thomas Houseworth, whose studio was located in San Francisco, California. This image was part of the “Houseworth Celebrities” series. The series included three thousand titles for different categories, including entertainment and government. Note the carving below the chairs armrest in this photograph. Also take notice of Miss Davenport’s interesting hat. Thomas Houseworth (1828-1915) was an optician, photographer, and photographic publisher. Houseworth and George S. Lawrence came to San Francisco in 1849, during the Gold Rush. They caught gold fever and worked as miners in Calavera and Trinity counties. After two years of mining, they admitted defeat, and returned to San Francisco. In 1855, they partnered in a store that sold optical supplies and other miscellaneous items; but the partners became most well known for their stereographs. In 1859 they sold stereographs from an English company, but they soon contracted with local photographers to acquire and publish a diverse collection of stereos featuring various aspects and scenery of northern California and western Nevada. Later, they began to publish and market stereographs under their own name and by the early 1860’s had built the largest collection of stereographs for sale on the west coast. Lawrence retired in 1868 and the firm became known as Thomas Houseworth and Company. Houseworth hired the most talented photographers he could find.  His photographers included Thomas Hart (Transcontinental Railroad Construction), Carleton Watkins (The Sierras’), and Eadweard Muybridge (Yosemite). By the 1870’s Houseworth’s business was failing due to increased competition. He left the field of photography in the 1880’s and went to work as an accountant and an optometrist.

Photograph 3 is a carte de visite portrait of Fanny Davenport (1850-1898) . The photo was taken at the Broadway studio of Napoleon Sarony. This photograph is from circa 1880. Miss Davenport  was about thirty years of age when she sat for this photograph by Napoleon Sarony in New York City. 

Published in: on September 17, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY MOTHER AND HER PRETTY TEENAGE DAUGHTER

This tintype portrait features what appears to be a mother and daughter. Both women are pretty and both share an intense expression as was often the style of the tintype era. Mom has frilly lace on her collar and sleeve cuffs. The daughter is in a striped dress and is wearing a prominent cross. Tintype photography was most popular during the 1860’s and 1870’s.  SOLD

Published in: on September 16, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY JAPANESE WOMAN : KIMONO : AOMORI, JAPAN : CARTE DE VISITE

This vintage photograph features a young pretty Japanese woman posing for her portrait at the Jin studio in Aomori, Japan. She is standing next to a table that is topped by a basket of flowers on a stand. The woman is wearing a kimono and may be a Geisha. Aomori is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan. This photograph measures about 3.00 x 4.50 inches. (SOLD)

Published in: on September 15, 2024 at 8:05 am  Leave a Comment  
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FIREMAN : BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT : CABINET CARD

A fireman poses for his photograph at the studio of Montignani of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The fireman’s cap has a badge with the insignia of “50”. He is holding a pair of gloves. The location of Montignani’s studio is listed on the bottom of the card as being “over Pequonock Bank”. The bank was loctated at 304 Main Street. An interesting irrelevant fact is that circus man, P. T. Barnum,  was once President of the Pequonock Bank. The photographer is Frank M. Montignani. An 1888 photography journal praises Montignani as taking some of the most “perfect” photographs of Barnum’s circus processions. An 1892 photography journal advertises Montignani’s photographic studio for sale.  SOLD

Published in: on September 14, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF A DANDY : ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS : CABINET CARD

A handsome young man poses for his portrait at the studio of C. A. Anderson in Rockford, Illinois. The young man is wearing fine apparel and his appearance reflects an image of a dandy. No further information is presently available concerning the subject of this photograph or the photographer. This cabinet card portrait is in good condition (see scans) 

Buy this Cabinet Card Photograph (includes shipping within the US) #6294

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$22.85

Buy this Vintage Original Cabinet Card (includes International shipping outside the US) #6294

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$32.85

Published in: on September 13, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY YOUNG ALSATIAN WOMAN : LARGE BOW IN HAIR : FAUVETTE : RPPC 1912

This color tinted vintage real photo postcard features a pretty young Alsatian woman with a large bow in her hair. She is wearing a cross and has lots of flowers pinned to her dress near her neckline. What’s an Alsatian you may wonder. Alsatians are an ethnic group of people who live in the Alsace region of France. They are settled between the Vosges Mountains and the border of Germany. This French postcard was published by Fauvette as part of a series (No.1023). SOLD

Published in: on September 12, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ENID LESLIE: PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : BROADWAY : LONDON STAGE : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features actress, Enid Leslie. Her photo was taken by the talented female celebrity photographer, Rita Martin. There is not much biographical information about this performer that is readily available on the internet. However, it is clear that she was an active performer. Theatricalia list 6 London stage appearances for Miss Leslie. The plays were performed between 1909 and 1913. A photograph of Leslie and Nina Sevening can be seen on the front page of “The Illustrated Sporting News” (1908). The IBDd reports that she appeared in two Broadway plays between 1883 and 1912. The Tatler (1916) describes Leslie as a “charming actress”. This postcard was published by Aristophot (London). The company ceased to exist when it was purchased by Iris Verlag (Austria) in 1909. SOLD

Published in: on September 11, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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