THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This vintage real photo postcard features Hungarian film actress, Lya de Putti (1897-1931) wearing a coat or night clothes with the top of the garment partially open. She is certainly dressed in a risque provocative manner. Lya was active in films during the silent era. She is known for playing vamp characters. Lya’s stage career began on the Hungarian vaudeville stage. Next stop was to Berlin, where she performed in the ballet. In 1918, she made her film debut. Her first important film was “The Mistress of the World (1919).  She became the premier dancer at Berlin’s Winter Garden in 1924. In 1926, Lya travelled to America. She starred in D. W. Griffith’s “The Sorrows of Satan (1926). In the European version of the movie, Lya had a topless scene. Lya failed in her attempt to make it in Hollywood, so in 1929, she left for the Broadway stage. Later, she went to England to act in silent films. She then returned to America to attempt a transition into sound films. Lya married a county magistrate in 1913. The couple had two daughters. They divorced in 1918. Her ex husband told the children that there their mother had died. As evidence, there was a headstone placed in a Hungarian cemetery which listed her death year as 1920. In 1932, her ex husband committed suicide, and it was only then, that Lya’s children learned that their mother did not die in 1920. Unfortunately, Lya had died for real, by the time her children learned the truth. Lya married a second and third time. In the late 1920’s she met a banker and fell in love with him. She wanted to marry him but his family blocked their union. She responded to their resistance by launching a hunger strike. Lya had mental health problems. In 1926, it was reported that she  jumped out of a window after arguing with a lover. She broke an arm and a foot. In 1927, she was injured after falling down the stairs and through  a window. She suffered physical problems too. She almost died in a plane crash in 1930. In 1931, she had to be hospitalized in New York in order to have a chicken bone removed from her throat. She developed a throat infection which was followed by pneumonia. She never recovered and was dead at the young age of 34. The IMDb credits Lya with 36 film appearances between 1918 and 1929. The IBDb credits Lya with one Broadway appearance. The play was “Made in France” and it ran for less than a month. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (1028/4). Miss de Putti’s photograph was taken by Alexander Binder.  SOLD

This 1910 vintage real photo postcard features the Hotel Nassau which was located in Long Beach, Long Island, New York. The photograph on this card is of the hotel’s tennis courts. The courts are busy. Note that all of the players are wearing long pants. Interestingly, the players are not all wearing whites. It is also of note that there are two women at the courts. There are old cars parked in the front and on the side of the hotel. One can see many people sitting at tables on the second floor of the building. They are likely dining in the hotel’s restaurant. Hotel Nassau has an interesting history. It was built to be fireproof in 1909. There were 300 rooms in the hotel. Long Beach was designed to be Long Island’s version of Atlantic City. Among the hotel’s guests were Will Rogers and Sarah Bernhardt. During World War I, the hotel was turned into a military hospital. During Prohibition, the hotel was a hotbed for gambling and drinking. As a result, it was raided by Federal agents. The hotel was later demolished to make room for “progress”. This card was published by Long Beach View. The photographer was A. Fowler (New York City). This postcard has a small single piece of black paper adhered to it’s reverse. That is clearly evidence that the card is a former resident of a postcard album.  SOLD

This is a striking antique panel-format cabinet card photograph of actress Linda Cannon, photographed by the celebrated Sarony studio at 37 Union Square, New York. This unusual elongated card measures approximately 8 x 4 inches and has attractive gold beveled edges around the card.The image shows Cannon posed full-length in an elaborate stage costume, with a feathered hat, ruffled bodice, lace-trimmed sleeves, layered skirt, and theatrical shoes. She stands in a graceful pose against a studio backdrop, giving the photograph the look of a stage or promotional portrait rather than an ordinary personal cabinet card. Linda Cannon appears to have been a lesser-documented stage or variety performer of the late 19th century. While detailed personal biographical information such as birth and death dates is not readily confirmed, period theatrical references do show a performer named Linda Cannon active during the 1890s. This portrait is especially appealing because it combines an identified actress, a dramatic costume, the famous Sarony New York studio imprint, and the scarce tall panel-card format. Napoleon Sarony was one of the most important American celebrity photographers of the 19th century, especially known for photographing actors, actresses, writers, and theatrical personalities. His Union Square studio became closely associated with the world of the stage, and Sarony portraits are widely collected today. This photograph is in good antique condition overall with strong image quality, rich tones, and excellent visual appeal.  SOLD

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The beautiful actress seen in these vintage real photo postcarda is named Ossi Oswalda (1897-1947). She was born in Germany and appeared predominately in silent films. She was a leading lady, popular comedienne,  dancer, and singer. Due to her popularity, she  was known as “the German Mary Pickford”. Ossi began her career as a ballerina and she danced in a chorus line for a theater in Berlin. She made her film debute in “Night of Horrors” (1916) and was noticed by actor/screenwriter Hanns Kraly, who introduced her to director Ernst Lubitsch. Oswalda’s early career began with appearances in several Lubitsch films. In 1921, she and her husband started a film production company that produced four films over four years, all starring Miss Oswalda. After 1925, she was under contract to UFA, a German film company. After the transition to “talkies”, Oswalda joined the ranks of actresses and actors, who’s career took a nose dive. She only acted in two sound films. Her final screen appearance was in “The Star of Valencia”. She then began acting on the stage. She appeared in operettas in Germany and Vienna. When the National Socialists took power in Germany, she emigrated to Prague with her “Jewish life partner”, Julius Aubenberg. In 1943, she wrote a story for a Czechoslovakian film. In summarizing Ossi’s career, the IMDb credits her with 51 film appearances,  producing 5 films, and 1 screen writing credit. It is reported that she frequently played child-like spoiled women. She appeared in drag in at least one film. Oswalda’s first marriage (1919-1925) was to a Hungarian baron. After her divorce, the actress began a highly publicized romantic relationship with Crown Prince Willhelm (1882-1951). Simultaneously, the actress Lily Damita, was having an affair with the Prince’s son. The royal family put a kibosh to both “inappropriate” relationships. In 1947, she died in Prague at age 48, bankrupt and suffering from multiple health problems. 

Image 1 : This German real photo postcard is published by Ross Verlag soemetime between 1919 and 1924. The photograph of Miss Oswalda was taken by Becker & Maass of Berlin. Note her pretty hat and fan. Hopefully, she wasn’t allergic to feathers. Oswalda was young when this photograph was taken. She was beautiful and no older than 27 years of age. 

 Image  2 : features Miss Oswalda in a very skimpy costume. Her feathered hat is quite showy . She has a wonderful smile and pretty eyes. This risque postcard was part of  a series (no. 1050/2) and published by Ross Verlag of Berlin, Germany. The logo of UFA, a German film company, appears on the lower right hand corner of the postcard. The reverse of the postcard reveals that that the photographer is Strobl J. Nandor of Budapest, Hungary. (SOLD)  

Image 3 is a German real photo postcard that was published by Ross Verlag. Miss Oswalda’s photo was taken by celebrity photographer Alex Binder.   (SOLD)

Image 4 captures Miss Oswalda looking amused. She is flashing a wonderful smile. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag of Berlin, Germany (no.474/2).   (SOLD)

Image 5 captures Miss Oswalda in a provocative pose. She is wearing a short skirt resulting in quite a leggy photo. Posing her with her hands on her hips was aimed at being suggestive. This risque postcard was published by Ross Verlag of Berlin, Germany (no.483/1). The photographer of this portrait of Oswalda was celebrity photographer Alex Binder.  (SOLD)

Image 6  is published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.483/2). Miss Oswalda’s photo was taken by celebrity photographer Alex Binder. (SOLD)

Image 7 captures Miss Oswalda lying in bed, or on a couch. Whatever she is lying on, it is rare to see a photo postcard from this era, showing a woman under the covers. Note the logo of the German film company, “UFA”,  in the lower right hand corner of the image. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag of Berlin, Germany (no.1734/2). (SOLD)