ANITA MANSON : CABINET CARD PHOTO BY JOSE MORA : FAMOUS CHILD MODEL & BEAUTY

In this striking cabinet card photograph, young Anita Manson sits poised in an elegant white dress, her delicate hands clasped gently together. Her soft curls frame a face of quiet intensity, her large, expressive eyes gazing into the distance with a look that seems both wistful and contemplative. There is a serene grace in her posture, a stillness that suggests innocence yet carries an air of maturity beyond her years. This image is the work of renowned celebrity photographer José Mora, who operated a prestigious studio on Broadway in New York City during the late 19th century. Mora, having secured the exclusive rights to photograph Anita, captured her beauty in at least fifty different poses—each new image eagerly anticipated by an adoring public. It is said that she was first discovered by Napoleon Sarony, another famous photographer of the era, who was captivated by her striking appearance while she was out with her nurse. With permission, he photographed her, thus launching her into the realm of celebrity. Anita Manson was not only a celebrated child model but also an admired figure in private theatricals and entertainment circles. Her portraits, such as this one, were in such high demand that in Boston alone, over 25,000 copies were sold. Her delicate lace-trimmed gown, the rich textures of the draped fabric beside her, and the dramatic lighting of the photograph all contribute to the ethereal quality of her image. She was, as the newspapers of the time declared, a true “child beauty”—a young girl whose face enchanted a generation and whose likeness became one of the most sought-after images of its time. SOLD

Published in: on March 10, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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GLADYS GRENVILLE : BRITISH SINGER AND ACTRESS : RPPC 1905

This vintage real photo postcard features British singer and actress, Gladys Grenville. A number of her stage appearances are credited in early British theatrical books and magazines. There is little biographical information about her life and career. She is pretty and has a great smile. The card has a 1905 postmark.This vintage postcard was published by Philco and is in overall good condition (See Scans).

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Published in: on March 8, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MISS VEGLIA : PRETTY ACTRESS: ROMANTIC MESSAGE ON THIS POSTCARD MAKES IT SPECIAL

This vintage real photo postcard features performer, Miss Veglia. The title on the card indicates that she performed at the Folies Bergere, in Paris France. This actress may be Tina Veglia who was a silent film actress. One of the films that she is noted for is “The Three Musketeers” (1918).She is also listed as appearing in two Italian silent films. Interestingly, the word “Veglia”, translated from Italian to English, means “Vigil”.  The portrait of Miss Veglia was hand tinted. She is wearing quite the interesting head piece. The ornate jeweled piece is crownlike and has a hodgepodge design. The message on this postcard, written in French, is captivating. A translation app translates the message as ” I suffer in silence and I do not complain. Not seeing me, you may think I’ve moved on, but despite that, I will love you always. I’m letting a little bit of hope shine through. Try to guess who is sending you this card…”. This is an extremely dramatic message. I wonder what eventually happened. Did the writer and recipient ever get together and live “happily ever after”? This photo portrait was taken by Walery at his Paris studio. He was a well known and talented celebrity photographer. The postcard was published by SIP as part of a series (no.5026). The postcard has a Belgian stamp and the care is addressed to someone in Courcelles-Pont-à-Celles, Belgium. (SOLD)

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THELMA TODD : MOVIE ACTRESS : GODFREY PHILLIPS : CIGARETTE CARD : 1934

This vintage tobacco card features American silent and talkie film actress, Thelma Todd (1906-1935). She was also a businesswoman. Her nicknames included “The Ice Cream Blonde” and “Hot Toddy”. She appeared in about 120 feature films and shorts between 1926 and 1935. She was known for her comedienne talent. Among the performers she worked with are the Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, and Buster Keaton. In 1934 she opened a restaurant in Los Angeles with two partners. In 1935 she was found dead in her Lincoln automobile. The car was in a garage and had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Her death was ruled to be accidental but there was much speculation about whether she committed suicide or had been murdered. This cigarette card was published by Godfrey Philips Ltd. The firm was a British tobacco importer and manufacturer of cigars and Cigarettes. The business was established in 1844 and was one of the first tobacco companies to issue cigarette cards. Their first set was published in 1904. The cards were meant to stiffen cigarette packaging, to serve as a collectible, and to advertise the cigarette brand. This cigarette card was issued in 1934.  SOLD

Published in: on March 6, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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DOROTHY THOMAS : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : RAPHAEL TUCK : RPCC

This vintage real photo postcard features stage actress, Dorothy Thomas (1882-?). She sat for five photographs in the collection of England’s National Portrait Gallery. She appeared in “The Prisoner of the Bastille” in 1909. Further research is needed to illuminate details of the pretty actress’s life. This postcard was published by Raphael Tuck & Sons as part of the “Celebrities of the Stage”  series (T183).This portrait postcard is in overall good condition. Note the album hinge on the reverse of the card. 

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Published in: on March 2, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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BEAUTIFUL ANGLO-GERMAN FILM ACTRESS LILLIAN HARVEY

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POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

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                                                      POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 3  (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 4

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POSTCARD 5  (SOLD)

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 POSTCARD 6

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 POSTCARD 7

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                                                                                          POSTCARD 11  (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 12  (SOLD)

Real photo postcard #1 features Anglo-German actress and singer, Lillian Harvey (1906-1968). Her acting base was in Germany. Harvey was born in Hornsey, England to an English mother and a German father. During World War I her family was “trapped” in Magdeburg, Germany and Harvey was sent to live with her Swiss aunt. After the war she finished school in Berlin and than studied voice and dance at the Berlin State Opera. In 1924 she earned a role as a revue dancer in Vienna. This was followed by her first movie role which was in an Austrian film named “The Curse”. Thereafter, she starred in multiple silent films. Her first leading role was in “The Passion” (1925). Because of her voice training, Harvey was able to make the transition into “talkies”. She and actor Willy Fritsch became the “dream couple” of German movies. The pair acted together in eleven movies. In the 1930’s Harvey’s films appeared in both German and English and she became popular outside of Germany. She went to Hollywood and made four movies for the Fox Film Corporation (this postcard is from that period). In 1935, Harvey returned to Germany. She appeared in several more films and soon she was under the watchful eye of the Gestapo. Harvey had many Jewish friends in the film industry  and she was supportive of them. By 1939, Miss Harvey was forced to leave Germany, leaving behind valuable real estate holdings. She went to France where, in 1940, she made two movies for director Jean Boyer. In 1943 she was stripped of her German citizenship because she had performed for French troops. When southern France was occupied by the Nazis in 1942, she emigrated to the United States. During the war she did some theatre acting and also worked as a homeside volunteer nurse. After the war, Harvey relocated to Paris. She went on a world tour as a singer and in 1949 made appearances in West Germany. She spent her retirement on the French Riviera (Antibes) where she had a souvenir shop and raised snails for escargot. Harvey was married one time. Her four year marriage to theater director Hartvig Valeur-Larsen ended in divorce. Eventually she settled down with her female partner Else Pitty Wirth (1907-2007). Interestingly, the two women are buried together in Antibes. The imdb gives Harvey 54 acting credits between 1925 and 1940. Interestingly, Lillian Harvey’s name is mentioned in Quentin Tarantino’s film  “Inglorious Bastards” (2009). One of her songs is played on a phonograph and in addition one of the characters in the film mentions liking Harvey’s performance in a film and Joseph Goebbels becomes angry and insists her name never be mentioned in his presence. Click on the link below to hear the Lillian Harvey/Willy Fritsch duet used in the Tarantino movie. The 1936 song is titled “Ich Wollt Ich War Ein Huhn” (I Wish I Was A Chicken). Now would be a good time to discuss this postcard portrait of Miss Harvey. She is looking quite decorated in this photograph. She is wearing a garland of leaves in her hair, a very ornate necklace, a number of large bracelets, two giant rings, and a jeweled clasp on her dress near her cleavage. Note her very notable eye lashes. She is wearing a somewhat provocative dress and it is clear that the aim of the photographer is to emphasize Miss Harvey’s sexiness. The photographer and Miss Harvey succeeded in accomplishing this goal. The postcard was published by the German firm Ross Verlag and was part of a series (no. 8679/1). The postcard credits Fox films.                                                 SOLD                                                                                                                                                                          

The second postcard (postcard 2) features Miss Harvey in a risque costume. She is showing a “lot of leg” which is quite provocative for her time. It is likely that this image captures her in one of her film roles. The postcard was published by Argenta, which was located in Munich, Bavaria.                                                                                                                  SOLD        

The third postcard (postcard 3) presents Miss Harvey is a sexy pose. Note her dark gloves and large hoop earrings. The postcard was published by Ross Verlag and is part of a series (no. 4288/1). Note the advertising logo for the German film company UFA, located on the bottom right hand corner of the image. (SOLD)

The fourth postcard (postcard 4) showcases Lillian Harvey’s beautiful smile. Miss Harvey’s not quite plunging neckline was clearly aimed to add a bit of a risque element to the photograph. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin) and is part of a series (no. 1019/2). This portrait was taken by the talented photographer, Alex Binder. The photographer of this terrific image was Alexander Binder (1888-1929). He had the largest photo studio in Europe during the late 1920’s and the 1930’s. Many of his entertainment star portraits appear on Ross Verlag postards. It is thought that Binder was of Swiss origin. He was of the Jewish faith. He studied engineering but did not complete his studies. From 1908 to 1910 he studied photography at a school in Munich, Germany. After the completion of his photography studies, he went to Berlin and in 1913 opened his first photography studio. Before long, he became one of the premier photographers in Berlin.  He primarily focussed on fashion and celebrity photography. Since Berlin was the capital of the European film industry, Binder photographed all the stars of the European film industry including, Lilian Harvey, Conrad Veidt, and Lya De Putti. Many of his images were used in popular film portrait postcards. His photographs could be seen in postcards published by Ross Verlag and Photochemie. Binder died in 1929 but new photo cards bearing his signature continued to be published until 1937. 

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The fifth real photo postcard (postcard 5) features Miss Harvey wearing a bathing suit and sitting in a beach chair. Her shoes and stockings don’t seem very appropriate for the beach so it is a good thing that she is actually in a photographer’s studio and sitting in front of a beach backdrop. Obviously, the mission of the photographer was not to convince viewers that Miss Harvey was at the beach. The intent of photographer Alexander Binder was to present Lilian Harvey in a provocative and sexy pose. Mr. Binder certainly succeeded in accomplishing his goal. This photo postcard was published by Ross Verlag.  (SOLD) 

 

Postcard 6 featuring  Miss Harvey, is published by Ross Verlag. The postcard is part of a series (no. 3543/4). She looks fantastic wearing her print dress and plaid long scarf. I’m not convinced the dress and scarf are matching, but her beauty overcomes any mismatch. As in Postcard #3, the logo for the German film company UFA, can be seen on the lower right hand corner of the image. This photo postcard is from the 1930’s and is in very good condition (see scans).

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Postcard #7 features Lillian Harvey leaning forward as she looks into a hanging bird cage. The photographer likely chose this pose to inject some sexuality into the image. The pose reveals a small amount of the actress’s cleavage. She is wearing a relatively low-cut dress for this time period. Print on the reverse of the postcard reveals that the photograph of Miss Harvey comes from the film “Congress Dances” (1931). Her costar in the film was Willy Fritsch. The postcard was published by Ross Verlag and is part of a series (no. 6738/1). On the right hand bottom corner of the postcard is the logo for “UFA”, a German film company. This postcard is in excellent condition.

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Postcard 8  was photographed by Alexander Binder and published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (no.1019/4). Ballerini & Fratini (Florence, Italy) are credited on the reverse of this postcard.   (SOLD)

Postcard 9 offers a pretty portrait of Lilian Harvey that was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (no.5016/2). Note the logo for UFA, the German film company, in the bottom right hand corner of the image. This vintage postcard is in very good conditon (see scans).

Postcard 10 is meant to be risque. Harvey is wearing a provocative dress and it is clear that the aim of the photographer is to emphasize Miss Harvey’s sexiness. The photographer and Miss Harvey succeeded in accomplishing this goal. This card has the logo of Fox Films. She made four films for the company beginning 1931. Lillian Harvey was a popular postcard model and there are many postcard images of her in existence. However, this particular card is very uncommon and one of the more suggestive photographs of Miss Harvey published on a postcard. This postcard portrait was published by Ross Verlag (Germany) as part of a series (No.8000/1).         SOLD

Postcard 11 was published by the German firm Ross Verlag and was part of a series (no. 1393/4).  Eichberg Films is credited on the bottom right hand corner of the image. The company was located in Germany. Richard Eichberg was a moderately successful actor who became a director/producr in 1915.  (SOLD)

Postcard 12 was published by the German firm Ross Verlag and was part of a series (no. 8679/1). She is posed in a bit of a provocative pose and is smoking a pipe. This postcard portrait was photographed by H. Gartner and published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (no.1529/1). Eichberg Films is credited on this postcard. Richard Eichberg (1888-1952) began his career as an actor but became a succssful film director and producer in the German film industry. He directed 87 films and produced 77 films.  (SOLD)

                                                                                        

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POSTCARD 13

POSTCARD 14 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 15 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 16 (SOLD)

Postcard 13 was published by Ross Verlag and features Miss Harvey posed in a provocative manner. This postcard has a French stamp and was postmarked in 1929 in Paris, France. (SOLD)

Postcard 14 was published by the German firm Ross Verlag and was part of a series (no. 6096/1). UFA Films is credited on the bottom right hand corner of the image. The company was located in Germany. SOLD

Postcard 15  shows Lillian Harvey wearing a ballerina costume and it is clear that the aim of the photographer is to emphasize Miss Harvey’s sexuality. The photographer and Miss Harvey succeeded in accomplishing this goal. The postcard was published by the Austrian firm Iris Verlag and was part of a series (no.764). Iris Verlag in Vienna was the most important Austrian publisher of film star postcards. The photographer of this portrait was E. Weil & Co. SOLD

Postcard 16 was published by Ross Verlag. It was part of a series (no.2033/1). The postcard has the logo of “Fanamet” in the lower right hand corner of the image. “Fanamet Films” was an Austrian film distribution company. The logo for “First National Pictures” is located on the bottom left hand corner of the image. First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. The company was founded in 1917 as a theater chain. It then began distributing movies and in 1924 it began producing films. In 1929 the company was absorbed by Warner Brothers.  (SOLD)

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DELIA MASON & CUTE DOG :STAGE ACTRESS & SINGER : BROADWAY : ROTOPHOT : RPPC 1905

This vintage real photo postcard features pretty stage actress and singer, Delia Mason (1880-1980). She is posed with a dog that appears to be a Jack Russell Terrier. There is little biographical information about her readily available online. She was a native of Coventry, England. There are seven portraits of Mason that can be found in Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. Her first professional appearance was in “Three Little Maids” (1902) at the Apollo Theatre in London. 
She was “discovered” by English theatre manager and producer, George Edwardes. A reviewer at her first performance, described her as “a tall and extremely good-looking with laughing blue eyes”. The reviewer also stated that she was an expert swimmer and oarsman, as well as an “ardent motorist”. Mason appeared in two Broadway productions; “Three Little Maids” (1903) and “My Lady’s Maid” (1906). She was married to Walter Wysard, a merchant and director of a number of companies. The couples son, Tony Wysard became a well known cartoonist and illustrator. This postcard was published by Rotophot as part of a series (No.0292). The company was based in Berlin, Germany. This postcard was postmarked in 1905. Mason was likely around 25 years of age when her photograph was taken for this card. Her photo was taken by the Hutchinson & Svendsen studio in Berlin, Germany.  SOLD

Published in: on February 15, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAITS OF LILY ELSIE: BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED STAGE ACTRESS (VINTAGE RPPC)

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POSTCARD  4   (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 5  (SOLD)

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                                                                               POSTCARD 6 (SOLD)

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                                                         POSTCARD  8  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : THE MERRY WIDOW : PORTRAIT : RPPC - Picture 1 of 2

POSTCARD 9  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : THE MERRY WIDOW : PORTRAIT : RPPC - Picture 1 of 2POSTCARD 10  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : THE MERRY WIDOW : PORTRAIT : (RPPC) - Picture 1 of 2POSTCARD 11  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : THE MERRY WIDOW : PORTRAIT : (RPPC) - Picture 1 of 2

POSTCARD 12   (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : THE MERRY WIDOW : PORTRAIT : (RPPC) - Picture 1 of 2

POSTCARD 13  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PORTRAIT : RPPC 1905 - Picture 1 of 3POSTCARD 14  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PORTRAIT : BY RITA MARTIN : UNCOMMON RPPC - Picture 1 of 2

POSTCARD 15  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PORTRAIT : RAPID PHOTO : UNCOMMON RPPC 1 of 2

POSTCARD  16  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PHOTO BY FOULSHAM & BANFIELD : RPPC 1907 - Picture 1 of 3POSTCARD 17  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PHILCO : PORTRAIT : RPPC 1907 - Picture 1 of 2POSTCARD 18  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : THE MERRY WIDOW : PORTRAIT : RPPC 1 of 2

POSTCARD 19 (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PHOTO BY FOULSHAM & BANFIELD : RPPC - Picture 1 of 4

POSTCARD 20  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PHOTO BY FOULSHAM & BANFIELD : RPPC 1906 - Picture 1 of 3POSTCARD 21  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : VEILED : PHOTO BY DAVIDSON BROTHERS : RPPC - Picture 1 of 2

POSTCARD  22  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : CLOSE-UP : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PHOTO BY J. BEAGLES : RPPC 1904 - Picture 1 of 3                                                                                             POSTCARD  23  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE :IN "A CHINESE HONEYMOON" :PHOTO BY LIZZIE CASWALL SMITH : RPPC 1906 - Picture 1 of 2                                                                                               POSTCARD  24  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE: PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PHOTO BY RITA MARTIN : RPPC 1913 - Picture 1 of 3

POSTCARD 25  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE: PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PLAYING FRANZI IN "A WALTZ DREAM" : RPPC - Picture 1 of 2POSTCARD 26  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE: PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : FUR BOA : ROTARY PHOTO : RPPC 1911 - Picture 1 of 2

POSTCARD 27  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : IN "THE MERRY WIDOW" : RPPC 1908 - Picture 1 of 2 

POSTCARD 28 (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS : PROFILE VIEW : FOULSHAM & BANFIELD : RPPC - Picture 1 of 2

POSTCARD 29  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS :PORTRAIT :BY LIZZIE CASWALL SMITH : RPPC 1904 - Picture 1 of 3

POSTCARD 30  (SOLD)

LILY ELSIE : STAGE ACTRESS : AS "ALICE" IN "THE DOLLAR PRINCESS" : RPPC 1909

POSTCARD 31  (SOLD)

Postcard 1 features celebrated stage actress Miss Lily Elsie (1886-1962). At the time of her portrait sitting for this image, Miss Elsie was also known as “Mrs. Ian Bullugh”. More about that later. Lily Elsie was a very popular English actress and singer. She was most known for her starring role in the London production of “The Merry Widow (1907)”. The show ran for 778 performances. 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”. She began 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 is part of a series (Arcadian no. A 26). The photographer of this image of this beautiful actress is the well known celebrity photographer, Rita Martin. She was considered one of the best British photographers of her time. She opened her studio in 1906. Martin’s sister, Lallie Charles was an esteemed society photographer. Many of Rita’s photographs can be found in the National Portrait Gallery. To view more photographs by Rita Martin in the cabinet card gallery, click on the category “Photographer: Martin”.

The second postcard of Miss Elsie provides a terrific close-up photograph of the beautiful Miss Elsie. She is wearing a dark jacket, a frilly high collared blouse and a ribbon bow tie. Her accessories include a long necklace, a pin low on her blouse, and a corsage. The postcard is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 4159 J) published by Rotary Photo. The photograph was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield Studio. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio in the 1900’s through the 1920’s.

The third postcard features Lily Elsie clutching a bouquet of flowers and glancing sideways at the photographer. She looks absolutely beautiful. She is wearing a fancy beaded dress and a bracelet. She stands in front of a window. This photograph, like the second postcard’s photo, was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. The portrait postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (11840 F). The postcard was printed in Britain.

The fourth postcard is a portrait of a smiling Lily Elsie. She is wearing a flower, beads (pearls?), and a hairband. This photograph was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. The portrait postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (11593 B). This postcard captures Miss Elsie in her role as Alice in “The Dollar Princess” (1909).  The venue for the play was Daly’s Theater in London and cast members included Joseph Coyne, Gabrielle Ray, Emmy Wehlen, and Gladys Cooper.  (SOLD)

Postcard 5 is a portrait postcard of Miss Elsie that provides a terrific close-up photograph of the stage beauty. The postcard is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no.11841D) published by Rotary Photo. The photograph was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield Studio. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio in the 1900’s through the 1920’s.   (SOLD)

Postcard 6 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (4484D). The photographer of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield. The card was postmarked in 1907.   (SOLD)

Postcard 7 is a vintage real photo postcard featuring  celebrated stage actress Miss Lily Elsie (1886-1962) in costume for her role in “The Merry Widow” (1907). This postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (4827U). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield. The card was postmarked in 1908.  (SOLD)

Postcard 8  features celebrated stage actress Miss Lily Elsie (1886-1962) in costume for her role in “The Merry Widow” (1907).This postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (4827J). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield. The card was postmarked in 1909. This postcard has an interesting message. The writer appears to be having difficult times. She opens the message with the announcement that she can’t afford to send anymore postcards because her “cash is nearly gone”. She also complains about the “rotten weather”. (SOLD)

Postcard 9 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4827S). The card is uncommon. The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield.   (SOLD)

Postcard 10 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4827P). The photographers of this uncommon image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield.  (SOLD)

Postcard 11 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4827V). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield.  (SOLD)

Postcard 12 This postcard captures Elsie in her role in “The Merry Widow”. The card was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4827W). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield.   (SOLD)

Postcard 13 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4827M). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield. The postcard is uncommon.  (SOLD)

Postcard 14 was published by C.W.F. & Co. and is part of a series (no.457C). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Johnston & Hoffmann. The card was postmarked in 1905.  (SOLD)

Postcard 15 was published by J. Beagles & Co. and is part of a series (no.179L). The photographer of this image of this beautiful actress is celebrated female photographer, Rita Martin.  (SOLD)

Postcard 16 was published by Rapid Photo and is part of a series (no.1284). The photographer of this image is the Johnston & Hoffmann studio.  (SOLD)

Postcard 17 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4124B). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known studio of Foulsham & Banfield. The card was postmarked in 1907.  (SOLD)

Postcard 18 was published by Philco Publishing and is part of a series (no.3381B). The card was written in 1907.  (SOLD)

Postcard 19 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4827N). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known celebrity photographers, Foulsham & Banfield. The card was postmarked in 1908.  (SOLD)

Postcard 20 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.11775A). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known studio of Foulsham & Banfield. (SOLD)

Postcard 21 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.1996A). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known studio of Foulsham & Banfield. The postcard has a 1906 postmark and a British stamp.  (SOLD)

Postcard 22 is uncommon and was published by Davidson Brothers and is part of a series (no.1479). The photographer of this image of this beautiful actress is Draycott Galleries .  (SOLD)

Postcard 23 was published by J. Beagles and is part of a series (no.127A). The photography studio that took this image of this beautiful actress is Ellis and Walery.  (SOLD)

Postcard 24 captures Miss Elsie wearing a fantastic hat and a beautiful smile. Miss Elsie is seen in costume for her role in “A Chinese Honeymoon” (1903).  The plot of the play concerns couples who honeymoon in China and unknowingly breaks the kissing laws. The show was the first musical to run over one thousand performances. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.1656/C). The photographer of this image  is celebrated female photographer, Lizzie Caswall Smith. The postcard has a 1906 postmark and a British stamp.   (SOLD)

Postcard 25 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.1656/C). The photographer of this image of this beautiful actress is celebrated female photographer, Rita Martin. The postcard has a 1913 postmark and a British stamp.  (SOLD)

Postcard 26 captures Miss Elsie in this photo in her role as Franzi in the stage production of the operetta, “A Waltz Dream”. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.11841/F). The photographer of this image of this beautiful actress is the Foulsham & Banfield studio.   (SOLD)

Postcard 27 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.11502/C). The photographer of this image of this beautiful actress is the Foulsham & Banfield studio.  (SOLD)

Postcard 28 captures Lily Elsie in her role in “The Merry Widow”.  This uncommon postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.4826A). The photographers of this image is the well known studio of Foulsham & Banfield. The card was postmarked in 1908.  (SOLD)

Postcard 29 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.11427B). The photographers of this image is the well known studio of Foulsham & Banfield.  (SOLD)

Postcard 30 was published by C.W.F. & Co. and is part of a series (no.457C). The photographers of this image of this beautiful actress are the well known female celebrity photographer, Lizzie Caswall Smith. The card was postmarked in 1904. (SOLD)

Postcard 31 was published by Rotary Photo and is part of a series (no.11594C). The photographer of this crisp image of this beautiful actress is the well known celebrity photographic studio, Foulsham & Banfield. This postcard captures Miss Elsie in her role as Alice in “The Dollar Princess” (1909).  The venue for the play was Daly’s Theater in London and cast members included Joseph Coyne, Gabrielle Ray, Emmy Wehlen, and Gladys Cooper.   (SOLD)

                                                       Wedding Photo (1911)

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POSTCARD 4   (SOLD)

POSTCARD 5 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 6 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 7 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 8 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 9 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 10 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 11 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 12 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 13 (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 26 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 27 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 28 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 29 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 30 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 31 (SOLD)

Published in: on February 9, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (7)  
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LIL DAGOVER : PRETTY GERMAN SILENT & SOUND FILM STAR : MADAME BOVARY : RPPC 1942

This vintage real photo postcard features celebrated German actress, Lil Dagover (1887-1980). She was renowned for her work in silent films, particularly her collaborations with key figures of German Expressionist cinema. Her striking beauty and ability to convey complex emotions made her one of the most recognizable faces of early 20th-century European cinema. Lil Dagover was born into a well-to-do family in the Dutch East Indies, where her father worked as a forestry officer. After his death, her mother relocated with the family to Europe, and Dagover spent much of her youth in Switzerland and Germany. She was orphaned at 13 years of age and was raised by relatives. She initially planned to become a painter but was drawn to the performing arts, which led her to pursue acting. Dagover’s acting career began on the stage, but her breakthrough came with the advent of film. She made her debut in 1913, though her rise to stardom began in earnest in the early 1920s when she worked with director Robert Wiene in the landmark German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). Dagover became a favorite of directors such as Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau, and Ernst Lubitsch. Her notable silent-era films include “Destiny” (1921), “Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler” (1922), and “The Chronicles of the Grey House” (1925). Her success continued during the sound era, where her aristocratic demeanor and elegance suited roles in historical dramas and comedies. Dagover remained active in German cinema during the Third Reich, a time when the industry was heavily influenced by propaganda. However, she largely avoided overtly political films, focusing instead on character-driven narratives. After World War II, she transitioned to stage work and television, continuing her career well into the 1970s. In regard to her personal life, in 1913 she married Fritz Daghofer, an Austrian officer. They had one child and the marriage ended in divorce. She married for a second time to a German film producer. This postcard was published by Film-Foto-Verlag as part of a series (No.A3735/1). Miss Dagover’s photograph was taken by Baumann between 1941 and 1944. The logo for Terra Film is in the bottom right corner of the image. Terra Film was a Berlin-based film production company. Founded in 1919, it became one of Germany’s largest film production companies in the 1930s under the Nazi regime.  SOLD

Published in: on January 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CORINNE: FAMOUS CHILD ACTRESS AND SUBJECT OF A SENSATIONAL CHILD ABUSE CASE

CORRINE_0003CABINET CARD 1

corinne_0002CABINET CARD 2

The actress pictured in Cabinet Card 1 is Corrine.  Corrine, like Elvis or Selena, was a performer that received national recognition and was known by just her first name. In the top portrait by celebrity photographer B. J. Falk, Corrine looks to be teenager or young adult. She is dressed in theatrical costume. Corinne was the daughter of actress Jennie Kimball. Kimball acted in the theater between 1865 and 1873. The year of her retirement, she became the mother of Corinne, who the New York Times (1896) labelled “the most famous of all the child actresses of this country”. It is not clear how Kimball and her husband came to raise Corinne, but is was speculated that she was adopted as an orphan. Kimball trained her young daughter for the stage. Corrine debuted in the theater at age two and a half.  At five years of age she played the part of  “Little Buttercup” in the Boston production of “Pinafore”. She played the role more than one hundred times. At fifteen years of age she was traveling as head of her own theater company. Jennie Kimball doubled as Corinne’s mother and manager. The New York Times (1896) reported that Corinne “was a goldmine” during her early days for Mrs. Kimball and remained a major money producer through the time the article was written. At the time the article appeared, Corinne was twenty-two years old.  Jennie Kimball’s successful management of her daughter’s career wasn’t appreciated by all observers. The New York Times (1881) asserted that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children objected to the way Corinne was being raised and successfully pursued custody of the child. During the custody hearing, eight year-old Corinne was put on the stand and interrogated by the society’s lawyer. He asked her how many times she was photographed and she didn’t know but said “she was never photographed in tights nor with her limbs and breast exposed”. The lawyer’s questioning revealed that the child had never attended school. However, Jennie Kimball did give her “lessons” each morning. The lawyer then gave Corinne an impromptu writing/spelling test during her testimony. The attorney also prompted the child to say she had never attended sunday school and didn’t know what a bible was nor had she ever been taught anything about Jesus Christ. The society lawyer was initially able to convince the judge to remove the child from the custody of Mrs Kimball because she was “unlawfully exhibited and employed” in dancing, singing and acting on the theatrical stage. Mrs. Kimball was allowed to take her daughter for a brief period to change her clothing but was assigned an escort to insure that the child would be brought to the society. Mrs Kimball was advised by George Hackett, the manager of a Providence opera house that if she took her daughter from New York to Jersey City, New Jersey; the girl would be out of the courts jurisdiction and she could keep her daughter. Mrs. Kimball followed his suggestion, and allowed a man to spirit the child out of state. As a result, Mrs. Kimball was charged with abduction and she ended up back in court. After a short time, the judge considered all the testimony that he heard and decided to return Corinne to her parents (he called them guardians). He believed that they were loving toward the child and responsible enough to continue raising her. Interestingly, he had something to say about the religious angle pursued by the society lawyer. The judge wrote that the the US constitution protected Corinne’s parents from being punished for not providing religious education to their daughter.  Corinne continued her acting career and eventually became involved in burlesque theater. The New York Times (1894) wrote “Corinne has grown up and proves a lively and entertaining performer. The article adds that “she has no large share of original talent, musical or dramatic, but she can sing and dance “well enough”.

Cabinet Card 2 pictures Miss Corinne and was published by Newsboy (#20 of a series). She is wearing jewelry galore and flowers in her hair. What is that contraption that she is wearing around her waist? Is it a pouch? If so, what is it meant to carry? SOLD

 

Published in: on January 3, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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