The celebrated Sarony studio of New York City, famed theatrical photographer, published this cabinet card portrait of Rosalba Beecher. Ms Beecher is wearing a very ornate and dramatic dress. Note the design of an owl sitting on a crescent moon. She is wearing a great deal of jewelry. Her clothing is likely a costume from an opera that she was appearing in. Beecher’s magnificent piercing eyes are evident in this portrait. During her stage career, Beecher appeared in one Broadway play, “Prince Methusalem” (1884). Miss Beecher is mentioned in a New York Times (1900) article concerning her divorce from Clarence Lyman Collins of the dry goods commission firm of Whitin Collins. Mr. Collins had filed for divorce because he alleged that his wife, whom he married in 1886 (She was 23 and he was 38 years-old), was causing him financial ruin with her excessive extravagant spending. It was alleged that her spending was creating a grave economic problem for Collins and she agreed to return to her pre marital profession of being an opera singer. She moved to Paris to get experience before executing her plan to return to singing on the American stage. She stayed in Europe for several years. While there, she continued her incessant spending and Collins found himself forty thousand dollars in debt. An interesting side note is that Collins’s first wife was a Vanderbilt. This particular cabinet card has been well travelled. The reverse of the cabinet card has “Property Of” stamps from Culver Service (New York), Frederic Hilton (New York), and Charles Ritzman (New York). Culver Pictures was a service that collected photographs that for a fee could be used by the media to accompany the stories appearing in their publications. Culver Service was established in 1926. Research yielded no information concerning the identity of Frederic Hilton. Charles L. Ritzmann was a well known purveyor of photographs of stage actors and actresses. To view other cards formerly owned by Culver or by Ritzmann, type Culver of Ritzmann in the search box. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features a photo of pretty actress Tilly Waldegg. IMDb credits her with appearing in one film (1912). Further research is needed to illuminate her stage history. This photograph of Miss Waldegg was taken at the sudio of celebrated female photographer, Emilie Bieber (Berlin and Hamburg). She was a very successful and talented photographer during a time when female photographers were uncommon. The card was published by Louis Blumenthal (Berlin). Note that this card has edgewear and a crease in it’s top left corner. Overall, this vintage real photo portrait postcard has excellent clarity and is in good condition (see scans).
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3733
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Fay Compton (1894-1978) is the subject of this vintage real photo postcard. Compton was an English actress who appeared in many films, but was best known for her stage performances. She was a versatile actress who appeared in Shakespeare, Modern Drama, Comedy, and Classics (ie Ibsen and Chekhov. She appeared on stage in Britain, and toured the United States and Australia. Compton was born in London. Her father, mother, brother, and grandfather were all actors. She was the younger sister of actress Viola Comton. Compton’s stage debut was in 1911 with Pelissier’s Follies which was produced by H. G. Pelissier. Though still a teenager, she married Mr. Pelissier who died soon thereafter, leaving her with a child. She quickly married singer Lauri de Frece. Compton’s first American appearance was in 1914 and occurred at the Shubert Theatre in New York. In 1917, she played the title role in the London performances of Peter Pan. In the 1920’s and 1930’s she performed in many of Shakespeare’s plays. She also played in a number of plays written by J. M. Barrie. Barrie wrote the play, “Mary Rose” especially for her. Her second husband died in 1921 and in 1923, she married actor Leon Quartermaine. During the 1930’s she played in both West End plays and Shakespeare. The 1940’s and 1950’s found Compton continuing to play in Shakespeare productions, and other roles including Noel Cowards “Blithe Spirit”, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Uncle Vanya”, and “What Every Woman Knows”. In 1942, her third marriage failed and she married actor Ralph Michael. Their marriage dissolved after four years. Compton also appeared in films. Her IMDb filmography reveals that she appeared in 82 films between 1914 and 1970. The IBDb indicates that she performed in three Broadway shows between 1915 and 1959. At one point, Compton had her own drama school. One of her students was actor Alec Guinness.
Postcard 1 Miss Compton’s portrait on this postcard was taken by Rita Martin, a well known celebrity photographer. The card was published by J. Beagles Postcards as part of a series (no.258.8). The company produced a variety of postcards including an extensive catalog of celebrity (stage and screen) portrait postcards. The company closed in 1939. The card was postmarked in 1920. SOLD
Postcard 2 was printed in Britain and was part of the Lilywhite Photographic Series (no. L 4). Miss Compton looks absolutely beautiful . She is wearing a pretty dress and a beaded necklace (pearls?). The publisher, Lilywhite Ltd, Halifax (L.L.H.), was founded by Arthur Frederick Sergeant. He also was the founder of Halifax Photographic Company which was based in Halifax, England. Lilywhite began publishing postcards in 1910; and in the 1920’s, the company took over Arrow Series Postcards. The company then published postcards under both the Arrow and Lilywhite names. SOLD
Postcard 1 features silent film actress, Ally Kolberg. She is quite beautiful and looks like she is in her teen years when photographed. The message on this card was written in 1915. The postcard was published by RotoPhot. The stamp box indicates that the company was part of the NBC price cartel. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard (Postcard 2) features beautiful German silent film actress, Ally Kolberg. Her movie career was brief. She appeared in films between 1916 and 1923 and they included 16 German films and 1 Swedish production. She was often directed by female directors. During her career she was also credited as Ally Bing and Ally Kay Bing. Initial research revealed very little about the life of Miss Kolberg. More intensive investigation is required. This postcard was published by Rotophot, which began publishing “RPH” postcards sometime around 1916. This postcard is part of a series (no 4794/3). The production of film star postcards was continued by the Ross Verlag company who’s origins can be traced back to the earlier Rotophot postcard company. This postcard has a Bavarian stamp and is postmarked from Weilheim, Bavaria.
* The second postcard (Postcard 3) features a real photo portrait of Miss Kolberg. She is dressed in a more subdued fashion in this photograph than in the first postcard. She is wearing “every day” clothing compared to the high fashion, attention grabbing style seen in the first postcard. In this photo, Ally is posed clasping her hands and looking dreamingly toward heaven. The backdrop behind her could be viewed as sky. As in the first postcard, Miss Kolberg is quite beautiful. This postcard was also, like the first, published by Rotophot and has the “RPH” logo. The message on the reverse of the postcard dates the card to 1913. This date is a bit earlier than when some sources believe RPH began publishing postcards. The sources are close, but incorrect. This postcard was part of a series (no. 3697/5). (SOLD)
* Ally Kolberg is the subject of this third vintage real photo postcard (Postcard 4). Miss Kolberg’s beauty is apparent in this photograph. She is wearing a long translucent veil and an alluring smile. The stamp box of this postcard has an interesting story. “NBC” (Neue Bromsilber Convention) was a price cartel established in 1909 that continued until the 1930’s. The purpose of the cartel was to ensure that the minimum price charged for postcards was kept at a sufficiently profitable level. A number of postcard publishing companies joined the cartel in an effort to stave off the effect of competition on the pricing of postcards. This postcard is part of a series (no. 119/1). The logo for the motion picture company “Film Sterne” can be seen in the lower left hand corner of the postcard. The photo studio that took this photograph was Becker & Maas. The firm was located in Berlin, Germany. (SOLD)
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3019
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The beautiful actress pictured in these two real photo postcards is Nancy Carroll (1903-1965). Miss Carroll’s parents were Irish and she was born and raised in New York City. She left school at age sixteen to work as a stenographer for a lace manufacturing company. She and her sister participated in an amateur talent show. They performed a dance routine. She must have caught the acting bug because after this performance, she began pursuing a stage and screen career. She began her acting career in Broadway musicals. The IDBD lists Nancy Carroll as appearing in five Broadway productions between 1923 and 1948. Her musical background made her a successful “talkies” actress. She performed in movie musical in the 1930’s. Her movie debut was in “Ladies Must Dress” (1927). It seem 1928 was a busy year for Nancy Carroll. During that year she made eight films and one of them, “Easy Come, Easy Go” propelled her to stardom. Her costars over her career included George Bancroft, Cary Grant, and Randolph Scott. Carroll was under contract to Paramount Pictures and their relationship was stormy. She often refused roles the studio offered her and her reputation became damaged. She was seen as stubborn and uncooperative. Carroll was successful in light comedies, melodramas, and musicals and appreciated by critics and fans. In fact, during the early 1930’s she received more fan mail than any other star. Despite all these positives, Paramount released her from her contract. In the mid 1930’s she joined Columbia Pictures stable of performers but made four not very successful films and became a film actress no longer in demand. In 1938 she retired from films and returned to stage and starred in an early television series in 1950. She died of an aneurysm in 1965.
Postcard 1 was published by Ross Verlag (c.late 1920’s) as part of the luxus klasse (luxory class) series. It bears the logo of Paramount Pictures which indicates that the photograph was taken during Carroll’s stint with that studio. The postcard is part of a series (no.535). (SOLD).
Postcard 2 bears the logo of Paramount Pictures which indicates that this photograph was taken during Carroll’s stint with that studio. The postcard is part of a series (no.5395/3). SOLD
Nancy Carroll in a scene from the 1930 pre-code film “The Best Of Life” (1930)
This vintage real photo postcard features actress, singer, and comedienne, Miss Edith Fink. Information about Miss Fink is sparse. The website “Find A Grave” provides a bit of information about her life and death. She was born in Nottingham, England, in 1884. She died in Poole, England in 1957. At the time of her passing, her full name was Edith Kate Fink Lashwood. She had been married to George Lashwood (1863-1942). Their marriage took place in 1917. George Lashwood has been described as a “handsome and distinguished” well-dressed singer of popular and patriotic songs. He also appeared in pantomimes and made recordings of many of his songs. Note the purple typed message on the reverse of this postcard. The writer, Louise, tells the reader that Miss Fink is playing Cinderella at the “Prince of Wales Theatre” in London. A faded postmark reveals that this postcard was written and mailed in 1906. This card was published by E. C. Osborne & Son. The firm was located in Birmingham, England. SOLD
Buy this Cabinet Card (includes shipping within the US) #3614
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This vintage real photo postcard features Vera Tschechowa (1940- ), German film actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. The IMDb lists her as having 94 acting credits between 1957 and 1996. She has directed many film stars, including Anthony Quinn and Robert Redford. Vera’s mother was an actress. She is the grandaughter of Russian-American actor Michael Chekhov. She was raised by her grandmother, silent film star Olga Tschechowa (1897-1980). A photograph of Olga Tschechowa can be found elsewhere in the Cabinet Card Gallery collection. Vera Tschechowa certainly has had a very impressive career in films. This postcard was published by Kolibri. This postcard has album residue on it’s reverse. The card is in overall good condition (see scans).
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) 3601
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This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of actress Dolores Mac Lean. Her beauty is captured in this hand tinted photograph taken by the renowned photographer, Leopold Reutlinger. His studio was located in Paris, France. This card was published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France and was part of a series (no. 1187). SOLD
This vintage postcard features stage actress, Miss May Taverner. Information about this early nineteenth century stage actress is not easily accessible. Deeper research will be needed to uncover biographical information about her life. Taverner was a successful enough actress to have seven of her portraits in the National Portrait Gallery. I found a vintage photo postcard of Miss Taverner and Marion Terry as they appeared in the play “Quality Street”. The play, a comedy, was written by “Peter Pan” writer, J. M. Barrie. The original production, on Broadway, opened in 1901 and ran for 64 performances. In 1902, the London production of Quality Street became a hit. It ran for 459 performances. Headlining the cast was Seymour Hicks and Ellaline Terriss. It appears that Taverner had a minor role. The photographer cited on this postcard is from the “Biograph Studio). This card is part of the “Wrench Series (no.4703)”. Why is the word “Wrench” meaning in this context? The series is named after (John) Evelyn Leslie Wrench. The series was published from 1900 through 1906. Wrench went on to become a newspaperman. He was knighted in 1932.This postcard has a 1904 English postmark. The message on the card is interesting. The writer indicates that she is sending this card for the addressees postcard collection. This postcard is in fair condition and priced accordingly. Note the stain on the left margin of the card. See scans for condition.
Buy this original Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3593
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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3593
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This vintage real photo postcard features Miss Mabel Hirst. She was a stage and film actress. She was in just one film, “Then You’ll Remember Me” (1918). Interestingly, the film was directed by a woman, Edith Mellor. However, misogyny was the name of the game in 1918, and Miss Mellor was credited as Edward Waltyre. As a stage actress, Hirst’s productions included “The Cingale” (1904), The Merry Widow (1910), and “The Marriage Market” (1913). Surprisingly, my preliminary research yielded scant biographical information about Miss Hirst. I found one postcard that featured Mabel Hirst posed with her sister, Elizabeth Hirst, and her brother, Tom Hirst. Tom wore a military unifrom in the portrait and unfortunately, he was killed in World War I. Mabel died at age 49 in Ontario, Canada. This vintage postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no.1739 C). Her portrait was taken by Play Pictorial. “Play Pictorial” was an English theatre magazine published in London between 1902 and 1939.The publication provided a pictorial presentation of West End theatrical productions with each issue focusing on just one play. The card was mailed in 1906. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 (#3319) 
Postcard 3 (SOLD)
Postcard 4 (SOLD)
Postcard 2
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POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
Postcard 2 (SOLD)
