This vintage real photo postcard features a Black Woman in her dance costume. She is an unusual costume and she is lifting her skirt in a risque manner. The woman has a pretty smile. SOLD
TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN STANDING ON A BRICK WALL : WELL DRESSED: RPPC 1904-1918
This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of two young African American men posed standing on a brick wall. The dapper men are well dressed, wearing a suit and tie. Note the men’s hats. It is presumed that these men are African American because this postcard was found in the US. However, it is possible that the men are actually from somewhere other than America. It would certainly be interesting to know why these men seem to be in the middle of nowhere standing on a wall. There are bricks behind them which may indicates that the men are at a construction site or perhaps, at the location of a destroyed building. The AZO stamp box on this card indicates that the postcard dates back to between 1918 and 1930. (SOLD)
DOROTHY DANDRIDGE : AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS & SINGER & ACTIVIST : TAMANGO : RPPC
This vintage real photo postcard features African American actress and singer, Dorothy Dandridge (1922-1965). She was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Her mother was an entertainer and her father was a cabinet maker and Baptist minister. Before Dorothy was born, her parents separated. Ruby’s mom built a song and dance act for Dorothy and her sister. Her mom’s lover managed the act and it is written that the children were given abusive discipline. They toured continuously for five years and they barely attended school. When the depression hit, Ruby moved her girls to Hollywood, California. Before long, the sisters teamed up with school mate Etta Jones to do a dance act called “The Dandridge Sisters”. The act did well for several years and played in venues such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater. Dorothy’s first screen appearance occurred when she was 13 in an episode of “Our Gang”. This was followed by a number of other screen roles including an appearance in “A Day at the Races” (1937) with the Marx Brothers. Her firs credited film role was in 1940. Her film roles were limited because she rejected many stereotypical black roles. In the 1940’s she appeared in both film and on the stage. She also performed as a singer in films with Count Basie and Louis Armstrong. Her first starring role was in “Bright Road” (1952) where she played opposite Harry Belafonte. In 1954, she starred in “Carmen Jones”. She received great reviews and the movie made her one of Hollywood’s first African American sex symbols and she was featured on a number of national magazine covers. In addition, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. In 1957, she appeared in the film “Island in the Sun” in which she was involved in an interracial love affair with a white man. The script had to be revised a number of times because of the Motion Picture Production Code. The movie was controversial but received positive reviews and was successful. The IMDb credits Dandridge with 39 films between 1935 and 1962. She was politically active and was involved with the National Urban League and the NAACP. Dandridge was married and divorced twice and had a four year affair with director, Otto Preminger. Toward the end of her career, she discovered that her financial advisors had stolen much of her money and she owed over 100,00 dollars in back taxes. Her finances were in shambles and she had to move into a small apartment. In 1965, she had a phone conversation with a friend in which she made cryptic remarks intimating that her time left on earth might be short lived. The next day she was found dead in her apartment. There were two investigation into the cause of her death. One concluded she died of an accidental overdose of an anti-depressant. The other investigation determined she died of an embolism. This postcard features Dorothy Dandridge in the film “Tamango” (1959). The film tells the story of a rebellion on a Dutch slave ship. The actor standing behind Dandridge is Alex Cressan, who played the leader of the rebellion. Cressan only appeared in this one film. When he was cast in the film, he was a medical student in Martinique. Cressan received good reviews for his acting in this film. How he lived his life after this film is unknown. This real photo postcard was published by Progress Starfoto. (SOLD)
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN : SLAVE OR FORMER SLAVE OR FREE WOMAN : CARTE DE VISITE
This carte de visite portrait features an African American woman. The woman is either a slave, former slave, or a free woman at the time of this photograph. The cdv image was taken sometime between the pre civil war period and shortly after the conclusion of the civil war. Her hat indicates that she is wearing her Sunday best but she is also wearing an apron. Was she “kitchen help”? This photograph is an excellent remnant of American and African American history. The image brings up thoughts about one of America’s most shameful periods in it’s history. (SOLD)
HANDSOME AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN IN WARRENSBURG, MISSOURI
A handsome young African American man poses for his portrait at the Wadell & Moody Studio in Warrensburg, Missouri. The gentleman is very well dressed and has an appearance of confidence. His identity is unknown. SOLD
FIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS : DRESS UNIFORMS : WORLD WAR II : VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH
This vintage photograph features five African American US soldiers wearing their dress uniforms. They are World War II era soldiers. Note the aviator sun glasses worn by the soldier at the furthest left side of the image. This photograph is almost certainly one-of-a-kind. The photograph measures about 5 x 7 inches. (SOLD)
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN : NICELY DRESSED : CINCINNATI, OHIO : RENSLER’S STUDIO
This vintage postcard features a portrait of an attractive African American woman. She stands behind a wall topped by a vase of flowers. She is wearing a shiny fabric dress and earrings. She looks regal. Her portrait was taken by Renslers studio, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to one historical Cincinnati blog, Rensler’s was one of the few photo studios in Cincinnati that accepted African American clients. The studio operated for 83 years and shut down in 1989. The AZO stamp box on this card indicates that the postcard dates back to between 1918 and 1930. SOLD
TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN BROTHERS : LOVELY VINTAGE PORTRAIT : ROSEBUD, TEXAS
This vintage photograph features two African American brothers. They are identified as Bennie and Willie McCullugh. The 1900 US Census finds the two brothers living in Milam, Texas with their parents and seven siblings. In total, the children in the household numbered nine (five boys and four girls). The father in the family was a farmer and both Bennie and Willie later became farmers. At the time of the census, Bennie was 17 years old and Willie was 16. The photographer of this photo is E. M. Shepperd. His studio was located in Rosebud, Texas. (SOLD)
EVA WITHERS SITS: PORTRAIT OF A LOVELY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN (VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARD)
A lovely African American woman poses for her portrait as she sits in a wicker chair. She is wearing a long coat and a white hat. She is wearing a ring on the middle finger of her right hand. She does not look particularly comfortable in front of the camera. In fact, she looks a bit apprehensive or afraid. The photographer and the location of the studio are unknown. The woman’s name is written on the reverse of the postcard. Research found too many women named “Eva Withers” which prohibited positive identification of the woman in this photo. Therefore, biographical information about Miss/Mrs Withers is unobtainable. This vintage real photo postcard has an “AZO” stamp box which indicates it was produced between 1918 and 1930.
TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN : PHOTO STUDIO BACK DROP : VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH
This vintage photograph features two African American men posting at an unidentified studio. Note the backdrop behind them. The men are well-dressed and both are wearing hats. The photograph measures about 3 x 5 inches. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 