This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of a young woman wearing a large, bizarre, decorative hat. This is a studio photo and likely one of a kind. The photograph was taken by the Goulley studio in Paris, France. SOLD

This vintage real photo postcard features a portrait of a young woman wearing a large, bizarre, decorative hat. This is a studio photo and likely one of a kind. The photograph was taken by the Goulley studio in Paris, France. SOLD

This cabinet card photograph features a portrait of French stage actress, Jeanne Samary (1857-1890). Samary was born into a family of artists. Her father was a cellist at the Paris Opera and she had two aunts and a grandmother who were actresses at the the Comedie-Francaise. At age fourteen, she entered the Conservatoire and in three years later, won the first prize for comedy. She made her debut at the Comedie-Francaise in 1874. She is not as well known for her acting as for her posing for several portraits by Pierre Auguste Renoir. She was his model between 1877 and 1880. She appeared in Renoir’s painting, “Le Dejeuner des canotiers” (Luncheon of the Boating Party). Samary was an actress who was perceived as a woman “of the people”. She could not get major roles on the stage. She played minor roles and often was cast as a maid. Samary wanted to be a famous actress but instead is famous for being one of Renoir’s models. This photograph of Samary was taken by the W. & D. Downey studio (London). SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features actress Elisabeth Manet. Manet was born in Paris, France, in 1934. She is remembered for “Young Girls Beware” (1957) and “The Mirror has Two Faces” (1958). He IMDb filmography includes six credits between 1955 and 1959. SOLD




This French vintage risque real photo postcard features a pretty young woman modeling for an artist. This photograph is meant to titillate. The young woman is scantily dressed and showing much of her bare legs. One side of the hem of her undergarment is lifted. The model is displaying an alluring expression. The artist appears to be intensely concentration on his painting. He is holding a brush and palette. Some of the artist’s work is strewn on the floor. This risque photographic portrait was published by celebrated photographer, Jean Agelou (1878-1921), as part of a series (No.089). Agelou was a French photographer of the 1910’s and 1920’s who is best known for his erotic and nude photographs. He was born in Egypt and not much is known about his private life. Agelou generally used models between the age of 20 and 24 years-old. Although the 1900’s was the “golden age” of erotic photograph, photographers who took such risque photos had to use discretion. As a result, Agelou signed his work “JA”. In 1908, nudity in photographs was banned in France and photographers had to cover nude women images with strategically placed undergarments or other materials. Nude images had to circulate on the down low. They were sent in the mail inside of envelopes. Jean Agelou died in 1921; the result of a car accident. His brother George, who managed Jean’s business, also was killed in the crash. SOLD

This vintage real photo postcard features French opera singer, Suzanne Balguerie (1888-1973). She is considered one of the best sopranos performing between the two World Wars. She studied singing at the Conservatoire de Paris. Her debut was at the Opera-Comique in 1921. She received rave reviews. She made a career at the Opera-Comique. When the Nazis occupied France during World War II, there was little opportunity for her to work and she became impoverished. She retired in 1950 and in 1953 she became a professor at the Conservatories in Grenoble and Geneva. For an unknown reason, she did not pursue an international opera career. Mlle Balquerie’s photo portrait seen on this postcard was taken by esteemed photographer, Henri Manuel. The card was published by Alfred Noyer (Paris, France). (SOLD)

This vintage real photo postcard features French actress Veronique Zuber (1936-). Her beauty was recognized when she was selected Miss Paris (1954) and Miss France (1955). She became a movie actress, but her career was short lived. She dropped her career when she married French fashion designer, Ted Lapidus. She later divorced Lapidus and married Prince Georges de Bibikoff. The IMDB lists six films in her filmography. The movies were produced between 1956 and 1959. This postcard was edited by P. I. Kores as part of a series (No. 861). Miss Zuber’s photograph was taken by the Vauclair and Bernard Studio. SOLD

This vintage real photo postcard is part of a series named “Les Plus Belles Femmes de France” (The Most Beautiful Women of France). This series is about the Provinces of France, and the model for this image represents La Francomtoise. This postcard is number 19 in the series. There were a number of different series published. The Province series was one of the more popular series. The models in this series represent different French Provinces and wear traditional clothing from that particular area of the country.This postcard was published by well known photographer Alfred Noyer. The celebrated photographer supervised a large photo studio in Paris. The Noyer Studio operated from 1910 until the 1940’s. Many of his early postcards were reproductions of artworks. He also produced illustrated patriotic postcards during World War I. With the onset of the 1920’s he began producing postcards of children and women. Many of the postcards he produced of women were nudes or risque images. Some of his postcards list his name while others are simply marked “AN”. The photographer of this postcard portrait is Jean Agelou (1878-1921). Agelou was a French photographer of the 1910’s and 1920’s who is best known for his erotic and nude photographs. He was born in Egypt and not much is known about his private life. Agelou generally used models between the age of 20 and 24 years-old. He had a favorite model. Her name was “Fernande” and in addition to modeling, she was Agelou’s lover. Her full name was Fernande Barrey (1893-1960). She was a prostitute by trade. She also modeled for for painters (Amadeo Modigliani and Chaim Soutine). Fernande later became a painter. Although the 1900’s was the “golden age” of erotic photograph, photographers who took such risque photos had to use discretion. As a result, Agelou signed his work “JA”. In 1908, nudity in photographs was banned in France and photographers had to cover nude women images with strategically placed undergarments or other materials. Nude images had to circulate on the down low. They were sent in the mail inside of envelopes. Fernande remained popular and her erotic photographs were enjoyed by soldiers on both sides during World War I. Jean Agelou died in 1921; the result of a car accident. His brother George, who managed Jean’s business, also was killed in the crash. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features three adorable young girls posed for a religious ceremony, probably their first communion. They are beautifully dressed for their special day. Their dresses are identical. These girls are likely triplets. They are identified on the reverse of the postcard. The girl in the center is holding rosary beads. All three of the children are wearing necklaces. This postcard has the photographers stamp on it’s reverse. The stamp reveals that the photograph was taken at a private studio in Paris, France. The photo was taken at the Groysillier studio. SOLD
