Original undivided-back theatrical postcard, printed in Germany/Austria for the European markets, ca. 1900–1905. Studio portrait of a pretty female performer in trouser-role/musketeer costume—small plumed hat, velvet tunic with braid, lace cuffs, short skirt, thigh-high boots, and a rapier. Multilingual back (German “Postkarte,” “Weltpostverein,” French, Italian, Russian, etc.) confirms early Continental printing for export; publisher and photographer uncredited, as issued. (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 2
POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)
These vintage real photo postcards feature German actress, screenwriter, and producer; Lotte Neumann (1896-1977). She was active in the film industry between 1912 and 1958. Neumann was born in Berlin, Germany. At age 13, she took vocal training and acting lessons. She also studied dance and piano. Neumann also sang in two choirs. She originally desired to be a singer but after some advice from Max Mack, a German screenwriter, silent film producer and director; she chose to pursue a career in film. She made her debut in a short silent film, “Whims of Fate” (1912). Neumann became a popular actress in Germany. In 1917 she began acting in films which she produced herself. She established her own film company (Lotte-Neumann-Film-GmbH) which operated between 1916 and 1919. In 1919, she began working for UFA, a major German film producer and distributor that was active between 1917 through the end of World War II. In 1920 she starred in two films directed by Ernst Lubitsch. He was a German born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. It was prestigious for Neumann to appear in his productions. She remained popular through the 1920’s but her career declined with the advent of sound film. This was a dreaded fate suffered by many actors and actresses during the transition to talkies. Her final screen appearance was in 1931. After retiring from acting she continued to write screenplays and partnered with her her husband, Walter Wassermann, in creative endeavors. They worked together from 1935 until his death in 1944. The IMDb reports that Neumann appeared in 69 films, wrote 24 films, and produced 14 films. Neumann’s film career accomplishments are very impressive.
Postcard 1 was published by Film-Sterne as part of a series (no.194/1). The photographer of Miss Neumann’s photo was the Becker & Maass studio in Berlin. The message on the reverse of the postcard was written in 1918. 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 in fair condition. Please note that there are two very thin creases located on the left and center bottom of the card. The photo postcard is priced accordingly.
Postcard 2 was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin) as part of a series (no.339/2). The photographer of Miss Neumann’s photo was the Becker & Maass studio in Berlin. Note the Maxim Film logo in the bottom right hand corner of the image. This postcard is in very good condition.
Postcard 3 was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin, Germany) as part of a series (No.338/1). A logo for Maxim Films can be seen in the lower right hand corner of the image. Neumann must have been under contract with Maxim when this portrait was taken. The photographer of Miss Neumann’s photo was the Becker & Maass studio in Berlin. This postcard was likely published circa 1918. 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. SOLD
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #6031
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$10.00
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #6031
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$22.00
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5304
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$14.00
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #5304
To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below
$26.00
POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 2
POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
Postcard 1 features German actress, Brigitte Helm (1908-1996). The postcard captures Miss Helm taking a photograph with a camera on a tripod. Photographs of photographers in action are quite collectible. Now, back to Brigitte Helm. She is best known for her dual role in Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent film, Metropolis. After “Metropolis” she played in a long string of movies where she typically had the starring role. Helm was typecast as a Vamp or a femme fatale. She was born in Berlin. Her father was a Prussian Army officer. She was interested in acting at an early age and by age 12, was taking lead parts in school plays. At the age of 17, she acted in “Metropolis”. In 1925 she signed a ten year contract with UFA. She performed in both silent films and talkies. Beside “Metopolis” (1927), Helm was best known for “A Daughter of Destiny” (1928), “L’Argent” (1928), and “Alraune” (1929). Helm had an eventful personal life. Helm was involved in several traffic accidents. In fact, she was briefly placed in prison for manslaughter charges. She married industrialist, Dr Hugo Kunheim. The Nazis were not very pleased with her choice in men because Kunheim was Jewish. In 1935, Helm retired and moved with her husband to Switzerland where they started a family. Helm explained her retirement was because of disgust about the Nazi’s taking over the German film industry. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.8486/1). The card has the UFA logo which reveals it was published between 1925 and 1935. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 captures Miss Helm in a beautiful dress that illustrates her nice figure. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.8486/1). The card has the UFA logo which reveals it was published between 1925 and 1935. (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 2
This vintage real photo postcard features German silent film star, Lya Mara (1897-1960). She was born in Latvia. Mara was trained as a ballerina. She was a stage performer before World War I. Her rise to fame was rapid and her career spanned a number of continents. Her first film in Germany was in 1918. It was produced by renowned producer, Frederic Zelnick, whom she married in 1918. Zelnick promoted her into major stardom. Her popularity in film was illustrated by the hundreds of photographs of her produced into postcards, cigarette cards, and trade cards. She had exotic looks, expressive eyes, and ability to convey complex emotions non verbally. These attributes made her perfect for appearing in silent films. In film she displayed a combination of sex appeal and naivety. A serious car accident in the 1920’s interrupted her career. At the end of the 1920’s she appeared in a number of Austrian films. She was unsuccessful in making the transition into sound films. In 1933, with Hitler in power, Zelnick and Mara hightailed it to London. She spent the last years of her life in Switzerland. Her long filmography spans from 1916 to 1931. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.1218/3). Mara’s photograph was taken by Ernst Schneider. He was considered to be one of the most celebrated studio photographers in Berlin during three decades (1900’s, 1910’s, 1920’s. He photographed many celebrities from the world of theater, opera, circuses, and film. He was also one of the most prominent fashion photographers in Berlin. In addition, he was well known for his nude photography and he published books showcasing his work in this domain. Sometime around 1908 Schneider began working with postcard publishers “Rotophot” and “Neue Photographische Gesellschaft” (NPG). In 1919 he began working with Ross Verlag. (SOLD)
This striking 19th-century cabinet card features The Honorable Carl Schurz (1829-1906), a distinguished Civil War general, U.S. Senator, and reform-minded statesman. The photograph was taken at Warren’s Portraits, a prestigious Boston studio located at 465 Washington Street and renowned for its elegant images of notable figures during the late 1800s. In this formal portrait, Schurz is captured in a three-quarter view, seated in a dark, double-breasted coat with a subtle bow tie at his collar. His thick, well-kept beard and wavy hair give him a scholarly yet commanding presence. He gazes slightly to his left, a monocle suspended at his eye—projecting a look of intellectual rigor and seriousness. The background is a simple studio gradient, helping focus all attention on Schurz’s intense expression and refined appearance. On the reverse, the card is elegantly marked with the Warren’s Portraits logo. In pencil is written: “Hon. Carl Schurz,” affirming the identity of the sitter. Carl Schurz was born in Liblar, Prussia (modern-day Germany) in 1829. A revolutionary in his youth, he fought in the 1848 German uprisings, which ultimately failed, forcing him to flee Europe. He emigrated to the United States in 1852, where he quickly became involved in politics and the anti-slavery movement. During the American Civil War, Schurz was appointed brigadier general of Union volunteers by President Lincoln in 1862. He eventually rose to the rank of major general. Though courageous and respected, his battlefield performance received mixed reviews. He fought in key engagements including: the Second Battle of Bull Run (1862), the Battle of Chancellorsville (1863), and the Battle of Gettysburg (1863), where his XI Corps was flanked on the first day. While he was not a professional military man, Schurz’s service was notable for his efforts to advocate for German-American troops and his commitment to the Union cause. He did not have prior military experience in Europe before serving in the U.S. Army. After the war, Schurz enjoyed a long and prominent career in politics. He served as a U.S. Senator from Missouri (1869–1875) and later as Secretary of the Interior under President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881). A staunch advocate of civil service reform and anti-corruption measures, he became one of the leading voices of the Liberal Republican movement. This cabinet card was produced by Warren’s Portraits, one of Boston’s most prominent photography studios in the 19th century. Operated by William Shaw Warren, the studio specialized in elegant, high-quality portraits and was especially known for photographing celebrities, politicians, military figures, and distinguished members of Boston society. Warren’s operated primarily during the 1860s through the 1890s. Warren’s images often feature clean studio backdrops, strong lighting, and detailed retouching, emphasizing refinement and dignity—qualities clearly present in this cabinet card of Carl Schurz. (SOLD)
This is a striking hand-tinted real photo postcard (RPPC) featuring a young actress or performer seated confidently on a chair. The card is part of the NPG (Neue Photographische Gesellschaft) series, serial number 645/2, and dates to 1904. It was printed in Berlin, Germany, as indicated on the reverse. The woman in the image has voluminous, dark, curly hair adorned with colorful ribbons, one pink and one lavender. She wears a bold theatrical costume: a bright turquoise satin dress trimmed with cream-yellow ruffled sleeves and skirt, accented by a vivid red flower at the bodice. The layered ruffles of her skirt spill over her lap, giving her a lively, almost playful stage presence. She sits with her legs crossed, her expression calm and slightly defiant, exuding poise and self-assurance. Her dark stockings and buttoned heels complete the look, emphasizing her identity as a stage performer rather than a conventional society portrait sitter. Neue Photographische Gesellschaft A.G. was a leading German postcard and photographic publishing house active in the early 20th century. The left-side imprint, translated, reads: “Original photograph by NP Steglitz refers to the Berlin district where NPG was located, not the photographer’s surname. On the reverse, the postcard carries a green French stamp, confirming that the card was mailed from France, even though it was printed in Germany. The stamp is from the French “Sower” (La Semeuse) series, first issued in the early 20th century. The message on the card, translated from French reads: “Guess who is sending this to you.” SOLD
This evocative cabinet card photograph captures an intimate and timeless portrait of a young woman and her loyal dog, taken by the studio of Carl Bellach (1848-1920) in Leipzig, Germany. The woman sits gracefully beside her canine companion, her body turned slightly but her gaze directed straight into the camera. Her expression is serene and soft, with a gentle smile that suggests both composure and affection. She wears a dark Edwardian dress with a high collar and a prominent bow at the neck, detailed with fabric-covered buttons along the front and sleeve cuffs. Her hair is styled in soft waves and pulled back, adorned with a ribbon or dark headband, reflecting the elegant fashion of the early 20th century. Next to her sits a beautiful dog, likely a rough-coated Collie or a Border Collie mix, whose thick fur and calm, attentive expression add a warm, personal touch to the image. The dog sits proudly on a patterned upholstered bench, perfectly posed as if aware of the photographic moment. The room in which they are posed is softly lit and richly decorated, with a curio cabinet or sideboard in the background, suggesting a comfortable middle-class home. A framed portrait of a man hangs on the wall—perhaps a family member, adding a sentimental layer to the setting. The overall tone of the photograph is tender and domestic, a quiet glimpse into the bond between human and animal, beautifully preserved. The sepia tones and excellent clarity make this image a fine example of studio portraiture from pre-WWI Germany. The photographer, Carl Bellach, was a known Leipzig studio operator, and his imprint appears in gold at the bottom right corner of the mount. Bellach was also known for being an entomologist (scientific study of insects). (SOLD)
Two young girls pose for a vintage snapshot photograph as they sit on the sand at the beach. One girl has her arm affectionately around the shoulder of the second girl. The recipient of the affection is displaying a sour expression. Are the girls sisters? Could they be close friends? The answer is lost to history. The girls names are written on the reverse of the photo. I can only decipher one of the names. It is “Ingrid”. A stamp on the reverse of the snapshot indicates that the photograph was developed in Dresden, Germany. Dresden is the second largest city in Saxony. It is situated on the banks of the River Elbe. It is near the border of the Czech Republic. There are beaches along the Elbe and perhaps this image captures one of them. SOLD
This vintage press photograph features Crown Prince Wilhelm and his wife, Crown Princess Cecilie. The photo was taken by George Grantham Bain in 1915 and it likely appeared in a number of newspapers.Some readers may be wondering about these Royals. Who are these people? Prince Wilhelm (1882-1951) was the last Crown Prince of Prussia and the German Empire. He married Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1886-1954) in 1905. The pair’s marriage wasn’t rock solid. The Crown Prince had affairs with both American opera singer Geraldine Farrar and dancer Mata Hari. The photographer of this photograph was a pioneer news photographer. George Grantham Bain (1865-1944) was a New York City photographer known as “the father of photographic news”. He was a chemistry graduate of St Louis University and also received a law degree there. He then became a reporter for two St. Louis newspapers in succession and one of his assignments was Washington DC correspondent. He then worked for United Press International and in 1898 started the Bain News Service. Forty thousand of Bain’s glass negatives are in the collection of the Library of Congress. This vintage press photo was published by the Bain News Service. SOLD
Photo of George Grantham Bain
This vintage divided back real photo postcard features a young woman dressed as a Pierrot. Actually, the female version of a Pierrot is “Pierrette”.
The girl’s photo was taken by Hilde u. Clown Sarra Musik-Akt. The publisher of the postcard was Graph. Anstalt, located in Magdburg, Germany. (SOLD)
 | bmarshphd on ANNIE DUNSCOMBE : BURLESQUE AC… |
 | AL Guerra on ANNIE DUNSCOMBE : BURLESQUE AC… |
 | Sarah Wolfmayr on PORTRAIT OF THE PRETTIEST WOMA… |
| bmarshphd on PRETTY WOMAN IN FRILLY CLOTHIN… |
 | Jerry Darrell Guilli… on PRETTY WOMAN IN FRILLY CLOTHIN… |
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 