This Cabinet card is an image of Sir Charles Skelton. Research about this interesting man reveals that his name shows up in all sorts of places. He was a busy man with many interests. He died in 1913 after suffering a stroke. He was considered a modern puritan. He was very engaged in and financially supportive of the Methodist New Connexion Body in Sheffield, England. He was also very active in the big spending highway committee of the Sheffield City Council. He was a major proponent of the use of granite in highway and transportation construction. This was a controversial issue and a anti-granite association was formed to oppose him. In 1895, he became Mayor of Sheffield. In 1897, during a visit from Queen Victoria, Skelton was knighted. Sir Charles Skelton is cited in many varied publications. In 1897, he was mentioned by the British Medical Journal as active in advocating the study and eradication of Tuberculosis. In 1904, The Zoophilist and Animals Defender, reports that Skelton was an active advocate of the antivivisection organization. (Vivisection is conducting surgery on animals for simply experimental purposes). Skelton was a man before his time; if alive today he would be anti animal testing and a member of PETA. It is written that “he was one of the really big men of the City” who was known for his integrity, thoroughness, and “unswerving honesty of purpose”. The man was a non conformist; he opposed militarism (the boer war), and was a teetotaller and opposed liquor traffic. The photographer of this image is J. Crosby of Rotherham, England. Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire. Rotherham and Sheffield are about four miles apart. The reverse of this card has an inscription stating “Uncle Sir Charles Skelton”. (SOLD)
SIR CHARLES SKELTON: MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
ALEXANDRA CARLISLE : SHAKESPEARE : BROADWAY : SUFFRAGETTE : COOLIDGE NOMINATOR
POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
Postcard 1 features pretty stage and film actress Alexandra Carlisle (1886-1936). She is wearing a feathered hat and a sullen expression. Carlisle was an English actress as well as a suffragest. She was born in England. In 1903 she performed in two Shakespearian productions. In 1908, she performed the lead role in “The Mollusc” at the Garrick Theatre. IN 1908 she appeared in two productions of Shakespeare plays produced by Herbert Beerbohm Tree. In 1911, she acted in a Royal Command Performance for King George V and the Emperor and Empress of Germany. In 1912, she married for the third time. Her new husband was a dental surgeon from the US and in 1915 she settled there. She quickly became a noted speaker for women’s suffrage and for the Republican Party. In 1920, she directed a show for Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Club. Also in 1920, she was the main speaker for Massachusetts at the Republican Convention and she seconded the nomination of Calvin Coolidge for Vice President. Carlisle performed in two films (1917,1934). She was an active Broadway performer; performing in 17 Broadway productions between 1908 and 1936. The writer of this postcard mentions Miss Carlisle. She states that “we saw A. C. in Earl of Pawtucket”. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no. 4073 H). Carlisle’s phototgraph was taken by Dover Street Studios. The postcard is postmarked 1907 and has a British stamp. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 also features pretty stage and film actress Alexandra Carlisle. She is wearing a hair ornament and a half smile. This postcard was published by Aristophot as part of a series (no.E1556). Carlisle’s photograph was taken by Dover Street Studios. The postcard is unused, hand tinted, and is of the embossed style. This postcard is beautifully colored and in very good condition. (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2
ADORABLE DOG SITTING ON A FENCE : JACK RUSSELL TERRIER NAMED SPOT : RPPC
This vintage real photo postcard features an adorable Jack Russell terrier. The dog may be a different breed, or even a mixed breed, but certainly has the appearance of a Jack Russell terrier. Writing on the reverse of the card reveals that the dog’s name is “Spot” and that the dog belongs to someone named “Tom”. This postcard was printed in Great Britain and the photo of the dog is by Horace Dudley. (SOLD)

ISABEL JAY : PRETTY ENGLISH OPERA SINGER AND ACTRESS

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2
POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)
These vintage real photo postcards feature English opera singer and actress, Isabel Jay (1879-1927). She was well known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and in Edwardian musical comedies. Isabel was a very active performer during the time picture postcard collecting was at it’s peak. She was photographed for more than 400 different postcards. There was great demand for cards with her image. Isabel studied piano and voice at the Royal Academy of Music prior to joining the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1897. She immediately was given principal singing roles and by 1899, she became the company’s leading soprano. Some of her comic opera leading roles included “The Rose of Persia”, “The Pirates of Penzance”, and the “Emerald Isle”. In 1902 she left the company after getting married. Her groom was African explorer and soldier, Henry Shepherd Cavendish and the pair were divorced by 1906. I guess Cavendish really was an explorer. Isabel was the first of his five wives. Settling down was apparently not in Mr Cavendish’s repetoire. The West End stage beckoned Jay in 1903. She starred in eleven musicals until retiring in 1911 at 31 years of age. She sang before King Edward Vll and Queen Alexandra in 1905. The Queen gave her a brooch. Isabel was born in London. Her father was an insurance officer. Her great-grandfather was a musician and composer associated with the Royal Academy of Music. She gave musical recitals by the time she was twelve years old. Isabel made a number of recordings between 1900 and 1906. Most of the songs were from her early musical comedies. Her vocal ability was considered top notch. It was thought that she could have sung Grand Opera, if that was her desire. In 1927, she died at age 47 in Monte Carlo in while on a cruise with her second husband, Frank Curzon. He was a successful actor and theatre manager. Curzon served as a mentor to Isabel.
Postcard 1 was published by Rotary Photo. The card is a part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 4832 A). The photo was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio from the 1900’s through the 1920’s. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).
Postcard 2 was published by Rotary Photo. This image captures Jay in her role in “Miss Hook of Holland”. The card is a part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no.4417C). The photo was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio from the 1900’s through the 1920’s. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).
Postcard 3 was published by Rotary Photo. The card is a part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no.4417O). The photo was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. SOLD
PORTRAIT : PRETTY ACTRESS COLETTE BRETTL : FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHER SUSE BYK : (RPPC)
This postcard features pretty British film actress, Colette Brettl (also Brettel) (1902-1973). She made her film debut in Wuthering Heights (1920). After appearing in several British films in the early 1920’s, she moved to Germany and appeared in films there until the advent of sound movies. She was married to Dutch actor, Ernst Winar. The photograph that graces this card was taken by Sus Byk in Berlin, Germany. She was a highly respected photographer. She was a member of the Photographic Association of Berlin and in 1913, she attended the first conference of German Women Photographers at the Berlin Women’s Club. At some time in the 1910’s, she succeeded famed photographer Ernst Sandau at his studio. She trained photographers Martha Maas and Lore Feininger. In 1927, Byk married philosopher and playwright Hellmuth Falkenfeld. In 1938, the couple were forced to flee Berlin due to Nazi anti-semitism. Byk and her husband emigrated to New York via Rotterdam and London. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.3199/7). (SOLD)

MABEL RUSSELL BRITISH ACTRESS AND THIRD FEMALE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

These vintage real photo postcards feature actress Miss Mabel Russell (1886-1951). She was also known as Mrs Hilton Philipson when off the stage. Russell was a British actor and politician. She was a gaiety girl and starred in many London plays. She left acting to marry politician, Hilton Philipson, in 1917. Mabel caught the political bug and became the third woman to take a seat in the House of Commons. She was quiet on the floor of the house but was active behind the scenes. One of her bills led to the 1927 Nursing Home Registration Act. After retiring in 1929, she returned to acting for a brief period by left the theatre to focus on her family.
Postcard 1 was published by Tucks as part of the “Celebrities of the Stage” series (No.T 718). Miss Russell’s photo portrait was taken by Dover Street Studios. This postcard was postmarked in 1907. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 captures Miss Russell playing “Forbidden Fruit” in the Chinese Comic Opera “See See” (1906). The production ran in London’s Prince of Wales Theatre for 330 performances. This postcard was published by Tucks as part of the “Celebrities of the Stage” series (No.T 713). Miss Russell’s photo portrait was taken by Dover Street Studios. This postcard was postmarked in 1908. (SOLD)
Postcard 3 captures Miss Russell in her role in “Jack and Jill”. The “Bystander” magazine reported her appearance in that production in 1907, the same year as the card is postmarked. The actress was about 21 years old when this postcard photo was taken. The postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.4839R). (SOLD)



TESSIE HACKNEY : BRITISH STAGE ACTRESS : PHOTO BY RITA MARTIN : (1907)
This vintage real photo postcard features English musical comedy actress, Tessie Hackney (1885-1967). Tessie was the daughter of a butcher. In 1913, she married a Commander in the Royal Navy. She played important roles in “The New Aladdin” (1906), “The Girls of Gottenberg” (1907), “The Hon’ble Phi”l (1908), and “A Persian Princess” (1909). Her sister, Mary Hackney, was also a musical comedy performer. There are two photographs of Tessie Hackney in Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. In one of these images, Hackney appears in the same costume as the one she wears in this postcard. The portrait of Miss Hackney seen on this postcard was taken by famed female celebrity photographer, Rita Martin. SOLD

ADRIENNE AUGARDE : POPULAR ACTRESS IN BRITAIN & US : RPPC : (1906)

This vintage real photo postcard features English actress and singer, Adrienne Augarde (1882-1913). She was born in London. Her father was a violinist and her mother was a Belgian singer. Augarde had several other members of her extended family who were successful theatrical or music performers. Her popularity transcended beyond Great Britain to include the United States. In fact, she appeared in four Broadway plays between 1905 and 1912. These plays included “The Dollar Princess” (1909) which ran for 250 performances. She was most known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedy. Augarde started her career at age sixteen. She did pantomine and appeared in small roles in musical comedy and opera. Her popularity began with her playing leading roles in the musicals of George Edwardes. She then starred in a number of long running productions in both London and New York (1903-1912). While on a Vaudeville tour in the US, she became ill and died after an unsuccessful appendectomy. She was thirty years of age at the time of her death. She died in Chicago. Her ashes were put in an urn designed to look like a make-up box. Her cremains were sent to her mother in England. This card was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (No.4158B). The photograph was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. The postcard has a 1906 postmark. (SOLD)

















POSTCARD 1
Postcard 2 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 1

