POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
These vintage real photo postcards feature 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.
Postcard 1 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)
Postcard 2 features Mara posed in a risque dynamic and theatrical stance, holding a tambourine aloft with both hands. She is dressed in a flowing layered skirt with pointed fabric panels, a midriff-baring top adorned with strands of beads, and numerous bangles and jewelry. Her footwear consists of strapped dance shoes, complementing her lively pose. Her playful smile and expressive gaze capture both glamour and motion, giving the portrait a sense of performance frozen in time. The photograph was taken by Atelier Balázs, Berlin, and published by Ross Verlag (No. 1740/4), one of the most prominent publishers of cinema postcards in Germany. The image is associated with a Zelnik Film production, as noted in the lower right corner. (SOLD)
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