The subject of this vintage real photo postcard is theatre actress, Suzy Mabel. I was unable to find much biographical information about this pretty young woman with an enticing smile. The magazine, “Navy and Army” (1905) published a full page spread of Miss Mabel. The article included four photographs of Miss Mabel. One of those photographs was identical to the photo above. A caption beneath the images reads “One of the most popular of the young actresses now appearing at La Scala, Paris”. Le Concert de La Scala was built in 1873 and was one of the most famous cafe-concert halls of the Belle Epoque. The portrait of Suzy Mabel seen on this postcard was photographed by Lucien Walery. He was a celebrated Paris photographer known for his portraits of artists and cabaret dancers from the city’s music halls. He is noted for his portraits of Mata Hari and Josephine Baker. Walery did a lot of work in the genre of nude/erotic photography. He photographed the beautiful women of Paris between the early 1900’s and the 1920’s. This postcard was postmarked in 1907. The card was published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France, as part of a series (no. 5087). SOLD
This french vintage real photo postcard is a wonderful example of Alfred Noyer’s work photographing nude, or partially clad, beautiful women. Noyer was a well known and acclaimed photographer. His Paris studio operated between 1910 and the 1940’s. Many of the postcards he produced featured nudes or risque images. This photo portrait postcard is part of a series (no.9517). SOLD
This vintage photograph features a pretty young woman in a risque pose and wearing risque clothing. She is wearing a hat, gloves, and is holding a purse. She seems to be going somewhere but she forgot to finish getting dressed. The previous owner of this photograph thought the photographer of the image may have been the Biederer studio. I have no supporting evidence confirming his hypotheses. The Biederer brothers were major figures in photography so their story is worth telling. The studio was operated by Jacpues Biederer (1887-1942) and his brother Charles Biederer (1892-1942) during the Art deco era. Their studio was in Paris, France. Their photographs of the 1920’s and 1930’s included artistic nudes and sexual fetish studies. Their topics included erotic corporal punishment, costumed role play and images of bondage. Their postcards were signed as “JB” “B” ,”Ostra”, or a question mark in a triangle. When Germany occupied France during World War ll, the Nazis sent the brothers to a concentration camp (Auschwitz-Birkenau). Their crime was their Judaism. Their punishment was death. This vintage photo measures about 3 3/8″ x 5 3/8″ and is in very good condition.
A young Moorish woman is the subject of this vintage ethnographic photogravure postcard. The Moors were Muslim people of the mixed Berber and Arabs inhabiting Northwest Africa. This postcard is from circa (1900-1909). It is from a series, “Scenes et Types (no. 1004)”. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty nude woman She is delicately reaching for a conch shell. This tastefully done image was published by well known photographer Alfred Noyer as part of a series (No. 4136). 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”. This photo postcard is in very good condition (see scans). 
A pretty young topless woman sits in deep thought. She is holding a tambourine. Her facial tatoos, headdress and jewelry reflect her Moroccan culture. Some viewers of this postcard believe that the woman is a prostitute. It is likely that these observers are correct. Her nudity and the popularity in Europe of photo portraits of prostitutes in less developed countries, provides supporting evidence that she is indeed a sex worker. This is an ethnographic postcard. Buying or sending a risque photo postcards was more acceptable if the card provided a look at a people from different cultures. This postcard is part of a series (no. 92). The photo was taken by Marcelin Flandrin (1889-1957). Flandrin moved to Morocco in 1901 and volunteered for the military in 1912. He served as an Army photographer. Around this time, Morocco came under French rule. He corroborated with the French government and tourist boards. He was very involved with the French Protectorate government. Flandrin was criticized by some Moroccans for reinforcing “Orientalist” stereotypes . During the Rif War (Spain vs. Berber tribes), he published a number of reports. During World War I he served in the Air Force as an air observer, taking aerial photos of fighting. After the war he moved to Casablanca and went to work taking many photographs between 1921 and 1930. He published many photo books about Morocco. Flandrin was also an important postcard publisher in Morocco. The Cabinet Card Gallery blog includes another postcard by Flandrin. This photo postcard captures a group of prostitutes in Casablanca (Morocco). You can view this postcard by placing the name “Flandrin” in the search box. The postcard above, is in very good condition (see scans).
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 