BEAUTIFUL STAGE ACTRESS DENISE ORME (THREE VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS)

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                                                                            POSTCARD 1

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                                                                              POSTCARD 2

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                                                                                 POSTCARD 3  (SOLD)

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                                                                            POSTCARD 4  (SOLD)

Postcard 1 features stage actress Miss Denise Orme. She is very attractive and beautifully dressed. She is wearing a fur stole and and fur muffs. She has a lovely hat and wonderful smile. Miss Orme’s given name was Jessie Smither, and was later known as Duchess of Leinster. Denise Orme (1885-1960) was an English music hall singer, actress and musician who was a regular performeer at the Alhambra and Gaiety Theatres in London during the early years of the twentieth century. Her mother was a professor of music. She trained for her theatrical career at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. Her stage debut was in 1906 in the chorus at Daly’s Theatre in London. Later that same year she appeared in the title role of “See See” at the Prince of Wales Theatre. In 1906 she participated in gramophone recordings of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”. Her marital history reveals that she had a predilection to choosing husbands that were “rich and famous”. She was married to an English Baron, A Danish millionaire, and an Irish duke. She was the maternal grandmother of Aga Khan IV.who is the current Imam of Nizari Ismailism which is a denomination of of Ismailism within Shia Islam with 15 million adherents. He is also a British business magnate. Miss Orme’s photographic portrait was taken by the Foulsham and Banfield Studio. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio in the 1900’s through the 1920’s. The postcard was published by Rotary Photo and is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (#4098 Q). The postcard has a postmark from London, England, and dated 1907. The postmark date reveals that this portrait of Miss Orme was taken at the beginning of her stage career. In the message section of the postcard, the sender asks the receiver, “What do you think of Denise?”. In addition, the sender asserts on the front of the postcard “Nice hat, isn’t it?”. I have to agree; not only is Miss Orme lovely, so is her hat…….  

Postcard 2 shows the beautiful and well dressed Miss Orme peeking out from behind a curtain. The photographer is Alexander Bassano (1829-1913) who was a leading royal and high society photographer located in London. This postcard, like the first was published by Rotary Photo and is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 1933 I).

Postcard 3 presents a close-up profile view of this stunningly pretty young actress. Like the first two photo postcards, this one is also published by the Rotary Photo company and is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 4098 M). The photograph was taken by “Play Pictorial” which was an English theatre magazine published in London between 1902 and 1939. The publication provided a pictorial presentation of West End theatrical productions with each issue focusing on just one play.  (SOLD)

Postcard 4 presents a close-up profile view of this stunningly pretty young actress. It is published by the Davidson Brothers and is part of the Real Photographic Series (no.1670). The photograph was taken by Alexander Bassano. Bassano  (1829 –1913) was a leading royal and high society photographer in Victorian London.  (SOLD)

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REVERSE OF FIRST POSTCARD

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REVERSE OF SECOND POSTCARD

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REVERSE OF THIRD POSTCARD

REVERSE OF POSTCARD 4

Published in: on May 11, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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JULIA JAMES : BEAUTIFUL STAGE ACTRESS : EIGHT PORTRAITS

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 4 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 5 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 6 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 7 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 8 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 9 (SOLD)

Postcard 1 features Julia James (1890-19F64), a beautiful stage actress. She appears in costume from the show “The Joy Ride Lady”. The play appeared in a London’ West End theater in about 1914.  She sat in 76 portraits that are part of England’s National Portrait Gallery. She is considered by one theatrical writer to be among the top fifteen most beautiful actresses of the 1900’s Edwardian era. She was born in London, England and began her career as a chorus girl at the Aldwych Theatre under Seymour Hicks. She played in “Blue Belle” in 1905. She appeared in productions at the Gaiety Theatre. These plays included “The Girls of Gottenburg”, “Havana”, and  “Our Miss Gibbs”. She performed in Paris in “The Arcadians” (1913). This Rotary Photo postcard was printed in Great Britain. The postcard is part of a series (no.6928F). The photographers of this image are from the Foulsham and Barfield studio.  (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was published by Beagles and was printed in Great Britain. The postcard is part of a series (no.340N). The photographer of this image is esteemed celebrity photographer, Rita Martin.  (SOLD)

Postcard 3 was published by Beagles and printed in Great Britain. The card has a 1917 postmark. The postcard is part of a series (no.340S). The photographer of this image is esteemed celebrity photographer, Rita Martin. (SOLD)

Postcard 4 was printed in Great Britain by Rotary Photo. The card has a 1909 postmark, revealing that Miss James was about 19 years of age when this photo was taken. The postcard is part of a series (no.1984C). The photographer of this image is the Foulsham & Banfield studio. (SOLD)

Postcard 5 This vintage real photo postcard features Julia James wearing a long strand of pearls and a pretty dress. Her dress is low cut for her era, making this postcard risque. She was likely a teenager, or in her twenties, when this photograph was taken. This postcard was published by J. Beagles & Co. and printed in Great Britain. The postcard is part of a series (no.340P). The card was distributed by K. V. M. Sultan & Co. which was located in Singapore. The photographer of this image was female. Women photographers were not very common at the time this postcard was published.  The photographer of this postcard photo was Rita Martin. She was a talented and well known celebrity photographer.  (SOLD)

Postcard 6 features Miss James in a scene from “Sleeping Beauty”. This “Philco” postcard was printed in London, England. The postcard is part of a series (no. 3298C). The photographer of this image is the fabulous celebrity photographer, Rita Martin. She is considered one of the best British photographers of her time. Her studio was in an exclusive neighborhood  She was born Margareta Weir Martin in Ireland.  Margareta “Rita” Martin started her career in photography in 1897 by assisting her elder sister Lallie Charles in running her studio. In 1906 Rita opened her own studio.  Rita had a specialty in photographing actresses including Lily Elsie and Lily Brayton. She was also well known for her child studies which often involved children of well known actresses. Rita’s sister, Lallie Charles was more known as an excellent society photographer. (SOLD)

Postcard 7 is beautifully color tinted image of Julia James. Note her long strand of pearls and her pretty dress. Her dress is low cut for her era, making this postcard risque. She was likely a teenager, or in her twenties, when this photograph was taken. This postcard was published by Philco and printed in Great Britain. The postcard is part of a series (no.3124A).  (SOLD)

Postcard 8 has a message that provides the recipient with birthday greetings. This Rotary Photo postcard was printed in Great Britain. The card has a 1907 postmark, revealing that Miss James was about 17 years of age when this photo was taken. The postcard is part of a series (no.1984A). The photographer of this image is Alexander Bassano. Bassano (1829 –1913) was a leading royal and high society photographer in Victorian London.  (SOLD)

Postcard 9 captures James eating an apple. She is flashing a fine smile. This postcard was was published by the Rival Photographic Series and was printed in Great Britain. The postcard is part of a series (no.R P 1073). The photographer of this image was the talented and famous, Rita Martin.  She was considered one of the best British photographers of her time. She opened her studio in 1906. (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 3

POSTCARD 4 (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 6 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 7 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 8 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 9 (SOLD)

Published in: on May 6, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MISS ELIZABETH FIRTH : SINGER, ACTRESS, AND PHILANTHROPIST (1908)

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

These vintage real photo postcards feature soprano, actress, and philanthropist, ElizabethFirth (1880-1960). Although she was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, she became an accomplished singer and actress on the English stage. When she lived in Phillipsburg, she was known as “Jimmy” Firth. The nickname, Jimmy, came courtesy of her beloved father. She went by this moniker with her most intimate friends as well as among those in her theatre world. “Jimmy” graduated from high school in New Jersey and sang as a soprano soloist in the choir of her church. She then entered the New York Conservatory of Music. At a concert at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria, she came to the attention of a leading London musical directress. Miss Firth then appeared in a few theatrical productions, including a small part in a play starring Viola Allen. In 1903 she accepted an offer to do an English concert tour. Before she could return to the United States, she was signed to a three year contract to act and sing on the English stage. She experienced a great deal of success in Gaiety theatre productions. Among her major roles was her appearance as Natalie, in the “Merry Widow”. The production was in 1907 at the Daly Theatre. Other actors in the play included Lily Elsie and Gabrielle Ray. Five portraits of the actress can be found in England’s National Portrait Gallery. She was known as a beautiful woman. One writer described her as “tall and slender” and that she had a “clear blond complexion along with blue eyes”. She was also considered one of the best dressed women in London. While in England, the actress visited her parents in the US annually and also engaged in theatrical tours there. “Jimmy” was a charitable woman and she established the “Elizabeth Firth Wade Foundation Endowment Fund”. Among the groups work was the building a a Youth Center in Phillipsburg. The foundation is still operating. Firth was married to a widower from Cleveland, Ohio. They wed in New York City in 1931.

Postcard 1 features a portrait 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.. The postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no.4829 B). This postcard was postmarked in 1908 and is in very good condition (see scans). (SOLD)

Postcard 2 features Miss Firth in her role as “Olga” in “The Dollar Princess”. Her photograph was taken by Rita Martin. Miss Martin was well known for her expertise in taking portraits of theater stars and other celebrities. The postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no.4486 F). The writer of the message on this postcard dated it “1911”. The correspondent also provided an illustration of a barking dog along with their message. The sender of this postcard used sealing wax on the card. I have not seen sealing wax used on a postcard before.  Sealing was is usually used to confirm one’s identity or to secure privacy of the contents of an envelope.  (SOLD)

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Published in: on October 31, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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