GABY DESLYS: BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED ACTRESS, DANCER AND SINGER

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POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 4 (SOLD)

Vintage real photo Postcard 1 features a portrait of the multi talented actress, dancer, and singer, Gaby Deslys (1881-1920). Miss Deslys performed at the beginning of the twentieth century in both Europe and the United States. She was extremely popular worldwide. In fact, she was able to earn four thousand dollars a week when performing in the United States. She performed several times on Broadway. She had a dance named after her, “The Gaby Glide” (1911). You can find the sheet music, with Gaby on the cover, elsewhere on ebay. Her love life was the topic of much public gossip. She probably added to the sensationalism surrounding her by posing in a number of risque postcards. She was courted by many wealthy and powerful men, including the King of Portugal. Her life was cut short by the “Spanish” influenza. Postcard 1 is not at all common. It was published by E. A. Schwerdtfeger Company of London and printed in Berlin (no. 0291/1). The company also had an office in New York (opened in 1910). This publishing house printed many different types of real photo postcards but was known for its hand-colored real photo postcards of actresses and fashionable women in exotic costumes. The photographer was the Talbot studio. The creator of Miss Deslys’s hat is also credited (Lewis). This particular real photo postcard stands out because it offers a colorized and very clear view of this beautiful and talented performer.  SOLD

Postcard 2 was photographed by Edouard Stebbing. He was active in Paris between 1890 and 1910. Stebbing taught at a University in Paris and invented the stebbing camera, and was known for his work with emulsions. It is reported that he was friends with the artist Monet. He died in 1914 and his wife (Celestine) died five years earlier. Stebbing was a prolific photographer during the Belle Epoque Paris. He appears to have been an expatriate from England. He published many articles in British Photographic journals. Stebbing photographed many theatrical stars. A frequent publisher of these postcards was Monsieur G.Piprot, of “Etoille” or “Star” publishing in Paris. The “Photographic Times and American Photographer” (1883) cited Stebbing as “one of the bright lights of the French Photographic Society. The card has a 1908 postmark.  SOLD

Postcard 3 is not common. It was published by Rotary Photo of Great Britain as part of a series (no.11843 A). This postcard portrait was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. Gaby Deslys was certainly a beautiful and talented performer.  SOLD

Postcard 4 was published by Rapid Photo of Great Britain as part of a series (no.4245). The company was active between 1901 and 1910. The firm specialized in taking theatrical portraits and was located in London. This postcard portrait was taken by the Bassano studio.  SOLD

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POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 4 (SOLD)

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GRACE ELLISTON : STAGE ACTRESS : BROADWAY STAR : UNCOMMON : RPPC

This uncommon vintage real photo postcard features American theater actress, Grace Elliston (c1881-1950). Her original name was “Grace Rutter” and that is the name used in the caption seen on this postcard. Elliston was a noted Broadway actress. The IBDb reveals that she appeared in 22 Broadway shows between 1899 and 1922. Her plays included “The Ambassador” (1900),  “Her Husband’s Wife” (1910), “The Country Cousin” (1917) ” and a number of productions of Shakespeare. Elliston appeared with many noted performers including Julia Marlowe, Ethel Barrymore, William Farnum, and Viola Allen. She appeared in one silent film, “Black Fear” (1915). Elliston was a native of Memphis, Tennessee and came to New York as a young woman and went to work as a chorus girl. A successful Broadway career followed. This postcard was published by Rapid Photo as part of a series (no.1084). The card was printed in London. This vintage photo portrait postcard is in good condition (see scans).

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MISS FYFE ALEXANDER : BRITISH ACTRESS : THE BLUNDERS OF A BASHFUL MAN : 1906

“The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (1903) has a short article about Miss Fyfe Alexander. The magazines theater critic writes about her after seeing her perform in J M Barrie’s comedy “Little Mary”. The writer describes Alexander as “a pretty and charming young actress” and “she has the good qualities that go towards the making of a good actress, and is likely to take a prominent place in her profession”. She was not yet twenty years old at the time of this review. The article also reveals that Alexander was from a theatrical family and that she made her stage debut in 1901. The message on this postcard is interesting. The writer states that “Oh! How the tears did come” when she read a book entitled “The Blunders of a Bashful Man” (1881). This postcard was published by Rapid Photo and Miss Alexander’s photo was taken by female photographer, Lizzie Caswall Smith. The card was postmarked in 1906.  (SOLD)

ETHEL OLIVER : BRITISH STAGE AND SILENT FILM ACTRESS : GAIETY THEATER : RPPC

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

Vintage postcard 1 features British stage and film actress, Miss Ethel Oliver. She is wearing a costume from one of her performances. Little information is readily available about Miss Oliver. She is listed as being a chorus member in the play at the Gaiety Theater, “The Orchid” (1903), In 1917, Oliver starred in the musical comedy “Pomponette at the Newcastle upon Tyne Theatre Royal. The IMDb reports that she acted in two films; “The Return” (1921) and “A Soul’s Awakening” (1922). Oliver was also a dancer. She was a sitter for twelve portraits in Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. This vintage close-up portrait postcard was published by Philco as part of a series (No.3260 E). (SOLD)

Postcard 2 is a vintage close-up portrait postcard. It was published by Rapid Photo as part of a series (No.3387). (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

LILLIAN BURNS : EARLY AMERICAN FILM ACTRESS AND ACTING COACH : RAPHAEL TUCK RPPC

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POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

Postcard 1 features pretty film actress Lillian Burns (1903-1998). Burns was an American stage actress hailing from Illinois. She is most known for performing in “A  Florida Enchantment” (1914), “The Goddess” (1915), and “The Shop Girl” (1916). She was an acting coach for MGM from 1937 until the early 1960’s. Her filmography includes 41 credits from 1912 through 1916. This photograph was taken by celebrity photographer Lallie Charles (1869-1919). She and her sister, Rita Martin, were the most commercially successful female photographers of their time. The pair were from Ireland. They took photographs of many of celebrities of their era. This photograph was published by Raphael Tuck as part of a series (no.T825). The series was entitled “Celebrities of the Stage”. This postcard is in excellent condition (see scans).

Postcard 2 was also taken by Lallie Charles . This photograph was published by Rapid Photo Co. as part of a series (no.4228).The card was postmarked in 1908.

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PORTRAIT OF BEAUTIFUL STAGE ACTRESS NINA SEVENING (RPPC)

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This postcard features a portrait of beautiful English stage actress Nina Sevening (1885-1958). Miss Sevening began her stage career as a child in 1894. She became a major theater actress, singer, and light comedienne. Some of her credits include “Three Little Maids” (1903), “The Merry Widow” (1907), and Peter Pan (1913).

Postcard 1 was published by Rotary Photo as part of the “Rotary Photographic” series (4096 L).  Miss Sevening’s photograph was taken by the Dover Street Studios. The studio was active between circa 1906 and circa 1912. The gallery specialized in taking theatrical portraits and was located in London, England. The card is in excellent condition (see scans).

Postcard 2 was published by Rapid Photo as part of a series (3836). The company was active between 1901 and 1910. The firm specialized in taking theatrical portraits and was located in London, England. The card is in good condition (see scans).

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PORTRAIT OF AN ADORABLE TRIO OF LITTLE GIRLS PERFORMING A CHARITY CONCERT (1906)

This vintage real photo postcard features three precious little girls performing a charity concert. The girl’s musical instruments include a squeeze box, a pipe, and a violin. I hope I identified the instruments correctly as my knowledge of such things is limited. In fact, I would settle for accurately identifying two out of three of the musical instruments. The photographer of this image used some interesting props. Note the music stand, sheet music, and the sign stating “Charity Concert”. I particularly like the violinist’s hat. I could imagine a present day blues player wearing such a hat. This postcard was published by the Rapid Photo Printing Company. The company existed between 1901 and 1910. It was located in London. The company is best known for their portraits of actresses. The card was part of the “Real Silverprint Photograph Series (no.2728). This English postcard was postmarked in 1906. The card is addressed to someone at the “Semore Convalescent Home”. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

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GLADYS ARCHBUTT : CHILD DANCER AND ADULT MUSICAL COMEDY STAR

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archbutt 1This vintage real photo postcard features English actress Gladys Archbutt (1889-1968). She began her career as a  child actress and dancer. She then launched a career in musical comedies in both Europe and the United States. She appeared in three Broadway musicals “London Follies” (1911), “The Balky Princess”, and “The Lamb of Delft”. She was sitter for five portraits in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection. Archbutt was married to Edwyn Ingram Gibbons in 1909. He was killed during World War I. The photographers of these images include Alexander Bassano, Lallie Charles, The Royal Magazine (1908) ran a story about Miss Archbutt. She tells the story of one of her theatrical career “adventures”. Her company was playing in Wales and their manager departed without warning. The cast did not have the money needed to return home to London and they decided to continue performing. They soon learned that the scenery from the show had been hocked and they had to buy it back. Needless to say, the company eventually earned their way home. She tells an additional story of a time where she was almost guillotined by a falling curtain. Her role in that production required her to faint and drape herself over her fathers “dead” body. Unfortunately, the actor playing her father had fallen dead in the wrong spot on the stage. As the curtain fell, the actors on the stage whispered that she needed to move from her precarious position. Being a dedicated performer, she would not move away because she was supposed to be in an unconscious state. She states she narrowly avoided being badly hurt. This vintage postcard was published by Rapid Photo and is part of a series (no.1609).The company existed between 1901 and 1910 and was located in London. The company is best known for their portraits of actresses. The postmark is from York and reveals that the card was mailed in 1906.The writer of the card describes attending a performance of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”.This vintage postcard is in good condition (see scans). Note the bumping next to Miss Archbutt’s name on the front of the postcard. This portrait postcard is priced accordingly.                                                                                                                   

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MISS ROSALIE JACOBI : TALENTED CHILD ACTRESS : (1906)

This real photo postcard features actress Miss Rosalie Jacobi. Little information could be found about her and this particular postcard is very uncommon. Miss Jacobi appeared in the 1900 production of “Herod” which was produced at “Her Majesty’s Theatre” in London, England. Actors in the play included Maude Jeffries and Beerbohm Tree. The Sketch (1900) has an article about the play “Bonnie Dundee”, which appeared at the Adelphi Theatre. The review praises Rosalie Jacobi and labels her as a “child actress”. The article also states that she gave a  “remarkably talented performance”. The photograph on the face of this postcard is from 1906 (see the postmark) and it is likely that the photo was taken when Jacobi was in her teenage years. The postcard was published by Rapid Photo of London as part of a series (no.3036). The photographer was Carr & Hopperton. This vintage postcard is in good condition (see scans).

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KATHLEEN COURTNEY AT SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE: PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS (1905)

This vintage real photo postcard features stage actress Kathleen Courtney. Preliminary research yielded little information about this pretty theatre actress indicating that she was likely a minor player. However, Britain’s National Portrait Gallery has five photographs of Miss Courtney in their collection. Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (1901) mentions that Kathleen Courtney, at age thirteen, understudied for adult actress, Ellaline Terriss in a theatre production. Tattler: An Illustrated Journal of Society Drama and Sport (1917) reports that Courtney was appearing in “Maid of the Mountains” at Daly’s theatre. These two articles disclose that Kathleen Courtney began as a child actress and that her career lasted at least 16 years. Given that we know that Kathleen Courtney was thirteen years of age in 1901, we can extrapolate that she was about seventeen years old at the time of this photo. More extensive research is required to illuminate the details of Courtney’s personal and professional life. This postcard was published by the Rapid Photo Company as part of a series (no. 1363). The company existed between 1901 and 1910. It was located in London. The company is best known for their portraits of actresses. The card was printed in London, England. The 1905 postmark is from the town of Milnrow, which is located in Greater Manchester, England. The recipient of the card lived in Blackpool, a seaside resort on the Irish Sea coast of England.   SOLD