MISS MARJORIE VILLIS : RISQUE PORTRAIT OF A STRIKINGLY PRETTY BRITISH ACTRESS

This vintage real photo postcard portrait feature British silent film actress, Marjorie Villis (1891-1981). Miss Villis is quite pretty and has a wonderful smile. This photograph captures her in a risque pose and a risque costume. What an amazing elaborate and busy costume. When I first saw this image, I immediately became motivated to find information about this provocative actress. I met little success in learning about Marjorie Villis. Photographs of her appear to be uncommon, and I could not find the postcard above anywhere online. I did learn that she sat for seven postcard portraits that can be found in the UK’s National Portrait Gallery, All of the portraits were taken by celebrated photographer, Alexander Bassano. The IMDb credits Villis with 15 film roles between 1915 and 1922. Villis was most noted for her roles in “The Rugged Path (1918), “A Romany Lass (1918)”, and  “Brenda of the Barge (1920). She had a relatively short career. I wonder why her career ended so abruptly? The first talkie feature film did not get released until 1927, so we know that, unlike many other silent film stars, Villis was not shut out of the film industry because of an unsuitable voice or foreign accent. This postcard was published by J. Beagles & Company (London)  as part of a series (no.142 J). The wonderful portrait of Miss Villis was taken by S. Ward. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans)

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $35.00 or best offer.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336231732840

Published in: on January 11, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , ,

MARY PICKFORD : AMERICA’S SWEETHEART : ROTARY PHOTO : HAND TINTED RPPC 1920

This beautiful vintage real photo postcard features Mary Pickford, shown here in a soft, introspective portrait that perfectly captures the romantic visual style of the early 1910s. Pickford is posed in three-quarter profile, her gaze cast downward, with her signature long curls cascading over her shoulders. She wears a delicate, flowing gown rendered in subtle hand-applied color, with pale blue and warm cream tones carefully brushed over the original photograph, lending the image a dreamy, ethereal quality. The overall effect is gentle and luminous, emphasizing her youthful features and expressive eyes. This postcard was produced by Rotary Photo, one of the most prolific and collectible publishers of celebrity real photo postcards in the early 20th century. The image is identified by the ID No. S.62-2, printed at the lower edge, and the reverse confirms it was printed in England via (Rajer Bromide). Mary Pickford needs little introduction; often called “America’s Sweetheart,” she was one of the most beloved and influential actresses of the silent film era, helping to define early Hollywood stardom. This particular image emphasizes her emotional subtlety and screen presence rather than theatrical glamour, making it especially appealing to collectors of classic film portraiture. The reverse reveals the postcard was postally used and that it is bearing a British King George V one-penny red stamp, postmarked in 1920. The card was mailed to someone in Harrogate, England. The handwritten message reads, in part “Just a card to let you know I am quite well. Hoping you are the same. Best love…”.  (SOLD)

Published in: on January 5, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , ,

GERMAN SCHOOLBOY POSES WITH GIANT PRETZEL : FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL : RPPC 1928

This evocative scalloped edge vintage real photo postcard captures a young school-aged child posed formally in a studio setting, dated 1928, during the late Weimar Republic period in Germany. The child stands confidently beside a sculptural studio prop resembling intertwined branches, resting one hand upon it while wearing a traditional school outfit of the era. Slung over the shoulders is a rigid school satchel (Schultasche), a detail that firmly anchors this image in everyday German childhood life of the 1920s. Most striking is the oversized pretzel-shaped prop placed prominently in the foreground. Far more than a whimsical accessory, the pretzel is a long-standing symbol in German culture, often associated with good fortune, nourishment, and childhood traditions. Its exaggerated size suggests a playful studio device meant to charm parents and relatives, blending symbolism with visual appeal.The painted studio backdrop—featuring a tree trunk and rustic fencing—adds a pastoral, storybook quality, contrasting gently with the child’s serious, composed expression. This blend of innocence and formality is characteristic of early 20th-century European studio portraiture. The sign beside the child translates as : “My First Day of School – 1928”. This inscription confirms the occasion and elevates the postcard from a simple portrait to a commemorative milestone image. Postcards like this were often produced to mark important life events—first school day, confirmations, or birthdays—and were commonly sent to extended family members. The clean, unused reverse suggests this example was preserved as a keepsake rather than mailed. The overall condition of this postcard is very good. The card has light, even age toning consistent with period silver gelatin postcards. There is minor surface wear at it’s corners. There are no creases. The image remains sharp with excellent contrast. Please review scans carefully for full condition details.

This cabinet card is available for purchase at The History Peddler for $36.00 at auction

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236546499067

Published in: on January 4, 2026 at 12:08 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , ,

NORMA WHALLEY : PRETTY STAGE & FILM ACTRESS : JOHNSTON & HOFFMAN : UNCOMMON RPPC

The pretty actress seen on this vintage real photo postcard is Norma Whalley (?-1954). She was an Australian stage and film actress performing in the United States and Great Britain. Whalley toured South Africa during the late 1890’s. She married J. Sherrie Matthews in 1901. He was an American Vaudeville performer. In 1902, a stroke left him permanently disabled. She divorced him in 1904 and married barrister Sir Percival Clarke. Whalley came to the US to perform on the stage with George Edwardes company. She worked in Chicago and New York for several years from the late 1890’s. She performed on Broadway in “The Man in the Moon” (1899). Whalley also had a film career. The IMDb credits her with 21 films between 1920 and 1935. This postcard was published by Aristophot as part of a series (No.E92). 
Aristophot was known for publishing “made in Germany” real photo postcards. They operated from Germany (Saxony) and New York and produced high quality postcards. The firm’s focuses included capturing images of stage and film stars. Whalley was photographed for this portrait by the Johnston & Hoffman studio. The postcard is in good condition (see scans). There is minor corner and surface wear. (See Scans). Postcards featuring Miss Whalley are not difficult to find, however, this particular postcard portrait of the actress is uncommon.

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $22.00 or best offer.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336367805879

Published in: on January 2, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  

SMILING COUPLE POSE IN A FAUX GARDEN: WHY IS THIS WOMAN HOLDING A WHIP? (RPPC)

This vintage real photo postcard (RPPC) features a smiling couple posing in a photographic studio’s faux garden.  Note the leaves affixed to the wall behind them. This couple seems very happy together but they apparently didn’t maintain their marital harmony because they ultimately got divorced. One hopes that the whip that the woman is holding had nothing to do with their marital discord. The woman’s name in this photograph is Grace McBurney. Her name is written on the reverse of the postcard, undoubtedly by one of her relatives. Research reveals that Grace R. McBurney (1893-1969) was born in Oregon and married at the age of 19 to William H. McBurney who worked as a “typewriter representative”, which I assume means he sold typewriters. The couple had at least five children: Virginia D.(born around 1914), Marguerite F. (1919-1999), Wilma (born around 1920), William (1923-1981), and Carl Morton (1928-2007). Perusal of US census data reveals that the couple were divorced sometime between 1930 and 1940. It appears that Grace lived her entire adult life in Portland, Oregon. She is buried in Lincoln Memorial Park in Portland. Preliminary research yielded little information about her husband. This photo postcard was produced by the Mazrograph Studio in Portland. Mazrograph was the process Calvert used to produce the photo postcards quickly. The studio’s stamp can be seen on the reverse of the postcard. The stamp also mentions that the photo production process took only ten minutes.The postcard paper was produced by Cyko sometime between 1906 and 1915. Charles E. (Cal) Calvert operated his studio at Sixth and Ankeny from 1906 through 1930. In 1907, with the opening of Council Crest Amusement Park, he operated a studio and postcard stand on it’s grounds. He also ran a studio at the Washington Street entrance to Portland’s City Park in 1910. Cal was known for his use of rustic props and for his creativity. One of his sets involved subjects appearing as if they were flying an airplane over the city of Portland. A postcard employing this setting is part of a collection at the Portland Art Museum. This RPPC was taken in a “10 Minute Photo Gallery”. The reverse of the card advertises “Cal Calvert, Postcard Man”.  As a side note, there was also a Calvert’s Studio across from Oregon City’s Southern Pacific Depot but it was run by Harry Calvert and his wife Alvilda. Harry was not related to Cal Calvert. Harry’s studio operated from 1915 through 1925. This vintage real photo postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $22.00 or best offer.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336044527284

Published in: on January 1, 2026 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , ,

CUTE KIDS IN CHEF HATS : HAPPY NEW YEARS : ROTOPHOT : REAL PHOTO POSTCARD

A wonderfully playful German New Year “Prosit Neujahr” real photo postcard published by RPH (Rotophot), Berlin—a major early 1900s European postcard producer best known for high-quality photographic subjects and big, numbered series.  The image is pure studio charm: two children in oversized chef-style caps (party hats styled like tall cooks’ toques), posed hand-in-hand as if about to dance into the New Year. One cap reads “PROSIT” (a festive toast—“cheers!”) and the other reads “NEUJAHR” (“New Year”). Their little salute gestures and the crisp studio lighting give this card that classic pre-war holiday-photo look. At the lower left you’ll find the RPH monogram in a circle and the printed series number S.1281/3, identifying this as a Rotophot issue. Overall, this postcard presents nicely with minor edge/corner wear (see scans). The card was mailed to someone in in Laubach, Germany. The postcard has a green 5 (phennig) stamp from Germany. The message is difficult to clearly decipher but it is clear that it is a traditional New Year greeting. It appears to read “Heartfelt New Year’s greetings and a happy New Year …”. This card is likely from sometime around 1905 to 1907.

This cabinet card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $22.00 or best offer.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336367805881

Published in: on December 31, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , ,

PRETTY WOMAN TAKING A BATH : RISQUE : PROVOCATIVE : FRENCH RPPC : c1910

This vintage French photographic postcard presents a playful and deliberately risqué studio scene, produced in France during the early 20th century, likely circa 1905–1915. The image shows a young woman reclining nude in an ornate bathtub, leaning over the tub’s edge with her arms folded and smiling directly at the viewer. Her expression is open, flirtatious, and self-aware, clearly intended to engage the recipient in a lighthearted, teasing manner. The setting is a stylized interior, with a patterned background and a decorative porcelain bathtub, lending the scene an air of theatrical elegance rather than explicit exhibition. While the subject is unclothed, the composition remains suggestive rather than explicit, placing the postcard squarely within the tradition of French “risqué” or “galant” postcards that were popular in the Belle Époque period. The card is marked “REX 811” on the image side, identifying it as part of a commercial French postcard series, produced for novelty and adult amusement rather than private photography. Such cards were widely collected, mailed discreetly, or kept in albums, and today they are sought after for their blend of early photography, social history, and erotic ephemera. A translation of the message is as follows: “Peek-a-boo… it’s me!” “Yes, it really is me… in flesh and bone, In flesh above all — but behind closed doors…” The wording is intentionally playful and suggestive, reinforcing the private, teasing tone of the image and making the postcard unmistakably risqué by period standards. The postcard is in very good vintage condition. There is light edge and corner wear consistent with age. The image remains clear, with good contrast and no major distractions. The reverse shows light handling wear (see scans).

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at The History Peddler for $38 or best offer

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236552618037

Published in: on December 27, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
Tags: , , , , ,

CHILD WITH ASSORTMENT OF TOYS : ROMANIA : REAL PHOTO POSTCARD 1925

This evocative real photo postcard, written and dated 1925, presents a beautifully staged studio portrait of a very young child posed behind an elaborate miniature world of toys—an image that feels both intimate and faintly theatrical, as was common in European children’s portraiture of the interwar period. Spread carefully across the tabletop in front of the child is an impressive assortment of early 20th-century toys, each rendered with remarkable clarity. On the left stands a wooden pull horse on wheels, its form sturdy and utilitarian, likely hand-painted. Nearby is a small toy donkey or horse mounted on a simple wheeled frame. At center is a miniature cart with large spoked wheels, suggesting rural life and transport—imagery deeply familiar to Eastern European households of the era. To the right appears a toy goat or sheep, delicately harnessed, positioned near a detailed model boat complete with mast and rigging—an ambitious and unusual toy that adds narrative complexity to the scene. Also visible are tiny toy houses, a small lidded container or barrel, and a painted doll figure standing upright at the far right, dressed in what appears to be a sailor-style outfit. Collectively, these objects create a miniature village or imagined world, emphasizing themes of childhood, play, and aspiration. The child—identified in the message as two years and eight months old—stares directly at the camera with a solemn, almost uncanny composure, heightening the emotional impact of the image. The photograph is warm-toned and evenly exposed, suggesting professional studio work rather than a casual snapshot. This postcard is not only visually compelling but also richly documented, with a handwritten message on the reverse that firmly anchors it in time and place. The following is the English translation of the message on this postcard: “We offer you, as a keepsake and souvenir, the portrait of our son. Ovidiu Radian (Mleanu) 2 years and 8 months old Ismail, May 1, 1925.” The postcard is addressed to a family in Romania. The card originated from Ismail, a particularly important location historically. In 1925, Ismail was located in Basarabia, a region that at the time was part of Greater Romania (1918–1940). Today, Ismail is located in modern-day Ukraine. The postcard is in very good antique condition for a 1925 real photo postcard. The image remains strong with nice tonal depth. Light surface/handling wear consistent with age. The reverse shows expected age toning and a faint circular postal marking, along with the handwritten message. There is only minor corner/edge wear  (see scans). 

This cabinet card is available for purchase at The History Peddler for $68.00 or best offer

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/336367805876

Published in: on December 24, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , ,

SALVATION ARMY : KINGSTON JAMAICA : BLACK JAMAICAN WOMAN : STUDIO PHOTO : RPPC

This original vintage real photo postcard presents a formal group portrait associated with the Salvation Army, photographed in Kingston, Jamaica, likely in the late 1910s to early 1920s. The image shows five individuals posed in a studio setting: three Salvation Army officers seated in the foreground, with two women standing behind them. Four of the workers are wearing uniforms. The Salvation Army uniforms are clearly identifiable by the distinctive “S” collar insignia, confirming the religious and missionary context of the photograph. Group portraits such as this were commonly made to commemorate postings, service assignments, or transfers within the organization, and were often mailed or retained as keepsakes. Of particular historical interest is the inclusion of a Black woman standing at right, very likely a native of Jamaica, reflecting the Salvation Army’s active presence among local communities during the colonial period. Her dignified posture and inclusion within the group provide an important visual record of race, religion, and social structure in early 20th-century Jamaica. My research reveals that this photograph was taken by a Kingston, Jamaica photography studio operated by J. W. Cleary and E. W. Elliott. A handwritten notation on the reverse reads  identifies one of the Salvation Army officers as a Staff Captain. The captains name is illegible. (SOLD)

Published in: on December 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , ,

MAN WITH AN ALLIGATOR : STUDIO NOVELTY : REAL PHOTO POSTCARD : AZO 1918-1930

This is a striking and unusual antique real photo postcard (RPPC) featuring a young man posed confidently beside a full-sized alligator, its jaws open to display its teeth. The sitter rests one hand casually on the alligator’s head while standing behind a simple railing, creating a dramatic and memorable image that blends portraiture, novelty, and spectacle. The man is well dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and straw boater-style hat, placing the image squarely in the late 1910s to early 1920s. The backdrop is a painted tropical scene with palm trees and water, clearly a studio setting rather than an outdoor photograph. The alligator—almost certainly a taxidermy or carefully staged prop—was a popular novelty element used by certain studios during this era, particularly in Florida and other southern or tourist-oriented locations. During the early 20th century, alligators were frequently employed as studio props to convey adventure, exoticism, and regional identity. Studios catering to tourists or novelty portrait seekers often featured taxidermied alligators, faux swamps, and painted tropical backdrops. These images were meant to be eye-catching souvenirs—proof of having “visited the wild” or participated in something daring. Alligator imagery was especially common in Florida-related studio work, sideshows, and amusement venues, where such props became iconic symbols of place and bravado. The postcard is printed on AZO photographic paper, with the stamp box showing four triangles pointing up, a configuration that dates production to approximately 1918–1930. The card is unused, with no writing or postal markings, allowing the image to remain the sole focus. (SOLD)

Published in: on December 20, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
« Older Entries