NATALIE WOOD : AMERICAN FILM AND TELEVISION ACTRESS : MYSTERIOUS DEATH : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features pretty American actress, Natalie Wood (1938-1981). She had both talent and charisma. She was a successful actress and was known for being glamourous but also for her personal problems. Wood started acting in films as a child. One of her first notable roles was in the classic Christmas film “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947). As a teenager, she starred in films like “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955). She played alongside James Dean in a role that solidified her status as an actress perfect for playing wholesome and innocent young women. Through the late 1950’s and into the 1960’s she appeared in numerous successful films where she showcased her versatility in genres ranging from drama to comedy. Wood’s personal life was good fodder for sensationalized headlines. She was married three times. She had a tumultuous relationship with actor Robert Wagner. Despite her success as an actress, she struggled with insecurity and inner turmoil. She struggled with anxiety and depression throughout her adult life. In 1981, she drowned under mysterious circumstances while on a boating trip off the California coast. Speculation and controversy about the events surrounding her death continued for years after her death.  SOLD

PORTRAIT OF ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN OF FRANCE (PHOTO BY JEAN AGELOU)

This vintage real photo postcard is part of a series named “Les Plus Belles Femmes de France” (The Most Beautiful Women of France). This series is about the Provinces of France, and the model for this image represents La Francomtoise. This postcard is number 19 in the series. There were a number of different series published. The Province series was one of the more popular series. The models in this series represent different French Provinces and wear traditional clothing from that particular area of the country.This postcard was published by well known photographer Alfred Noyer. 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”. The photographer of this postcard portrait is Jean Agelou (1878-1921). Agelou was a French photographer of the 1910’s and 1920’s who is best known for his erotic and nude photographs. He was born in Egypt and not much is known about his private life. Agelou generally used models between the age of 20 and 24 years-old. He had a favorite model. Her name was “Fernande” and in addition to modeling, she was Agelou’s lover. Her full name was Fernande Barrey (1893-1960). She was a prostitute by trade. She also modeled for for painters (Amadeo Modigliani and Chaim Soutine). Fernande later became a painter. Although the 1900’s was the “golden age” of erotic photograph, photographers who took such risque photos had to use discretion. As a result, Agelou signed his work “JA”. In 1908, nudity in photographs was banned in France and photographers had to cover nude women images with strategically placed undergarments or other materials. Nude images had to circulate on the down low. They were sent in the mail inside of envelopes. Fernande remained popular and her erotic photographs were enjoyed by soldiers on both sides during World War I. Jean Agelou died in 1921; the result of a car accident. His brother George, who managed Jean’s business, also was killed in the crash.  SOLD

CHILD SITTING IN AN OX PULLED CART : HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS : HAPPY HOLLOW : RPPC

This vintage postcard features a photograph of a young child sitting on an ox pulled cart.  The scene is at Happy Hollow, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Note the signage.  The sign on the cart states “Traveling Thru Ark : Will Be Home Soon). This postcard was a souvenir from Hot Springs National Park. The AZO stamp box on this postcard indicates that it was published sometime between 1924 and 1949. SOLD

Published in: on March 21, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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ELLA RUSSELL : AMERICAN OPERA STAR : RPPC

Postcard 1 (SOLD)

Postcard 2 (SOLD)

Ella Russell (1864-1935) was an American opera star. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio but spent much of her life in England. She was 33 years-old when she made her American debut. She had already appeared in Europe. During her career, she sang a command performance in front of England’s Queen Victoria.

Photo Postcard 1 was published by Frederick Hartmann. His postcard publishing company was headquartered in London. He was active in the UK between 1902 and 1909. It is thought that he produced the first divided back card in the world. His postcards were printed in Saxony (Germany) because of the country’s advanced printing industry. He produced view cards from all over England and imported glamour cards from the European continent. He was the English distributor for Trenkler & Company postcards. In 1907, Hartmann partnered with Christian Linck. The business went bankrupt that same year (1907).  (SOLD)

Postcard 2 was published by J. Beagle as part of a series (No.410). The publishing company was headquartered in London. (SOLD)

Postcard 2

PRETTY WOMAN SITS ON COUCH WEARING SHEER LINGERIE : RISQUE : PC PARIS : RPPC

This risque vintage real photo postcard captures a pretty young woman sitting on a couch. The woman is holding a small mirror in her right hand. She is wearing lingerie. Her sheer bra, exposed legs, stockings, garter, and “come hither” pose, all contribute to making this an erotic postcard. This postcard was produced by PC Paris as part of a series (No.1481). The P.C logo is an abbreviation for Papeteries d Levallois-Clichy. The firm published a variety of real photo postcard topics including portraits of pretty models, nudes, views, and holiday cards. The company was active in the 1920’s. SOLD

Published in: on March 16, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TWO SISTERS FLYING AN AIRPLANE : STUDIO PORTRAIT : RPPC

This vintage divided back real photo postcard features two young girls flying an airplane. The plane is of the photo studio variety. The girls, judging by appearance, are presumably sisters. Although it is not uncommon to see a studio airplane on a postcard, this particular plane prop is uncommon. (SOLD)

Published in: on March 12, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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CORINNE GRIFFITH : AMERICAN FILM ACTRESS, PRODUCER, AUTHOR, & BUSINESSWOMAN

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

This vintage real photo postcard features Corinne Griffith, an American film actress, producer, author, and businesswoman. Besides being talented, she was considered to be one of the most beautiful actresses of the silent film era.

Postcard 1 was published as part of the Picturegoer Series (No.97). This postcard has a crease in it’s top left corner and is in overall fair condition.  (see scans).

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Postcard 2 was published by Ross Verlag. Miss Griffith’s photo was taken by Defina. The logo for “First National Pictures” is located on the bottom left hand corner of the image. First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. The company was founded in 1917 as a theater chain. It then began distributing movies and in 1924 it began producing films. In 1929 the company was absorbed by Warner Brothers. Griffith was under contract with First National between 1923 and 1932.  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

VERENA : EARLY PERFORMER AT FOLIES BERGERE : BELLE EPOQUE : REUTLINGER : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features Verena, an enchanting and seductive performer captured by the lens of renowned photographer, Leopold Reutlinger. She has long dark cascading hair and she exudes an aura of mystery. Adorned with a feather boa, she reveals a bare shoulder, adding sensuality to this portrait. Verena was one of the early performers at the Folies Bergere. This postcard is part of a series (no.0450). SOLD

TRIPLETS : IDENTIFIED YOUNG GIRLS RECEIVING FIRST COMMUNION : FRENCH RPPC : 1913

This vintage real photo postcard features three adorable young girls posed for a religious ceremony, probably their first communion. They are beautifully dressed for their special day. Their dresses are identical. These girls are likely triplets. They are identified on the reverse of the postcard. The girl in the center is holding rosary beads. All three of the children are wearing necklaces. This postcard has the photographers stamp on it’s reverse. The stamp reveals that the photograph was taken at a private studio in Paris, France. The photo was taken at the Groysillier studio.    SOLD

CECILIA LOFTUS : BROADWAY AND FILM ACTRESS : SHAKESPEARE : STAGE BEAUTY : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a stage beauty named Cecilia Loftus (1876-1943). She was a Scottish actress, singer, mimic, vaudevillian, and music hall performer. Her career spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was a product of parents who were performers. Her father was a member of a successful variety group and her mother was an actress, music hall performer, and burlesque star. At age seventeen, Cecilia (Cissy) made her debut at the Oxford Music Hall in London. She began her career in Music Halls and then appered in musical comedy at the Gaiety Theatre. In 1894, she appeared in Vaudeville at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City. She joined the Ada Rehan Company, and then the Augustin Daly Company. In 1898, she began to appear in legitimate theatre. She toured with actor Sir Henry Irving. In 1905 she had success appearing in Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House”. Later that same year, she received much acclaim for her portrayal of Peter Pan. Loftus had a successful career in burlesque as well as on Broadway. The IBDb credits Loftus with appearing in 39 different Broadway productions between 1900 and 1941. Many of her roles were in Shakespeare plays. She also appeared in 14 films from the 1910’s to the 1940’s. Cecilia had a tumultous personal life. She eloped at 17 with an Irish writer, twice her age. The marriage failed. In 1908 she married an American doctor. Within six years, her marriage and health were in bad shape. She divorced her husband. Healthwise, she became dependent on alcohol and pain killers. In 1922, she was arrested for possession of morphine. She received probation from an English court and in 1923, she permanantly left Great Britain and returned to New York City to pursue her career on Broadway and in Hollywood.  The message on this postcard is very interesting. It is a note from a daughter to her mother. Although it is only a hypothesis, the daughter appears to be at the Good Shepherd Convent, in Cork, Ireland. This vintage postcard was published by the Rotary Photo Company as part of a series (no.235 E).  SOLD