BATHING BEAUTY : PALACE STUDIOS : ATLANTIC CITY : CYKO : RPPC 1920’s

This delightful real photo postcard features a cheerful young woman seated on a faux rock formation, wearing a charming bathing costume and matching head wrap. Her outfit is a stylish two-piece ensemble made of dark fabric with bold, checked gingham trim on the collar, sleeves, and skirt hem—a classic look from the 1910s to early 1920s. Her lace-up bathing boots and the studio backdrop, which imitates a beach setting, reinforce the seaside theme. The woman’s expression is warm and welcoming; she smiles gently at the camera, her chin resting lightly on her hand in a relaxed pose. There is an engaging sense of playfulness and personality in the portrait—characteristics that make it especially appealing to collectors of early 20th-century beach imagery and character photography. This postcard was produced by The Palace Studios, located at 1235 on the Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey, a popular tourist destination in the early 20th century. Palace Studios specialized in novelty and souvenir portrait photography for beachgoers, offering whimsical props and painted backdrops that gave visitors an idealized memento of their seaside vacation. The reverse of the postcard features a CYKO stamp box, a format used by the CYKO photographic paper brand, which helps to date this postcard to the 1910s–early 1920s. The card has a divided back, which also aligns with that time frame.  SOLD

Published in: on July 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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VIOLA DANA : PROLIFIC SILENT FILM ACTRESS : FACED SIGNIFICANT LOSS

POSTCARD 1   (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1 (CLOSE-UP) 

dana4POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

The pretty woman seen in this vintage real photo postcard is American silent film actress, Viola Dana (1897-1987). The photographer captured Miss Dana as she was about to eat something that looks a lot like dessert. Dana hailed from Brooklyn, New York. Her given name was Virginia Flugrath. I understand why she changed her name in the interest of her film career. She had two sisters, and they both became actresses. Their names were Shirley Mason and Edna Flugrath. Dana began performing on the stage at the ripe old age of three years-old. She continued to act in theater but between 1910 and 1912, she made appearances in four films. At age 16, she became an audience favorite in David Belasco’s “Poor Little Rich Girl”. Around this time, she began to perform in vaudeville with famed actor, Dustin Farnum. In the early part of her film career she became a star with Edison Studios. She fell in love with a studio director there, John Hancock Collins. She married him in 1915, at or around the age of eighteen. In 1916, Dana and Collins went to work for Rolfe Photoplays which released their films through Metro Pictures. Tragedy struck when Collins died from influenza during the 1918 flu pandemic. Dana continued acting for Metro through the 1920’s. Over time her popularity faded. Interestingly, one of her roles toward the end of her career, was in Frank Capra’s first film, “That Certain Thing” (1928). She retired in 1929, at about 32 years of age. She had appeared in over one hundred films. Dana, like many other film performers, was a casualty of the transition from silent films to sound films. Her voice was not compatible with the new medium. Dana had more than her share of tragedy in her personal life. After losing her first husband, she began a relationship with Ormer Locklear. He was an aviator and a burgeoning actor. He also was a married man. In 1920, while filming the movie, “The Skywayman”, Locklear was killed when his aircraft crashed. Dana witnessed the accident and did not fly again for 25 years. In 1925, she married Yale football star and actor Maurice “Lefty” Flynn. The marriage ended in divorce in 1929. Her third marriage was to Jimmy Thompson, a professional golfer. The marriage lasted fifteen years and ended in divorce in 1945. During her later years, she volunteered at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital. She became a resident there in 1979.

— Postcard 1 was published by Iris Verlag as part of a series (no 370). AMAG, another publishing house is also listed on the card. The bottom left corner of the image has the name “Metro Pictures”, which as stated earlier, was the company responsible for releasing a number of Dana, and her husband Collins, films.  (SOLD)                                                                                                                  –

-Postcard 2 was published by the Photo Card Co. of Los Angeles, California. This photo card was likely published in 1929. The AZO stamp box indicates that the postcard itself was made sometime between 1910 and 1930. Miss Dana’s beauty is evident in this image. She has lovely eyes.  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2
Published in: on July 10, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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FEMALE PIERRETTE CLOWN : BURLESQUE : CABARET : GERMANY : RPPC : 1920’s

This vintage divided back real photo postcard features a young woman dressed as a Pierrot. Actually, the female version of a Pierrot is “Pierrette”. 
The girl’s photo was taken by Hilde u. Clown Sarra  Musik-Akt. The publisher of the postcard was Graph. Anstalt, located in Magdburg, Germany. (SOLD)

Published in: on July 7, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PATRIOTIC COUPLE CELEBRATES THE FOURTH OF JULY

This vintage real photo postcard exudes a form of patriotism that is seldom seen today. The AZO stamp box indicates that this photo was taken sometime between 1918 and 1930. This was an era when it was relatively common for individuals to include flags when having their picture taken. We tend to see a resurgence of exhibiting American flags for short stints during the time of national threat or crisis (ie 9/11). When people chose to pose with flags during the 1910’s and 1920’s, it wasn’t to tout a particular cause. They were just expressing their love and fidelity toward their country. There is faint writing in pencil on the reverse of this postcard. The text states “With love from Mr. and Mrs. Chester McCrumb (?), To our sister Mrs. Jennie Hubbard”. This photo postcard has excellent clarity and is in good condition (See Scans and note bottom right of image).   SOLD

Published in: on July 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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JEWISH TEMPLE : SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS : HORSE & CARRIAGES : JUDAICA POSTCARD

This vintage lithographic postcard features a Jewish Temple, located in San Antonio, Texas. Note the two horse and carriages at the curb in front of the temple. The temple appearing on this postcard is “Temple Beth El”. The congregation was founded in 1874 and its first temple was opened in 1875. Many of the temple’s members were German immigrants who came to Texas in the 1850’s and 1860’s. In 1903, the congregation opened another temple to replace the first which was outgrown. The second temple, built on the site of the first, is pictured on this postcard. The second temple was replaced in 1927. This postcard is from the 1900’s or 1910’s. It was published by Paul Ebers, located in San Antonio. SOLD

Published in: on June 25, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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COLVILLE, WASHINGTON : STREET VIEW : MAIN STREET : GREAT SIGNAGE : OLD CARS c1949

The image portrays a vibrant downtown block of Colville, Washington. The view looks down a main street lined with parked cars and pedestrians strolling the sidewalk. Most of the automobiles are mid- to late-1940s American models, easily identified by their rounded fenders, grille styles, and size — notably sedans from Ford, Chevrolet, and Plymouth. The cars suggest a post-WWII era, likely no later than 1951. Several business signs appear clearly in the photograph. These signs include advertising for Fonk’s Five & Dime, A & K Meats, Newland’s Tavern, Sterling’s Variety Store, Gamble Store, a traditional barber’s pole, and a Coca Cola sign. The caption on the bottom of the image notes that the photo was by Leo’s Studio and number 449-155 in a series. The stamp box on the reverse contains an EKC (E. C. Kropp Company) logo, which was widely used between 1939 and 1950. When combined with the types of cars shown in the image (none appearing post-1950), a strong estimated date for this postcard is circa 1948–1950. SOLD

Published in: on June 20, 2025 at 7:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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LAPARCERIE : FRENCH ACTRESS & POET : REUTLINGER : SIP : RPPC 1902

This vintage real photo postcard features a beautiful French actress, theater director, and poet, named Cora Laparcerie (1875-1951). Laparcerie looks quite beautiful, and goddess like, in this profile postcard portrait. Note her ornamental hair band. She played various theatrical productions, including classical plays and original French drams. Laparcerie began her career at the Odeon theater in Paris. Soon she was taking on major roles in French theaters. She was married to Jacques Richepin, the son of poet, Jean Richepin. The pair were a notable couple in French artistic circles. Laparcerie managed several prestigious Parisian theatres. In her later career she concentrated on writing poetry, theater columns and early radio dramas. This postcard was published by SIP and Laparcerie’s photograph was taken by Leopold Reutlinger. This is an undivided back postcard (at least pre 1907).    SOLD 

Published in: on June 19, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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BEAUTIFUL GEISHA : JAPAN : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a beautiful geisha. Geishas entertained via song, dance, or playing a musical instrument. Geishas were not necessarily prostitutes, though some were. This postcard is printed on Hinode photo paper.  SOLD

Published in: on June 8, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MADGE SAUNDERS : ENGLISH STAGE AND FILM ACTRESS : REAL PHOTO POSTCARD

This vintage real photo postcard features theater actress and singer, Madge Saunders (1894-1967). She was born in South Africa. She was married twice, both times to actors. She appeared in two film (1918, 1930). There are 47 portraits of Saunders in England’s National Portrait Gallery. This photo portrait of Miss Saunders is one of the images in the gallery’s collection. This photograph was published by J. Beagles & Co. as part of a series (no.253A). Saunders was photographed by a celebrated female photographer, Rita Martin. SOLD

Published in: on June 7, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY BLONDE WOMAN ON A MOTORCYCLE BEING “HIT ON” BY HER LUSTFUL RIDING INSTRUCTOR

french officer This vintage real photo postcard captures the scene of a man sharing an intimate moment with a pretty blonde woman sitting on a motor scooter. The photographer appears to have caught the man in a lustful moment. I doubt the man is giving tips about motorcycle care and maintenance. I find it unusual that the woman would be riding a motorcycle while wearing  a long dress. Finding information to identify the manufacturer of this motorcycle was difficult. I discovered that a company named “Tomos” manufactured a bike whose name included the word “Galeb”. Note that a nameplate on the front of the bike says “Galeb”. Tomos manufactured motorcycles from their factory based in Koper, Slovenia. They still provide various products to their Eastern European market. The language printed on this postcard is from Slovenia. It appears that the photographer was Z. Mirkovic and the publisher was ZK. The postcard is part of a series (no. 2881). This photo postcard measures about 5 5/8″ x 4″ and is in very good condition (see scans).

french officer 3

Published in: on June 5, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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