PORTRAIT OF A COUPLE AT “MUSHROOM ROCK” IN “GARDEN OF THE GODS” COLORADO (1908)

This 1908 real photo postcard captures a well dressed couple posing by “Mushroom Rock” which is located in the “Garden of the Gods” in the state of Colorado. The site is specifically situated in Colorado Springs. Garden of the Gods is a public park and was named a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Glaciers and erosion left the land with incredible rock formations. The park was named by two surveyors in 1859. Multiple Native American nations had involvement with the area. In addition to “Mushroom Rock”, tourists have made “Balanced Rock” a popular visitor site. A photograph of “Balanced Rock” can be found elsewhere in the Cabinet Card Gallery (use the search box to find it). The stamp box indicates the card was published between 1904 and 1918, The 1908 date written on the reverse of the postcard fall well within the range of those years.   (SOLD)

DOROTHY MINTO : PRETTY, COY AND TALENTED ENGLISH STAGE ACTRESS

This vintage real  photo postcard features a pretty and coy looking English actress named Dorothy Minto (1886-1957). She was born in Scotland. She was an actress known for “Once Upon a Time” (1918), and  “A Little Bit of Fluff (1919), and “Raise the Roof” (1930). She was a popular actress on the London stage between 1905 and the mid 1930’s. Her early stage career was focused on classical plays and serious new theater but from 1912 and beyond, she concentrated more on musicals and comedies. It is notable that se appeared in the first runs of several of George Bernard Shaw’s plays. She also performed in plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Barrie, and Tolstoy, Minto’s career included appearances in ten films between 1916 and 1936. Interestingly, Minto appeared “Votes for Women” (1907) which was the first suffragist play performed on the London stage. She later became of member of the Actress Franchise League, part of the suffragist movement. She had two marriages and one child. Her infidelity led, or at least contributed to the end of both of her marriages. The National Portrait Gallery has 33 portraits of Miss Minto in their collection. Most of the images are by Alexander Bassano and Rita Martin.This postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no.4072 B). Minto’s portrait was done by Foulsham & Banfield. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio from the 1900’s through the 1920’s.    (SOLD)

BLANCHE WALSH : PRETTY STAGE AND FILM ACTRESS IN NEW YORK CITY

This vintage real photo postcard features stage and film actress, Blanche Walsh (1873-1915). Walsh was born in the lower east side of New York City. Walsh’s father was a Tammany Hall (New York City) politician and prison warden. His name was Thomas Power “Fatty” Walsh. Miss Walsh was an active actress between 1888 and 1915. Blanche Walsh made her stage debut at 15 years of age in 1888. She joined Charles Frohman’s stock company. She was a supporting actress for the likes of Marie Wainwright and William Gillette. She toured Australia with actor Nat Goodwin in 1896. Walsh became popular playing “emotional” roles and succeeded Fanny Davenport when she became too ill to perform in such roles. In fact, many fans believed that Walsh closely resembled Davenport in appearance.  Walsh than began being tasked in more challenging roles such as in her performances in “The Woman in the Case” (1905) and in Tolstoy’s “The Kreutzer Sonata” (1904). Walsh appeared in ten Broadway productions between 1895 and 1907. A reviewer in “Variety” (1918) wrote that Walsh ” was not only a great actress, but an artist enough to subordinate whatever personal charms she might have had to a proper characterization of a role”. Blanche Walsh only appeared in one film. She was a well respected American actress. Her only film was Resurrection (1912). The film was based on one of Leo Tolstoy’s novels. The film helped Adolph Zukor launch his movie company, Famous Players Studio. It later became Paramount. She was one of the first stage stars to appear in a long feature film (over 50 minutes). Miss Walsh had two marriages. Her first husband, Alfred Hickman (1873-1931) was an English actor who appeared in thirty-five films. Walsh had no children. She was one of the original advocates of an American National Theater where people could see major plays at a low price. Walsh had significant health problems during her career. She had several hospitalizations. She died at 42 years of age from kidney problems. This vintage postcard was published by the Rotograph Company as part of the “Rotograph Series” (No. B 506)  The photographer was Jacob Schloss (1856-1938) and his studio was located in New York City.   Schloss received his education at the Cooper Union in New York City. He graduated in 1872 as an etcher. He joined Benjamin J. Falk’s photography studio and worked there in the mid 1870’s. He left Falk’s employ to open his own studio (54 West 23rd Street) where like Falk, he specialized in theatrical photography. He tended to favor photographing actresses in costume in front of generic studio furnishings. He produced many cabinet card photographs but also was active in the production of magazine images. By the 1890’s he was particularly known for his photographs of beautiful women, much like photographer Jose Maria Mora. Schloss also was an activist for photographers rights. He was very involved in the movement to copyright images. He sued those who used his photographs without crediting or paying him. He was very involved in national photographer associations and was an active photographer until the 1910’s.   SOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

MISS WINIFRED EMERY : AN ENGLISH “STAGE FAVOURITE”

Miss Winifred Emery (1861-1924) is the subject of this vintage real photo postcard. She was an English actress and actor-manager during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was married to actor Cyril Maude (m. 1888). It is not hard to imagine that the fact that she was born into a family of actors, played a role in her career choice. She began as a child actress and during the 1880’s and 1890’s her career blossomed as she played many leading roles in London’s West End theatres. Interestingly, her first London appearance was in 1874 in the pantomime,”Beauty and the Beast”. She later joined Marie Litton’s company, Herbert Beerbohm Tree’s theatre company, Henry Irving’s theatre company, and Wilson Barrett’s company. She eventually started her own touring theatre company with her husband. In 1896, her husband became actor-manager of the Haymarket Theatre and Emery became his leading lady. Among the plays that Emery appeared in are number of productions of Shakespeare. Emery had a successful stage career that spanned over forty years. This postcard was published circa 1910 by Raphael Tuck & Sons’ as part of the “Stage Favourites” Series (No. 5062). The photographer of this portrait of Miss Emery was Alexander Bassano, a very respected celebrity photographer. (SOLD)

PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG FRENCH WOMAN AND A SINGLE FLOWER

This vintage real photo postcard features a young woman holding a single stem and flower. She is wearing a necklace and pendant. She is dressed in a pretty dress with an abundance of buttons. Note the checkered pattern which appears on her blouse and midway down her skirt. Subtle, but nice. She is holding onto an interesting chair. The message on the reverse of the postcard seems to be introducing the woman as “Annie Marie Auge”. I am unsure if I deciphered her last name correctly. The message also reveals that the woman is twenty-two years old. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on November 10, 2019 at 1:57 pm  Comments (7)  

MISS DORCY : PHOTO BY LEOPOLD REUTLINGER : CASINO DE PARIS : 1905

Miss Dorcy poses for her photograph at the Reutlinger studio in Paris, France. She is quite pretty and has a wonderful smile. The operator of the studio was celebrated theatrical photographer, Leopold Reutlinger. The postcard was published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France. The Casino de Paris is advertised on the front of the postcard. The Casino de Paris was one of the better known music halls in Paris. Dorcy clearly performed there. I could find little information about this performer. In one article she was referred to as “Paulette Dorcy” but I can not confirm that “Paulette” is her first name. The card has a French stamp that was postmarked in 1905. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

 

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$12.00

 

 

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MISS SARI PETRASS : BEAUTIFUL HUNGARIAN SINGER AND ACTRESS WHO BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL STAR (TWO REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS)

 POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

petrass POSTCARD 2   (SOLD)

Sari Petrass (1888-1930) was a Hungarian operetta actress and singer. She played leading soprano parts during the 1910’s and 1920’s. She appeared all over the globe. She gave performances in Budapest, Vienna, London, and Broadway. In 1911 she made her debut as a lead singer in a show in Budapest. The show became an international hit. Petrass wasted little time learning to sing in English. She performed in “Gipsy Love” (1912) at England’s Daly’s Theatre. The show ran for 299 performances. She next appeared at Daly’s in “The Marriage Market” (1913). This postcard features her in the role of “Mariposa Gilroy” in that show. She appeared alongside Gertie Millar. Interestingly, Petrass was a skillful horse rider and had an opportunity to ride a donkey in the opening scene of the play. The show ran for 423 performances. A photo from the show can be seen below. Sari Petrass and her costar, Robert Michaelis are seen in the photograph.  In 1916, Petrass was the subject of a rumor in America. It was falsely reported that she was executed in Hungary for being a British spy during World War 1. It was “fake news”. In late 1916, she moved to New York where she starred in “Miss Springtime” at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway. In 1917, she married a Long Island stock broker named Felix Augustus Eugene Sommerhoff. Sommerhoff was the nephew of composer Robert Schumann. Petrass continued performing after her marriage. In 1930, Sari Petrass and a friend (Lady Horne) were killed in an accident while in Belgium. Their chaufffeur was attempting to drive onto a ferry but he was blinded by beam from a lighthouse and crashed into the Scheldt River. Both Petrass, and her friend, died from drowning.                                                                                                                               

Postcard 1 is part of the “Arcadian Series” (no. A 67). The publisher was formerly The Arcadia Bazaar Co and was also known as the A B Company based in Ramsgate, England. Petrass was a sitter in six portraits in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery. The photographer of this image is Rita Martin. Miss Martin was well known for her expertise in taking portraits of theater stars and other celebrities. The message on the reverse of the postcard is signed in a cute manner, “Heaps of Love, Lucy”. (SOLD)       

Postcard 2 is a close-up portrait of Miss Petrass. Her beauty is captured in this photograph by Rita Martin. The postcard is published by Beagles Postcards as part of a series (no. 218 K). The publishing house was located in London, England.  (SOLD)

POSTCARD 1   (SOLD)

petrass 1 POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

PHOTO OF A TROLLEY TURNING AROUND AT POWELL AND MARKET STREETS IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

This vintage real photo postcard captures the “turning around” of a cable car in San Francisco, California. A caption on the front of the card discloses that the trolley is turning around at Powell and Market streets. Three conductors are doing the turning. Interestingly, the street sign in the photo is for Eddy Street. A sign on the trolley announces that the cable car is part of the Washington & Jackson Streets line. The car itself is numbered 518. Signage in the photograph advertises Florsheim Shoes, Paul’s Flower Stand, Hotel Powell, a cafeteria, and a liquor store. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle (1915) reveals that the flower stand still exists and has celebrated it’s 100th birthday. The stand was started because the founder of the next-door bank (Bank America) wanted a fresh flower in his lapel every day. In regard to the Powell Hotel; it was opened as the Hotel Turpin in 1908 and sold in 2014. The  was redone and renamed. It is currently named the “Axiom Hotel”. The reverse of this postcard is illuminating. The card was postmarked in 1948. The sender of the card had written a message to his parents in Middletown, Ohio. The sender is a soldier and will soon leave for Fort Worth, Texas with a Marine Sergeant and three other men. The postcard is clearly meant to be a way of keeping in touch and calming any worry experienced by his parents. This real photo postcard is in excellent condition (see scans).

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$36.00

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MAIE ASH : TWO REAL PHOTO PORTRAIT POSTCARDS OF ENGLISH STAGE BEAUTY (1905 & 1906)

 POSTARD 1 (SOLD)

 POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

maieashII POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

maieashII 1 POSTCARD 2 (MAGNIFIED)  (SOLD)

These two real photo postcards features stage beauty, Maie Ash (1888-1923). She was an English comedy actress and dancer. She made her London debut in 1902 at Shaftesbury Theatre. The next year she played the title role in Cinderella in Southampton. Other appearances include “Goody Two Shoes” (1904), “Yellow Fog Island” (1907), and “My Darling” (1907). Ash played Miss Gibbs in “Our Miss Gibbs” (1911). A reviewer of the play, writing for the “Playgoer Weekly”,  suggests that Ash was charming in her role and that her singing voice resembled that of popular actress, Miss Ellaline Terriss.  The reviewer added that her singing and dancing brought the audience much pleasure and that she demonstrated herself to be a “most finished musical comedienne”. She married actor Stanley Brett in 1909. He was the brother of celebrated actor Seymour Hicks. The pair divorced in 1913, and in 1915, she married comedian Fred Allandale. Apparently, Miss Ash and Mr. Allandale didn’t wait for their divorces before getting involved romantically. Ash was named by Allandale’s wife and Allandale was named by Ashe’s husband in their respective divorce petitions. So much for impulse control. Ash was the sitter for six portraits in Britain’s National Portrait Gallery.

Postcard 1 features a fetching portrait of Maie Ash. She is wearing a beautiful smile and has pretty eyes. The card was published by Ralph Dunn & Company which operated in London, England. The post card is part of a series (no. A 105).  The card has a 1905 postmark. The message on this postcard wishes the recipient “Many happy returns of the day”. According to Wikipedia, this 18th century greeting is meant to offer the hope that each happy day is repeated by other happy days, The saying was often used on birthdays, and in particular, as a response to “Merry Christmans” and “Happy New Year” wishes. The word “returns” also was used to wish a person that their day yields much happiness.(SOLD)       

Postcard 2  presents a close-up photograph of Miss Ash. The postcard is a bit risque for it’s time. Her low cut dress and her coy expression accentuate the beauty of the alluring actress. This postcard was published by the Rotary Photo Company as part of their “Rotary Photographic Series (No. 1831K)”. This photo of Maie Ash was taken by the Johnston & Hoffmann studio. Theodore Julius Hoffmann and P. A. Johnston established a commercial photography studio in Calcutta (1882) and Darjeeling (1890). They also operated a studio in Simla. Johnston and Hoffmann’s photography business was the second largest commercial photography studio in India in that period. Many of their images were of North and Northeast India as well as Sikkim and Nepal. Johnston & Hoffmann produced many photographs of actors and actresses. It is certain that these performers did not travel to India to have their photo taken. It seems likely that Johnston & Hoffmann also had a studio in England during some part of their careers. It is also possible that there were to separate studios that coincidentally shared the same name. This postcard was postmarked in 1906 in Southampton, England. The postcard is in very good condition (see scans).   (SOLD)                                                                                

 POSTCARD 1 (SOLD) 

maieashII 2 POSTCARD 2  (SOLD)

CLOSE-UP WEDDING PHOTO OF AN ATTRACTIVE EUROPEAN COUPLE

This vintage postcard features an attractive bride and groom. The postcard originates from Bulgaria. The card is in very good condition (see scans).

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$32.00

Published in: on November 1, 2019 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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