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The beautiful actress seen in the top vintage real photo postcard is named Ossi Oswalda (1897-1947). She was born in Germany and appeared predominately in silent films. She was a leading lady, popular comedienne, dancer, and singer. Due to her popularity, she was known as “the German Mary Pickford”. Ossi began her career as a ballerina and she danced in a chorus line for a theater in Berlin. She made her film debute in “Night of Horrors” (1916) and was noticed by actor/screenwriter Hanns Kraly, who introduced her to director Ernst Lubitsch. Oswalda’s early career began with appearances in several Lubitsch films. In 1921, she and her husband started a film production company that produced four films over four years, all starring Miss Oswalda. After 1925, she was under contract to UFA, a German film company. After the transition to “talkies”, Oswalda joined the ranks of actresses and actors, who’s career took a nose dive. She only acted in two sound films. Her final screen appearance was in “The Star of Valencia”. She then began acting on the stage. She appeared in operettas in Germany and Vienna. When the National Socialists took power in Germany, she emigrated to Prague with her “Jewish life partner”, Julius Aubenberg. In 1943, she wrote a story for a Czechoslovakian film. In summarizing Ossi’s career, the IMDb credits her with 51 film appearances, producing 5 films, and 1 screen writing credit. It is reported that she frequently played child-like spoiled women. She appeared in drag in at least one film. Oswalda’s first marriage (1919-1925) was to a Hungarian baron. After her divorce, the actress began a highly publicized romantic relationship with Crown Prince Willhelm (1882-1951). Simultaneously, the actress Lily Damita, was having an affair with the Prince’s son. The royal family put a kibosh to both “inappropriate” relationships. In 1947, she died in Prague at age 48, bankrupt and suffering from multiple health problems. This German real photo postcard is published by Ross Verlag soemetime between 1919 and 1924. The photograph of Miss Oswalda was taken by Becker & Maass of Berlin. Note her pretty hat and fan. Hopefully, she wasn’t allergic to feathers. Oswalda was young when this photograph was taken. She was beautiful and no older than 27 years of age.
Postcard 2 features Miss Oswalda in a very skimpy costume. Her feathered hat is quite showy . She has a wonderful smile and pretty eyes. This risque postcard was part of a series (no. 1050/2) and published by Ross Verlag of Berlin, Germany. The logo of UFA, a German film company, appears on the lower right hand corner of the postcard. The reverse of the postcard reveals that that the photographer is Strobl J. Nandor of Budapest, Hungary. (SOLD)
Postcard 3 is a German real photo postcard that was published by Ross Verlag. Miss Oswalda’s photo was taken by celebrity photographer Alex Binder. (SOLD)
Postcard 4 captures Miss Oswalda looking amused. She is flashing a wonderful smile. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag of Berlin, Germany (no.474/2). (SOLD)

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This vintage real photo postcard features Spanish model, dancer, and stage and screen actress, Conchita Montenegro (1911-2007). Montenegro learned classical and Spanish dance as a child. She is remembered for revolutionizing Spanish Dance. She transitioned to dramatic acting and starred in a number of productions. By the time she reached 13 years of age, she was famous in Hollywood, France, and Germany. She started in Hollywood with a contract with Metro Goldwyn Mayer. She began her film career in Spanish language versions of MGM movies. She quickly moved into American movies and her fame grew. In 1931, she left MGM for Fox Films. That same year, while on the way to shoot “The Cisco Kid” in Tucson, Arizona; she and many of the film crew and actors were involved in a serious train crash (derailment). In 1931, Fox named three of it’s actresses as “Fox debutante stars” and vowed to do so annually. Montenero, Helen Mack, and Linda Watkins were in the first trio that Fox honored as most likely to achieve stardom. Fox was competing with “WAMPAS Baby Stars” in forming this group of future stars. At times, Montenegro would perform at premiers of new films. She was able to showcase her multi talents, including vaudeville acts, at these shows. The IMDb credits Montenegro with 39 film appearances between 1927 and 1944. She played Lola Montes in the 1944 biopic. This vintage postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.5932/1). Note the logo for Metro Goldwyn Mayer in the bottom right hand corner of the image. Since Montenegro worked for MGM around 1930, she must have been around 19 years old when this photograph was taken. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

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This vintage real photo postcard features German film actress, Christa Tordy (1904-1945). She was the cousin of silent film star Mady Christians. In fact, she was “discovered” while visiting her cousin who was working on a film at the time. Tordy was a leading star in German film but she abruptly ended her screen career after marrying celebrated actor, Harry Liedtke. He was twenty years her senior. Tordy and her husband were murdered at their home by the Russian Red Army during its invasion of Germany in World War II. Tordy must have been a very bright woman based on her educational resume. She graduated high school at seventeen and then moved on to college in Berlin and Munich where she studied art history, archaeology, philosophy and literature. When she completed her academic studies, she was awarded a doctorate. While in school she also took part in student theater. Tordy’s film debut was in 1926. The IMDb reports that she had eight film appearances between 1926 and 1928. Her final film was “Love on Skis” and she costarred in the film with her husband. Tordy and Liedtke met a tragic end at the hands of the Red Army. Liedtke was clubbed to death trying to defend his wife from violence and rape. Before their murder, the pair had attempted suicide. This card was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.1947/1). Tordy’s photograph was taken by Rembrandt. This portrait postcard is in good condition.

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This postcard features a portrait of American film actress, Colleen Moore (1899-1988). She began her career in the silent film era. She was a fashionista and one of the highest paid stars of her time. She is also noted for popularizing the “dutchboy bobbed haircut”. Like many silent film stars, she was unable to adapt to “talkies” and decided to retire after just making a few sound films. Upon retirement, Moore focused on investing, and was quite talented in that realm. She became a partner at Merrill Lynch and wrote a book about how to invest in the stock market. One of her hobbies involved dollhouses. In the early 1950’s, she helped design and curate “The Colleen Moore Dollhouse” which is still exhibited at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Chicago, Illinois. The dollhouse is 9 square feet and worth millions of dollars and has been seen by millions of museum goers. Moore was born in Michigan and her family relocated to Atlanta around 1908.They then moved on to Pennsylvania and finally, Tampa, Florida. At fifteen years of age, Moore had a screen test with director D. W. Griffith. Griffith owed a debt to Moore’s uncle, a successful newspaper man in Chicago. Moore must have done well on the screen test since she soon found herself playing heroines in Westerns. She signed a contract with Triangle-Fine Arts and for the first few years she appeared in minor supporting roles. When the Triangle Company folded she signed with Selig Polyscope. She appeared in “A Hoosier Romance” and “Little Orphant Annie”. They were popular films and Moore achieved some celebrity. When Selig closed their doors, Moore went to work on films from various companies. Her star kept rising. In 1922, Moore was named a WAMPAS Baby Star (honor for actresses on the threshold of fame). The IMDb credits Moore with 65 film appearances between 1918 and 1934. At the height of her career, she was earning over twelve thousand dollars a week. This vintage portrait postcard features Colleen Moore with her trademark dutch boy bobbed haircut. The card was published by Ross Verlag. Note the logo for First National Pictures in the lower right hand corner of the image. The card has a 1926 postmark. Moore was about 27 years old when the photograph was taken. SOLD

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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5032
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This vintage real photo postcard features German soprano, Erna Sack (1898-1972). Her nickname was the “German Nightingale” due to her high vocal range. She looks pretty in her dizzying attire and her feathered hat. Her blonde hair has been styled into ringlets. Sack was a very successful opera star. She toured all around the world. She also made many radio appearances and recordings. She performed in two movies, Flowers from Nice (1936) and Nanon (1938).This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (no. A1930/1). The logo for the film company, UFA can be seen in the right hand lower corner of the image. Miss Sack’s photo was taken by the Hammerer studio. She also toured in the United States and one of the venues in her tour was Carnegie Hall. (SOLD)

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This vintage real photo postcard portrait (Postcard 1) features American actress Mary Philbin (1902-1993). She was active in film between 1918 and 1930. One of her most noted film roles was in “The Phantom of the Opera” (1925). She co-starred with Lon Chaney. A number of her roles involved playing the “beauty” in “Beauty and the Beast” type stories . Mary was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were middle-class and of Irish descent. Her mother was convivial but controlling and domineering. She pushed her strong religious beliefs onto Mary. She adored her father who was “quiet, shy, and reserved”. She was very similar, personality-wise, to her dad. She would accompany him to the theater and there she developed a passion for the stage. She pursued dance and played the pipe organ and piano. She lacked a singing voice, and surprisingly, never received training in acting. Mary’s acting career was launched after she won a beauty contest sponsored by Universal Pictures. The motion picture company promptly signed her to a contract. Her screen debut was in 1921 and during the following year she was named a WAMPAS Baby Star. This prestigious annual award, given by an association of film advertisers, was awarded to thirteen young women each year. These women were predicted to be on the verge of becoming major movie stars. During the 1920’s, Mary’s film career blossomed and she starred in a number of successful films, including “Drums of Love (1920), directed by D. W. Griffith. When “talkies” arrived, she played in a few films and even dubbed her own voice for the sound version of “Phantom of the Opera”. Unfortunately, her voice was considered too “girlish” to be suitable for talking pictures. She retired from the screen in the early 1930’s in order to become a caretaker for her elderly parents. She lived the rest of her life as a recluse. She never married and seldom made public appearances. An exception occurred when she attended the Los Angeles opening of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical version of “Phantom of the Opera”. She died of pneumonia at the age of ninety and is buried in Los Angeles, California. The IMDb reports that Mary appeared in 34 film between 1921 and 1929. She never married. In 1926 she became engaged to Universal producer, Paul Kohner. When her family learned of the engagement, they were infuriated. They demanded a meeting with Kohner and all went reasonably well until the subject of religion arose. Kohner was Jewish and Mary’s family was Catholic. Mary’s mother was adamant in her belief that Kohner would attempt to convert Mary to Judaism. Paul and Mary informed her parents that no such thing would happen. An argument developed between Paul and Mary’s parents. She was told by her parents that she would be disowned if she proceeded with her wedding plans. Mary was ambivalent but, in the end, despite still loving Paul, she returned her engagement ring to him. A biographer contends that this traumaticrd experience is the reason Mary never married. This vintage postcard was published by Ross Verlag, of Berlin, Germany. It is part of a series (no. 968/1). The name of the film distribution company (Filmhaus Bruckmann) can be seen on the bottom right corner of the image. A stamp on the reverse of the postcard indicates that it once was part of a collection belonging to Herman Overeem, of Utrecht, the Netherlands. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 was published by Ross Verlag, of Berlin, Germany. It is part of a series (no. 3239/1). The name of the film company (United Artists) can be seen on the bottom left corner of the image. (SOLD)


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This vintage real photo postcard features two smiling bathing beauties posing outside a beach cabana. This photograph is risque for it’s era. This image was produced by the studio of the esteemed photographer, Henry (Heinrich) Traut. The postcard was published by Rotophot Berlin (RPH). Rotophot eventually morphed into Ross Verlag. (SOLD)

This uncommon vintage real photo postcard features actress Mona Maris (1903-1991). The postcard was published by Ross Verlag (No.3887/1). The photograph is from the Hanni Schwarz studio. Schwarz was a German female photographer and her work was praised in “American Photography” (1909). She was a well known professional photographer in Germany during the early 1900’s. She is thought to have worked until the 1930’s. The subject of this photo, Mona Maris was born in Argentina. Her mother was Spanish Basque and her father was French Catalan. At the early age of four, Mona was orphaned. She grew up with her grandmother in France where she was educated in a convent as well as in Germany and England. At age 19, she spoke four languages. It was during World War I that Mona decided to be an actress. While she was in school in France, she and her classmates wrote, directed and acted in plays to entertain nearby troops. Upon graduation, she went to England to live, where she stayed two and a half years. She was introduced to the President of the United Film Association by the Argentinian ambassador to Germany. She was signed to a five year contract by Germany’s Universum Film AG productions. She began her film career in either 1924 or 1925. After just four films in Germany, she began a Hollywood career in United Artists “The Apache” (1925). Despite knowing multiple languages, the onset of sound films created a problem. Her English was described as “almost unintelligible”. Between 1931 and 1941, she starred in 19 Spanish language versions of successful American films. The movies were produced by Fox Films. She has been described as “sultry” and “sleepy eyed”. The IMDb credits her with 53 film roles between 1925 and 1984. Mona was married twice and had no children. She died and was buried in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This vintage postcard features Mona Maris posing with an adorable smoll dog. Maris is very pretty. Note her eyes. They have been compared to Bette Davis’s eyes. (SOLD)

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These vintage real photo postcards feature pretty Austrian actress Mia May (1884-1980). She was born in Vienna, the daughter of a baker. Her older sister was Mitzi Telmont (1879-1958), also an actress. Mia’s stage debut was when she was five years old. She played child roles until reaching age fourteen. As a teenager she appeared as Herma Angelot and performed as an actress and singer. While a high school student, she took ballet lessons. At age 18, she married Austrian, Julius Otto Mandl. The couple’s baby (Eva Maria Mandl) was born seven weeks later. Mia’s husband changed his name to Joe May, upon his entry into the film business. He became a successful film producer and director. This is how Eva adopted her performer name. She appeared in 44 films between 1912 and 1924. Mia’s daughter, Eva May, also became an actress. In 1912, Joe, Mia, and Eva moved to Berlin, where Joe worked as a film director. In 1912 he directed Mia in a film that launched her acting career. By 1914, little Eva May made her screen debut. Joe began his own film company, May-Film Gmb, in 1915. Mia took the position of Managing Director. In 1918, Mia wrote a screen play for “Your Big Secret”. Her movie career flourished in the 1910’s and early 1920’s. From 1919 to 1920 she was the star of an eight part film series (serial) called “Mistress of the World”. Mia reached a level of popularity equivalant to Asta Nielsen, Pola Negri, and Henny Porten. In 1923, she appeared in a film with a young Marlene Dietrich. Mia stated that Marlene Dietrich was “funny and engaging, attractive and original.” She added, “no man could resist her”. Mia May’s last film appearance was in “The Love Letters of Baroness S” (1924). She retired that same year after her daughter Eva committed suicide. In 1933, after seeing the Nazis gaining power, Mia and Joe May fled to America. The couple opened a restaurant (Blue Danube) in Los Angeles but it failed.
The photo portrait of Eva May seen Postcard 1 was taken by Alexander Binder. The photographer of this terrific image was Alexander Binder (1888-1929). He had the largest photo studio in Europe during the late 1920’s and the 1930’s. Many of his entertainment star portraits appear on Ross Verlag postards. It is thought that Binder was of Swiss origin. He was of the Jewish faith. He studied engineering but did not complete his studies. From 1908 to 1910 he studied photography at a school in Munich, Germany. After the completion of his photography studies, he went to Berlin and in 1913 opened his first photography studio. Before long, he became one of the premier photographers in Berlin. He primarily focused on fashion and celebrity photography. Since Berlin was the capital of the European film industry, Binder photographed all the stars of the European film industry including, Lilian Harvey, Conrad Veidt, and Lya De Putti. Many of his images were used in popular film portrait postcards. His photographs could be seen in postcards published by Ross Verlag and Photochemie. Binder died in 1929 but new photo cards bearing his signature continued to be published until 1937. It is thought that the real photographer of these new postcards was Hubs Floeter (1910-1974) who was employed at the studio as an operator. The studio continued to be owned by Binder’s widow, Mrs. Binder Alleman and their two daughters. The studio was managed by the Jewish Elisabeth Baroness Vonhedlis Stengel who was later deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. In 1938 the Nazi’s closed Binder’s studio and it was later taken over by an Aryan photographer, Karl Ludwig Haenchen . The postcard was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin) as part of a series (no533/3). Note the “May” logo in the lower right corner of the image. Miss May was working for May-Film at the time this photograph was taken. The stamp box seen on the reverse of this postcard has an interesting story attached to it. “NBC” (Neue Bromsilber Convention) was a price cartel established in 1909 that continued until the 1930’s. The purpose of the cartel was to ensure that the minimum price charged for postcards was kept at a sufficiently profitable level. A number of postcard publishing companies joined the cartel in an effort to stave off the effect of competition on the pricing of postcards. This vintage real photo portrait postcard has excellent clarity and is in very good condition (see scans).
Postcard 2 was also published by Ross Verlag. Once again, the photographer is Alex Binder. The postcard is part of the same series (533/2) as Postcard 1. The “May” logo can be seen on the bottom left corner of the image. This unposted postcard is in good condition (see scans).
Postcard 3 was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin) as part of a series (no230/3). Note the “May” logo in the lower right corner of the image. Miss May was working for May-Film at the time this photograph was taken. This vintage real photo portrait postcard has excellent clarity. The postcard has small stains in it’s top right corner. Overall, the postcard is in Good Condition (see scans)

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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3715
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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5113
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