THE CABINET CARD GALLERY

This charming and visually captivating piece of vintage sheet music, “I’m Forever Thinking of You,” (1920) is a fine example of early 20th-century popular music publishing, brought to life through both its romantic theme and its striking cover art. The lyrics were written by Lillian Fitzgerald, a lyricist active during the era when sentimental ballads and parlor songs were at the height of their popularity. Fitzgerald’s work reflects the period’s fondness for tender, emotionally direct expressions of love and longing. The music was composed by Clarence Senna, a prolific composer associated with Tin Pan Alley traditions. Senna contributed to a wide range of popular songs during the early decades of the 20th century, often collaborating with lyricists like Fitzgerald to produce accessible, melodic pieces designed for mass appeal. His compositions are typically marked by smooth, lyrical phrasing and a strong sense of melody. What truly elevates this sheet music, however, is the extraordinary cover illustration by Rolf Armstrong, one of the most celebrated American illustrators of the early 20th century. Armstrong was renowned for his idealized portrayals of feminine beauty—often referred to as “American Beauties”—which appeared on magazine covers, advertisements, and sheet music. His work is characterized by luminous skin tones, expressive eyes, and a soft yet vibrant use of color, all of which are beautifully evident here. The smiling young woman, rendered with warmth and vitality, reflects Armstrong’s exceptional ability to combine glamour with approachability. His contributions helped define the visual culture of the Jazz Age and remain iconic in the field of illustration. This piece was published by the A.J. Stasny Music Company of New York, a significant player in the popular music industry during the early 1900s. Stasny was known for producing a wide array of songs that catered to mainstream tastes, and their publications often featured eye-catching covers like this one to attract buyers. An additional point of interest is found on the reverse, which features an advertisement titled “Songs That Reach Every Heart.” This promotional page offers insight into the publisher’s catalog and marketing approach, highlighting other sentimental favorites of the period. This sheet music measures about 9 1/4 x 12 1/8 inches and is in very good condition. I scanned every page so you can judge the condition for yourself (see scans). 

This Sheet Music is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $9.95 or best offer. 

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236798079389

This press photo features Maria Rosaria Omaggio (1954–2024). She was an Italian actress, writer, and cultural figure whose career spanned film, television, and theater. Born in Rome, she gained recognition in the 1970s and went on to appear in a wide range of Italian and international productions, often noted for her elegance, intelligence, and strong screen presence. Beyond acting, Omaggio was also an accomplished author and a passionate advocate for cultural and humanitarian causes. She is perhaps best remembered for her portrayal of journalist Oriana Fallaci, a role that reflected both her dramatic depth and intellectual engagement. Over the course of her career, she remained a distinctive and respected presence in European cinema and the arts. The beauty of Omaggio is evident in this press photo. This image is from the television mini-series “La nouvelle malle des Indes” (1981). The black and white portrait-style image measures about 7 x 9 3/8 inches. The image is in excellent condition (see scans).

This Press Photo is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $24.00 or best offer. 

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236354012829

This is a truly charming and beautifully composed cabinet card portrait of a young girl, photographed by E. E. Seavy of New Castle, Pennsylvania. This engaging image captures the child standing confidently in a studio setting, holding a delicate parasol while dressed in a light, softly gathered dress with puffed sleeves. Her large, elaborately trimmed bonnet frames her face, and her softly curled hair—adorned with small bows—adds to the sweetness and period charm of the portrait. The pose is especially appealing. She appears caught in a moment of gentle movement, one hand lightly grasping the parasol while the other gestures as if mid-action, lending the image a sense of life and spontaneity that is often missing in more rigid studio portraits. Her expression carries a subtle smile—warm, curious, and full of personality—making this an especially endearing study of childhood. The mount is attractively styled with a decorative design. The photographer is Edgar E. Seavy (1859–1942), a well-regarded studio photographer who was active in New Castle, Pennsylvania beginning around 1890. Seavy initially operated in partnership with A. R. Fowler before establishing his own studio.This portrait is a fine example of his work—carefully lit, thoughtfully composed, and particularly strong in capturing the natural presence of a child. I currently have four additional cabinet card portraits of children by Seavy, and the consistency across these images makes it clear that he was an immensely talented photographer, especially when working with young subjects. This cabinet card is in overall very good condition. The photograph retains excellent clarity and soft, pleasing tonal range. The mount shows mild edge and corner wear, including more significant wear in the lower left corner. The card remains structurally sound and displays beautifully (see scans).

This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $88.00 at auction.

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236794140760

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty view of Northport Harbor. Northport is located on the Northshore of Long Island and is a community in the township of Huntington. This nautical scene takes place on Long Island Sound. Note the houses at the water’s edge, which include the local yacht club,  as well as the houses built on the hills of the village. Also note the sailboats and the rowboat which likely served as a launch. Historically, Northport was a town and port that was involved in the whaling industry. Many of the houses of the ship captains that lived by the water in the 1800’s, still are housing many of the town’s residents today. They are beautiful and high end residences. This postcard is undivided and was postmarked in 1905. The photograph seen on this card was taken by W. H. Barto.  SOLD

This vintage real photo postcard features Manon Loti, a beautiful performer of the Belle Epoque and a noted courtesan. At least one of her liaisons has been written about. She had a short passionate affair with the dashing and wealthy Russian nobleman, Nikolay Felixovich Yusupov. The two were “inseparable” during their affair in Paris. Nikolay’s brother, Prince Felix, described Loti as a beautiful and famous courtesan who lived in great luxury. Loti employed a dwarf as her servant and “mascot”. This postcard was published by Raphael Tuck & Son as part of the “Types of Beauty” series (5029). The postcard has a British stamp and was postmarked in 1904. SOLD

This is a striking and elegant Belle Époque hand tinted portrait postcard featuring the actress Brandes, photographed by the renowned Paris studio of Léopold-Émile Reutlinger. This beautifully composed image, issued as part of the S.I.P. (Société Industrielle de Photographie) series, bears the serial number 1187. The subject is presented in a classic Reutlinger studio style—softly lit, refined, and idealized—wearing an ornate lace bodice with delicate hand-applied tinting in pale blue and cream tones. A string of pearls and her carefully styled coiffure reinforce the fashionable aesthetic of the early 1900s. Reutlinger’s studio was widely known for producing high-quality portrait photographs of leading actresses, opera singers, and stage personalities, many of which were issued as collectible postcards during the height of the Belle Époque. The sitter is identified as Brandes, very likely Marthe Brandes (1862–1930), a French stage actress and comedienne active in Parisian theatre during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was a member of the Comedie-Francaise in 1896. She also played at the Theatre de la Renaissance. She often played the femme fatale. She appeared in works by notable playwrights such as Alexandre Dumas and Maurice Donnay. She was associated with the vibrant theatrical scene of Paris, frequently appearing in productions that blended drama and light comedy. As with many performers of the period, surviving biographical detail is somewhat limited, but her presence in Reutlinger’s catalog confirms that she had achieved a level of recognition sufficient to warrant commercial postcard distribution.The card is addressed to a gentleman in Carpentras, France. The postcard was postmarked in 1906. In regard to condition,  the postcard is in overall good condition with strong visual appeal. The image retains excellent contrast and detail, and the hand-tinting remains attractive and well-preserved. There is light, even age toning to the card stock. The upper right corner shows the original stamp and postmark, with minor associated wear. Corners show mild wear consistent with age (see scans).

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $14.00 at auction

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236787768354

This vintage real photo postcard features Trude Berliner (1903-1977), German actress, singer and dancer. She was also a popular cabaret and comic performer at the Scala and Wintergarten in Berlin during the 1920’s.  This postcard captures her doing a happy dance. The photo is risque. She is showing her bare legs and lifting her dress. Her film career took off and she ultimately appeared in 48 films between 1916 and 1955. She was in a number of well known German movies. Berliner was forced to flee Germany when the Nazis took power in 1933. She first went to France but emigrated to the United States in 1939. Unfortunately, Hollywood did not offer the kind of opportunities she experienced in Europe. She was only able to obtain bit parts in four movies. Interestingly, her first role in an American film was in “Casablanca” (1942). She left acting after 1945 and managed a date farm. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.7390/1). The photograph on this postcard was taken by H. Jeidels at his Berlin studio.  (SOLD)

This charming 19th-century cabinet card photograph features a baby posed beside a beautifully dressed porcelain doll. The infant leans forward over a wooden prop, gazing directly at the camera with a curious and slightly mischievous expression. The child is dressed in a light gown with delicate lace trim, while the doll beside her is ornately dressed, wearing a finely pleated gown accented with lace and an elaborate feathered bonnet. The pairing of the child and doll creates a whimsical and endearing composition. The photograph was taken at the studio of Saettele, located in St. Louis, Missouri (imprinted on the mount). Research reveals that the Saettele studio was at the address on the mount only one year (1905). This studio portrait has crisp clarity, strong contrast, and uses fur rugs and furniture props to stage the image. The mount is a standard cabinet card size, with the photographer’s name “Saettele” in ornate script at the bottom.  (SOLD)

This is a striking and somewhat unusual cabinet card portrait featuring a young man posed in studio, dressed in what appears to be a distinctive uniform or occupational attire. The photograph has a strong presence, with the sitter facing forward and engaging the viewer directly, his expression calm, alert, and slightly intense. He wears a neatly groomed thin mustache, and his wide, steady gaze adds a sense of personality and individuality to the image. What immediately stands out is his clothing. He is dressed in a buttoned leather or leather-like jacket, which has a slightly reflective surface, suggesting either treated leather or a heavy protective garment. Beneath it, he wears a high-collared shirt or tunic. On his head is a rounded cap with a structured band, reminiscent of military or early industrial uniforms. The overall look strongly suggests an occupational or service-related portrait—possibly railway, early aviation, mechanical trades, or even a paramilitary or military-adjacent role. While it is difficult to definitively identify the exact profession, the uniform is clearly not ordinary civilian dress. The mount is attractively printed with decorative elements. The reverse is particularly informative and places the photograph geographically. It is printed in both Russian and French. The presence of Cyrillic text, combined with the bilingual French wording (common in higher-end studios of the Russian Empire), strongly indicates that this cabinet card originates from Imperial Russia, likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century (circa 1895–1910). The photograph presents well overall with a pleasing, slightly warm sepia tone and good clarity of detail. There is moderate, honest age-related wear to the mount, including some edge and corner wear, light soiling, and minor surface marks. Notably, there is a visible diagonal crease at the top right corner of the mount, which can be felt when handled but does not break through or significantly distract from the image area. See Scans

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $80.00 at auction

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236779044557

This is a beautiful and highly appealing real photo postcard featuring a glamorous young woman in a softly posed, intimate portrait that perfectly captures the elegance and style of the late Edwardian to early 1920s period. The image has been tastefully hand-colored, with delicate pink tones to the cheeks, soft natural coloring to the lips, and rich hues brought out in her clothing and surroundings, giving the portrait a warm, lifelike presence. The young woman reclines slightly, resting her head gently on her hand, her expression calm, inviting, and quietly confident. Her gaze meets the viewer with a subtle softness that gives the image a distinctly personal, almost cinematic quality. She is fashionably dressed in a light, flowing garment with soft blue tones, accented by a string of pearls around her neck.  A thin dark headband worn across the forehead reflects the transitional style moving toward the 1920s, while her softly waved hair frames her face beautifully. Adding to the composition are decorative floral elements, including small pink roses woven into the scene, and richly colored drapery beneath her arm, which enhances the romantic, almost boudoir-like atmosphere. The lower right corner bears the signature “Saphir 202,” identifying the publisher—Saphir being well known for producing high-quality European glamour postcards in the early 20th century. I have found Saphir cards to be uncommon. Printing on the reverse of the divided back postcard confirms its French manufacture. The postcard is in excellent antique condition overall. The image remains vibrant with strong contrast and attractive coloration (see scans).

This vintage postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $28.00 at auction

Interested collectors may view the listing here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/236779160241