This vintage real photo postcard features English actress, Eleanor (Nellie) Souray (1880-1931). She was also known as Viscountess, or Lady Torrington. She was known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedies, pantomime, and light opera. Her sister, Maidie Souray was also an actress. Eleanor ran away from school to act in a touring company from Brighton. It was not long before she was starring in plays on the London stage. Among the plays she appeared in were “The Black Tulip” (1898), “The Blue Moon” (1905), and “The Merveilleuses” (1906). She was also a Gaiety Theatre girl. Eleanor was also an author, penning “Over the Garden Wall: A Story of Racing and Romance” (1924). In 1910, she wed George Master Byng, the 9th Viscount Torrington. They only knew each other three day before they were married. They shared a strong interest in horse racing. The pair divorced after World War l. She became more involved in horse racing and that interest led to her bankruptcy in 1930. In 1931 she committed suicide by gas. At the time of her death she was struggling with poverty and loneliness.
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. This postcard presents a beautifully staged studio photograph of the young, strikingly pretty actress posed in what appears to be an interior working space rather than a domestic room. The setting is almost certainly a theatrical or photographic studio set, carefully arranged to suggest activity and character rather than everyday life. She is shown seated at a spinning wheel, her hands engaged with the mechanism as if in the act of spinning wool or thread. The wheel itself is prominently placed in the foreground, its turned wooden elements and spindle clearly visible, lending the image a strong sense of craft and period atmosphere. To the left, a mass of raw wool or fiber rests against the wheel, reinforcing the impression that she is meant to be “working,” though the scene is clearly theatrical and symbolic rather than documentary. Her costume is elaborate and highly decorative, consistent with late Victorian or Edwardian stage imagery. She wears a richly colored dress—hand-tinted in shades of deep plum or rose—with a fitted bodice and full skirt patterned with small floral motifs. The sleeves are puffed and trimmed with lace, and a sheer white lace fichu or shawl softens the neckline. Her hair is styled in soft waves and partially covered with a lace cap or bonnet, adding to the pastoral, old-world aesthetic. Dark lace gloves extend partway up her forearms, emphasizing elegance over practicality. Her expression is gentle and composed, with a direct yet slightly wistful gaze toward the camera. The pose balances grace and suggestion of labor, a common visual trope in actress postcards of the period, where beauty and refinement are foregrounded even in scenes meant to evoke work or tradition. The image is clearly a studio composition, not a real working room. The neutral background, controlled lighting, and carefully placed props indicate a staged photographic environment designed to showcase the sitter’s charm and versatility rather than document an actual interior. At the bottom margin, the card is identified as No. 181 in a series published by J. Beagles & Co., with a photographer crediting the photographic studio “Window & Grove,”. Overall, this is a classic British actress postcard: romantic, theatrical, and visually rich, combining period costume, symbolic activity, and the carefully cultivated image of a popular and very attractive stage performer. This vintage postcard is in good condition. There is minor corner and edge wear present (see scans).
This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $14.00 or best offer.
This vintage real photo postcard features a most adorable little girl in a fancy dress standing beside a spinning wheel and her cute dog. A spinning wheel is a device used to spin thread or yarn from fibres. It was an important tool prior to the Industrial Revolution. An inscription on the reverse of this photograph reveals that the girls name is Odette and the photo was taken in 1927. SOLD
This is a beautiful and tender 1906 cabinet card portrait by the highly regarded German court photographer Hermann Klebusch of Mannheim. The image shows a refined mother seated with her young son, who wears a handsome sailor-style outfit typical of children’s fashion in the early 20th century. The boy looks directly at the viewer with a calm, steady expression, while his mother gazes down at him lovingly. She is dressed in an exquisite high-necked blouse with intricate lace, ruffles, and puff sleeves—fashion hallmarks of the Edwardian period. The composition is elegant and intimate. The mother gently steadies an open book on her lap while the boy holds one corner of the page. The chair with its tassel fringe and the soft studio background add richness and depth to the scene. This is a superb example of German studio portraiture during a time when photographic ateliers were producing some of Europe’s finest family images. The front mount is printed in gold with the photographer’s name, Herm. Klebusch, along with the coat of arms indicating his designation as a Hofphotograph—a Court Photographer, a prestigious title granted to photographers who served royalty or nobility. The reverse is beautifully printed in gold, giving details about the photographer’s studio and stating the photograph was taken in 1906. The cabinet card remains in very good antique condition. The photograph itself is crisp and clean, showing only the faintest signs of age. Tonal range is strong. The mount is solid and attractive with light, age-appropriate edge wear but nothing distracting. The gold printing on both front and back remains sharp and vivid. Overall, this is a very well-preserved example with outstanding display appeal.
This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $48.00 or best offer
This cabinet card captures a young boy posing for his portrait while wearing a winter coat and wide brimmed hat. The child has a dour expression and looks none too happy to be posing for a photographer. The boy is holding a stick of some sort. It is very likely a toy given to him to keep him occupied. The photographer of this photograph is J. C. Knowles. He operated a studio in New Bedford, Massachusetts. This cabinet card is in good condition (see scans).
This Cabinet Card is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $28.00 or best offer
This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty young woman and her collie dog. The photographers model is skimpily dressed and most of her legs are exposed. This image is risque for it’s era. The photographer is listed as “Underwood”. It is my hypothesis that this postcard was actually produced by the publishing company of Underwood & Underwood. This New York firm existed between 1882 and 1920. The company was founded by photographers Elmer and Burt Underwood in Ottawa, Kansas. The headquarters was moved to New York City in 1897. The firm grew and soon had offices in Toronto, Canada and London, England. Underwood & Underwood was known for publishing stereo-views, and in fact, they published nearly 40,000 titles. In 1910 they began to supply news photos for newspapers and postcard publishers. It appears that the image seen in this photo postcard was supplied by Underwood to the National Herald. Underwood & Underwood was sold to the Keystone View Company in 1921. This postcard was published by Rotary Photo (London, England) as part of a series (No. A362-3). SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features two adorable siblings clad in bathing suits preparing for the beach. Both children are holding shovels and the little boy is also holding a pail. They are ready to build castles in the sand. This postcard was published by Gale’s Studios, which had branches in multiple cities in the United Kingdom. This is likely a one-of-a-kind photo postcard. The postcard is in overall good condition (see scans).
This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $34.00 or best offer.
This memorial cabinet card was published in loving memory of William B. Banning (age 21). He died in 1888. This photograph was was likely commissioned by Mr. Banning’s family in order to keep his memory alive. The publisher of this card as well as Banning’s hometown are not indicated on the cabinet card. Preliminary internet research did reveal some information about William Banning. He was born on 7/26/1867 in Hartland, Connecticut. He lived there until his death. His father was Cowdry Ambrose Banning (1831-1918). He worked as a farmer. His mother was Marth A Bowers (Banning) (1841-?). He had one sibling; a sister named Clara Jane Banning (Barnes). He is buried in the East Hartland Cemetery in Hartland. I was unable to find his cause of death. SOLD
This is a real photo postcard featuring Miss Doris Stocker (1886–1968), a celebrated Edwardian musical comedy actress and singer. The postcard was published by Davidson Brothers of London (Series 2263) and photographed by the well-regarded studio of Bassano. Stocker is pictured in an elegant feathered hat and ruffled costume, her expression refined and engaging, which perfectly reflects her reputation as one of the most charming stars of the Edwardian stage. On the reverse, the card carries a handwritten note. The text, though incomplete, reads: “My Dear Alice, just a few lines to you hoping you are fairly quite well, what do you think about that idea about that box? I think it would be alright. we should…”The remainder trails off. Doris Stocker was born in Bombay, British India in 1886 and moved with her family to London in the 1890s. She became a chorus girl under George Edwardes at the famous Gaiety Theatre before moving into starring roles in West End musical comedies. Among her best-known performances were in The Cingalee (1904), A Waltz Dream (1911), Theodore & Co. (1912), and To-Night’s the Night (Shubert Theatre, New York, 1914). In 1917, she married Sir Henry Segrave, who later became famous for breaking world land and water speed records. Doris retired from the stage after her marriage and lived a quieter life, though she remained a figure of public interest, particularly following Sir Henry’s tragic death in 1930. He died in a racing boat accident while setting a racing boat speed record of nearly 99 miles per hour. She passed away in London in 1968. The postcard is in excellent condition for its age. The photographic image is clear with strong contrast. The reverse shows a neat handwritten message (see scans).
This vintage Postcard is available for purchase at my store, The History Peddler, for $14.95 or best offer.
This vintage color postcard captures a lively street view of Main Street, Huntington, Long Island, New York, circa early 1950s. The photograph is taken at the intersection of Prospect Street and Main Street, looking east. The scene features a bustling downtown filled with classic automobiles from the era, including sedans and coupes parked along both sides of the street. Shops and storefronts line the left side, including signage for Abbott’s and other businesses, while large trees and a church spire rise above the streetscape, adding charm to this picturesque small-town setting. A red traffic light hangs prominently above the intersection, further rooting the image in mid-20th-century Americana. The reverse side includes a handwritten note postmarked in 1952, from Huntington, NY, with a 3-cent purple Jefferson stamp. The card was published by Louis Dormand, Riverhead, Long Island, N.Y. and printed in “Dexter Press” (Pearl River, NY) color (Kodachrome reproduction).(SOLD)
