PRETTY STAGE ACTRESS: MISS DOROTHY CHARD (TWO REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS)

actress

POSTCARD 1  (SOLD)

 

chard 1

POSTCARD 2    (SOLD)

This vintage real photo postcard features Edwardian theater actress Miss Dorothy Chard. Preliminary research yielded little information about her life and her career. More intensive research is required to uncover biographical information. The Internet Broadway Data Base (IBDB) notes that Miss Chard appeared in eleven Broadway shows from 1926 through 1930. She played in musicals but she primarily appeared in comedies. Among her credits are “Merry-Go-Round” (1927) and “Cinderelative” (1930). The dearth of information about Miss Chard reveals that she certainly was not a leading actress of her time but she certainly was beautiful and well known enough to merit the publishing of a photo postcard by the Rotary Postcard company. This postcard was part of the Rotary Photographic series (no. 4353 A). The photograph of Dorothy Chard appearing on this postcard was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield Studio.The pair were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio from the 1900’s through the 1920’s. The postcard is postmarked 1909 from Edinburg, Scotland. Edinburg is Scotland’s capital city. The content of the message on this postcard mentions “fresh cards” referring to newly released photo postcards. Collecting such cards was a popular hobby during this era. I guess this hobby was a precursor to collecting pokemon. I prefer collecting photo portraits. Call me “old school”.      (SOLD)                                               

       The second vintage postcard features a portrait of Dorothy Chard from the same series as the top postcard. This Rotary postcard (no. 4353 K) presents a more complete view of the actress. Miss Chard was dressed in different clothing and accessories for the two portraits. She looks very friendly in card 1 but has an arrogant expression in card 2. The message on the reverse of this postcard states “Dearest Lil, Have you been feeling well today. I have. M. has not spoken to me yet. Wish I was going to see you tonight. –?– on saturday night. Have you had your chocolates? Hope you will like the P-C (postcard). I think it is very good. With fondest love. I remain yours forever.  (JM?)  My- Word -” It is interesting that the writers of postcard 1 and 2 both mention the photo postcard that they are sending. It would be interesting to know what “My-Word-” means. Does it mean “I will remain yours forever, you have my word”. Hopefully, a Cabinet Card Gallery visitor will be able to offer an explanation,  (SOLD)

actress-1

POSTCARD 1

 

chard 1 1

POSTCARD 2   (SOLD)

Published in: on December 11, 2017 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN AND HER PIPE SMOKING DOG

This unusual cabinet card portrait features a pretty young woman and her pipe smoking dog. The young lady is flashing a terrific smile which is highly unusual during the cabinet card era. It is very understandable that she is smiling as she poses for this humorous photograph. It is my guess that the woman is a teenager. She is wearing a very busy dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat. Her canine friend is wearing a wide collar and seems to be begging for the girl’s attention. One wonders if this is a photograph of a professional dog trainer who performs in carnivals, or if this image is a reflection of a creative subject or photographer. The identity of the subject and the photographer are unknown. The dog appears to be a Boston Terrier.    (SOLD)

Published in: on December 10, 2017 at 12:32 pm  Comments (2)  
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PORTRAIT OF COLONIAL VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS: THE “TONKINESE RIFLES” (1905)

This vintage real photo postcard presents us with a glimpse of history in southeast Asia during colonial times. The postcard features a group of soldiers; three are Vietnmese and one is French. The caption under the photograph describes the group of soldiers as a  “Groupe de Tirailleurs Tonkinois”. The Tirailleurs were soldiers comprising several regiments of local ethnic indochinese infantry organized by the French colonial authorities.The Tirailleurs were originally established in Vietnam in 1880. The regiment members in this photograph came from the noted “Tonkinese Rifles”. Initially these regiments were known to have problems with a high rate of desertion. Eventually, with French marine officers, the Vietnamese force became effective. They were positioned to occupy France’s indochinese possessions, These troops also served in Indochina, China (Boxer Rebellion), Russia (1918-1919), Syria (1920-1921), and Morroco (1925-1926). They also participated in World War I. In 1945, some regiments rebelled against the occupation of Vietnam by Japan. Despite a fierce resistance, the Tirailleurs were nearly annihilated. The illustration below shows a soldier from a regiment (Annamite Tirailleur) that fought alongside the “Tonkinese Rifles”. This postcard was published by R. Moreau (Hanoi) and is part of a series (no. 1138). The postcard was postmarked at Ninh Binh in 1905 and has a French stamp. Ninh Bình is a province in North Vietnam’s Red River Delta.  SOLD

                   Illustration of a Tirrailleur (Wikiepedia)                                                                 

     

            

 

 

 

Published in: on December 9, 2017 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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HAND TINTED REAL PHOTO POSTCARD PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY YOUNG GIRL

This real photo postcard portrait features a pretty long haired young girl wearing a fancy colorful hat. The hat is trimmed with pink ribbon. The postcard is an Oranotypie. An Oranotypie is a trade name for a type of glossy real photo postcard published by NPG at the beginning of the 20th century. NPG was a German publisher located in Berlin and Stuttgart, Germany. A. G. Steglitz, is also noted as the publisher and the photo was produced in 1904. The postcard was written in 1908 and has a postmark from Villar-les-Dombes, France.  (SOLD).

Published in: on December 7, 2017 at 3:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN AND A TILTED CHAIR

This cabinet card portrait features a young woman holding a chair in a tilted position. One can assume that she was instructed to do so by the photographer, George C. Urlin (1854-1942). The “tilted chair technique” greatly improves the image compared to those photographs where the subject stands next to a chair in it’s regular position. I think the technique makes the image appear less flat. Urlin’s studio was located in Columbus, Ohio and it was named “The Mammoth Art Gallery”. The studio was founded in 1873 and he was active in Columbus until 1887. At that time he moved to Cleveland for a couple of years and returned to his photography career in Columbus in 1889. At times Urlin worked in partnerships in Columbus. During his career, Urlin received many medal for his work, Some of these medals can be seen on this photographs back stamp. The latest medal shown is from 1885. There are several photographs by Urlin that are in the Cabinet Card Gallery collection. To see additonal images, click on the category “Photographer: Urlin”.

Published in: on December 6, 2017 at 8:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MYSTERIOUS WOMAN IN THE DARK IN GRENAY, FRANCE

Who is this pretty and well dressed young woman? Is she an actress or fashion model? I fear that her name may be lost to history. This real photo postcard presents a mystery. Maybe a visitor to the Cabinet Card Gallery will be able to identify her.A stamp on the reverse of the postcard indicates that the photographer is G. Leturgez (?) who operated a studio in Grenay, France. Leturgez appears to be a master of lighting. The photo is dated 1930.

Published in: on December 3, 2017 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF TWO MEN, ONE IS TAKING NOTES

This vintage photograph features two men. What is the story behind this photo? The men are fairly well dressed, but not in a way that they appear to be going to a formal social event. My guess is that this is an occupational photograph. One man is holding a pencil and a sheet of paper. Are these men reporters? Are they some sort of order takers? What’s your guess? Note that the gentleman are posed in a manner that each has one foot on a stool. The stool is a somewhat unusual prop for this era photograph. The identities of the subjects and the photographer are unknown.  (SOLD)

Published in: on December 2, 2017 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  

TWO WOMEN DRESSED AS NATIVE AMERICANS IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

This vintage photograph features two women dressed as Native Americans. One wonders what occasion caused these ladies to dress in this fashion. Perhaps they are actresses in costume for a theatrical production? Note the women’s beads, Indian blanket, and single feathers atop their heads. Also notice that one of the woman is holding a knife. This photograph was taken by the Taylor Studio in Hartford, Connecticut. Credit for who took this photograph is a bit confusing. First of all, the city of Hartford is crossed out under the studio’s logo. Further complicating identification of the photographer is the fact that beneath the Taylor logo is the embossed signature of another studio (I can’t decipher the studio’s name). This second studio is located in New Britain, Connecticut. It appears to me that the Taylor Studio used the New Britain studio’s card stock rather than invest in new card stock. Research was able to find a photograph of the Taylor Studio. It may be seen on the postcard below. Focus on the banner sign hanging on the fourth floor on the building seen on the far left side of the postcard. The banner is located next to the fourth floor window and reads “Taylor Photo Studio”.  SOLD

Published in: on December 1, 2017 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PRETTY JAPANESE WOMAN WEARING A KIMONO AND HOLDING AN UMBRELLA

asian woman kimono

This vintage photograph features a pretty Japanese woman in traditional clothing standing in a garden. She is wearing a kimono and holding an umbrella. The traditional Japanese umbrella may be a “wagasa” (made of bamboo and paper). The young woman and the photographer are unidentified. This photograph is nearly postcard size (3 1/4″ x 5 1/4″).

SOLD

asian woman kimono 1

Published in: on November 30, 2017 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THE BROOKS BROTHERS SITTING ON A PARK BENCH

This vintage real photo postcard features three very well dressed gentlemen sitting on a bench. The wooded backdrop gives the appearance that the men are sitting in a park. The men in this photograph have been identified as the Brooks brothers. Not really. They are not the Brooks brothers, but they sure belong in Gentlemen’s Quarterly magazine. Interestingly enough, Brooks Brothers is the oldest men’s clothier in the United States (established 1818) and predates the time that this photograph was taken. The stamp box on this postcard indicates that it was published sometime between 1904 and 1918. The men in this photo are unidentified as is the photographer.  (SOLD)

Published in: on November 29, 2017 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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