This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty Russian performer. The name in the postcards caption translates to “Kuskova”. Research is needed to learn more about her. This postcard was published by Richard (St. Petersburg} as part of a series (No.302). The photographer was “Peratorsky”. (SOLD)
This is a vintage real photo postcard (RPPC) portrait of a young African American woman standing in front of a porch in front of a house. She holds a vase of flowers in one hand, and with the other she lightly rests on a wooden chair beside her, on which her hat lies. Along the porch railing (behind her) are potted plants that add a charming domestic detail to the setting. She’s dressed in a light-colored, modest dress with three-quarter sleeves. Around her neck is a pendant necklace suspended from a fine chain. The pendant appears to be a small oval or medallion (hard to see the exact motif, but visible in closeups). Her hair is styled simply (likely bobbed or softly waved), and her expression is calm, with a slight, poised gaze toward the camera. The photo was taken outdoors (natural light) in front of a porch, likely in a residential neighborhood. The background includes lattice or railings, and potted plants suggest someone cared for the space. The chair beside her provides a prop that complements the composition. On the reverse, the card bears an AZO stamp box, with two triangles at the top pointing upward and two triangles at the bottom pointing downward. That is a known style used in ASO / AZO postcard backs, and those two-up/two-down triangles typically date a postcard to the ~1918 to 1930 period. Also, the reverse has the handwritten name and address. The name is Hattie Gilmore and the address is in Los Angeles. Presumably, the woman in the photo is Hattie. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features the High View Hotel, located in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. The wooden hotel has three porches, two elevated. Guests are posing for the photo at all three levels. Chesapeake Beach is and was a resort community. It golden days were in the early 1900’s. Steamer ships from Baltimore and trains from Washington D.C. would fill the town with tourists on the weekends. There was a lot to do in the town including swimming, strolling a long boardwalk with amusements, bowling, theater, music, dancing, drinking and gambling. This postcard was published by William H. Tutty (Chesapeake Beach). SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features British silent film actress, Lilian Hall-Davis (1898-1933). She had much success in silent films but struggled with the transition from silent to sound films. This frustration and disappointment likely led to her experiencing mental health problems and eventually to her suicide at the age of 35. She was one of Britain’s leading actresses in the 1920’s, appearing in numerous films that showcased her charm, talent and on-screen presence. She worked with some of the most respected directors of her time and was a recognized talented actress in both British and International films. She starred in both romantic and dramatic roles. She is best remembered for her performances in two of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, “The Ring” (1927) and “The Farmer’s Wife” (1928). Other notable performances were in “The Passionate Adventure” (1924), “The Ghost Train” (1927), and “The Guns of Loos” (1928). Her popularity is reflected by the number of collectible postcards (such as this one) and photographs that were published during her era. This postcard shows Miss Hall-Davis with short wavy styled dark hair. understated make-up and large expressive eyes. Her gaze is slightly off-camera, conveying a reflective, almost wistful mood. She is wearing an elegant sleeveless dress adorned with embellishments along the shoulder strap. A delicate pearl necklace adds to her refined and classic look. The photographer of Miss Hall-Davis’s portrait was Schneider, a Berlin based photographer, The postcard was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin). Ernst Schneider was one of the most celebrated studio photographers in Berlin during three decades (1900’s, 1910’s, 1920’s). He photographed many celebrities from the world of theater, opera, circuses, and film. He was also one of the most prominent fashion photographers in Berlin. In addition, he was well known for his nude photography and he published books showcasing his work in this domain. Sometime around 1908 Schneider began working with postcard publishers “Rotophot” and “Neue Photographische Gesellschaft” (NPG). In 1919 he began working with Ross Verlag. SOLD
POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
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Postcard 1 features German actress, Brigitte Helm (1908-1996). The postcard captures Miss Helm taking a photograph with a camera on a tripod. Photographs of photographers in action are quite collectible. Now, back to Brigitte Helm. She is best known for her dual role in Fritz Lang’s 1927 silent film, Metropolis. After “Metropolis” she played in a long string of movies where she typically had the starring role. Helm was typecast as a Vamp or a femme fatale. She was born in Berlin. Her father was a Prussian Army officer. She was interested in acting at an early age and by age 12, was taking lead parts in school plays. At the age of 17, she acted in “Metropolis”. In 1925 she signed a ten year contract with UFA. She performed in both silent films and talkies. Beside “Metopolis” (1927), Helm was best known for “A Daughter of Destiny” (1928), “L’Argent” (1928), and “Alraune” (1929). Helm had an eventful personal life. Helm was involved in several traffic accidents. In fact, she was briefly placed in prison for manslaughter charges. She married industrialist, Dr Hugo Kunheim. The Nazis were not very pleased with her choice in men because Kunheim was Jewish. In 1935, Helm retired and moved with her husband to Switzerland where they started a family. Helm explained her retirement was because of disgust about the Nazi’s taking over the German film industry. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.8486/1). The card has the UFA logo which reveals it was published between 1925 and 1935. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 captures Miss Helm in a beautiful dress that illustrates her nice figure. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (No.8486/1). The card has the UFA logo which reveals it was published between 1925 and 1935. (SOLD)
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This is an original cabinet card portrait from the noted Boston photographer Elmer Chickering. Chickering was among the city’s most prominent portrait photographers in the late 19th century, well known for photographing actors, political figures, and Boston society. The photograph captures a young woman posed in formal attire. Her hair is neatly pulled up and arranged high on her head, giving prominence to her face. She wears a dark dress with a row of ornate buttons down the bodice, along with a crisp white collar. Her expression is calm and composed, reflecting the classic, dignified portrait style of the period. The clarity and lighting emphasize her facial features against a subtly textured backdrop. The photographer’s imprint is printed in gold script across the lower border of the mount. The mount itself is in a rich, dark brown tone.On the reverse, the ornate Chickering studio back mark dominates the card, decorated with scrollwork and flourishes. In period handwriting, the sitter is identified as “Maggie McDonough”. The inscription is dated 1894. (SOLD)
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These color tinted vintage real photo postcards feature French actress and singer, Jane Hading (1859-1941). She was born in Marseille, France and was the illegitimate daughter of an actor there at the Theatre du Gymnase. She made her first stage appearance at three years of age. She trained at the local Conservatoire and in 1873 she was hired to perform at a theatre in Algiers. She then was engaged to perform in Cairo, Egypt, where she played coquette, soubrette and ingenue roles. Returning to Marseille, she did stage acting and she sang in operettas. Her first appearance in Paris was in 1879 at the Palais Royal. In 1884, she married playwright and theatre manager, Victor Koning but the pair were divorced within three years. In 1888 and 1893, she toured America. Later, she toured South America with a theater company. In around 1892 she joined the Comedie Francaise. By this time, she was an established star in France, America, and England. She was also considered one of the prettiest actresses of her time.
Jane Hading’s portrait on Postcard 1 was taken by Leopold Reutlinger (Paris). This postcard was published by SIP. The card is part of a series (No.170/17). This is an undivided card and dates back to circa 1903. SOLD
Jane Hading’s portrait on Postcard 2 was taken by Paul Boyer. Paul Boyer was a renowned French photographer born in 1861 and died in 1952. Based in Paris, he gained prominence for his portrait photography, particularly of actors, actresses, and other cultural figures during the Belle Époque. Boyer was known for his use of innovative photographic techniques and artistic lighting, which brought a distinctive elegance to his images. The initials of the firm that published this postcard can be found in the cards lower left corner. The initials PMM likely, but not for sure, belong to postcard publisher, “Maurice Manes”. The company, based in Paris, produced postcards during the golden era of postcards (pre 1939) and distributed them across Europe. The postcard is numbered 5316. This postcard’s reverse serves as an advertisement for the appearance of Jane Hading at the Coronet Theatre W. on the 26th of May, in 1902. SOLD
Postcard 3 This postcard was published by G. Piprot, of “Etoille” or “Star” publishing in Paris. The card is part of a series (No.758). SOLD
POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
These vintage postcards feature the New York Military Academy (NYMA). Donald Trump is the most famous alumni of the school though many other “big names” are alumni. Trump was there for five years starting the fall of 1959. It is reported widely that his father sent him there while he was in the seventh grade because he needed a more disciplined and focused setting than the Queens, N.Y. private school he was then attending. NYMA was a college preparatory school located in the rural town of Cornwall, New York (60 miles north of New York City). The school was one of the oldest military schools in the United States. In 2015, the school filed for bankruptcy protection. It was later bought by a Chinese owned foundation.
Postcard 1 is from circa 1909. It was published by the Hugh C. Leighton Company of Portland, Maine. The firm predominately published postcards of New England. They printed some cards in Maine but most, like this one, were manufactured in Frankfurt, Germany. In 1909, the firm merged with Valentine and Sons. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 is an undivided back postcard is from circa 1906. It was published by Barton & Spooner (Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York). (SOLD)
Postcard 2
Two young woman and two children pose for their portrait at the studio of Nicklas & Co. in Chicago, Illinois. The women and oldest child are wearing very complicated decorative hats. One woman is holding a fan on her lap and the oldest child is holding a basket of flowers. Wild hats were clearly the rage during the time of this photograph. SOLD
POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
Postcard 1 features American actress, Lillian Gish (1893–1993). She is considered one of the pioneering figures in early cinema. Born in Springfield, Ohio, Gish began her career on the stage alongside her sister, Dorothy, but soon transitioned to film, where her delicate features and expressive acting made her a favorite of directors during the silent film era. In 1912, Gish joined legendary director D.W. Griffith, becoming his protégé and collaborating with him on groundbreaking films like The Birth of a Nation (1915), Broken Blossoms (1919), and Way Down East (1920). These films cemented her reputation as a leading lady, often playing roles that emphasized innocence and emotional depth. She was known for her meticulous attention to the art of acting. She helped establish the art of screen acting, emphasizing subtlety and naturalism at a time when film was still evolving away from theatrical exaggeration. She was a versatile actress, adapting well to various roles, from delicate heroines to more complex characters, and her commitment to authenticity often saw her enduring extreme conditions on set, like filming in freezing temperatures and performing her own stunts. When silent films gave way to “talkies” in the late 1920s, Gish transitioned gracefully, though her popularity declined as she aged and Hollywood’s focus shifted to younger stars. Still, she continued acting, taking on character roles and even appearing on television. One of her most memorable later performances was in The Night of the Hunter (1955), a film now regarded as a classic. In addition to her acting career, Gish became a vocal advocate for film preservation and the legacy of silent cinema. She gave lectures on the subject. Her work won her numerous accolades, including an honorary Academy Award in 1971, and she remained active in the industry well into her later years. Gish’s career spanned over 75 years, and she is remembered as an icon who bridged the silent and sound eras, leaving an indelible impact on American cinema. Lillian Gish, though a public figure, led a private and often solitary personal life. She was born on October 14, 1893, in Springfield, Ohio, to James Leigh Gish and Mary Robinson McConnell. Her early life was marked by hardship; her father abandoned the family when she was young, leaving her mother to support Lillian and her younger sister, Dorothy. Her mother opened a candy store in New York City, where the family eventually settled, and the two sisters began acting in theater to help support the family financially. Lillian and Dorothy were close throughout their lives, frequently working together in theater and film. Lillian took on the role of family protector and provider from a young age. Though she later became one of the most celebrated actresses of her time, Lillian remained deeply committed to her family, often prioritizing family relationships over romantic entanglements. She never married and had no children, believing that marriage and family life might interfere with her career. However, she did have close friendships with several prominent figures in Hollywood, including her frequent collaborator, director D.W. Griffith, with whom she shared a professional and deeply loyal relationship. There were rumors of a romance with Griffith, though Gish maintained that their relationship was strictly professional. Other rumored suitors included producer Charles Duell and critic George Jean Nathan, yet she largely avoided the spotlight when it came to romance. She valued independence and often expressed a desire to avoid the constraints she felt marriage could impose on her creative pursuits. In later life, she lived with her sister Dorothy until Dorothy’s death in 1968, a loss that deeply affected her. In her final years, Gish continued to work in the entertainment industry and to honor the legacy of silent cinema. She died in 1993, at the age of 99, leaving behind a remarkable career and a life dedicated to her art, family, and the preservation of film history.
Postcard 1 : The logo for Metro Goldwyn Mayor Films can be seen in the lower right corner of the image. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin) as part of a series (No.3784/1). (SOLD)
Postcard 2 : This postcard portrait was taken in 1923. LIllian was 30 years old and the photo shows her as she appeared in the film “The White Sister”. This 1923 silent drama film co-starred Ronald Coleman. The logo for British American Films can be seen in the lower right corner of the image. This postcard was published by Ross Verlag (Berlin), is (844/2) in a series. SOLD
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 