AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN : NICELY DRESSED : CINCINNATI, OHIO : RENSLER’S STUDIO

This vintage postcard features a portrait of an attractive African American woman. She stands behind a wall topped by a vase of flowers. She is wearing a shiny fabric dress and earrings. She looks regal. Her portrait was taken by Renslers studio, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to one historical Cincinnati blog, Rensler’s was one of the few photo studios in Cincinnati that accepted African American clients. The studio operated for 83 years and shut down in 1989. The AZO stamp box on this card indicates that the postcard dates back to between 1918 and 1930. SOLD

Published in: on July 13, 2023 at 10:42 am  Leave a Comment  
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REINA NIEVES : CARNIVAL QUEEN : PHILIPPINES :RPPC PHOTO BY FAMED JOSE NEPOMUCENO

This vintage real photo postcard features Reina Nieves Gonzalez, the 1919 Queen of the Pangasinan Carnival. Pangasinan is a coastal province in the Philippines. Winning the contest was a big deal. There was no national carnival in Manila in 1919 due to ongoing World War I. The Pangasinan Carnival drew national attention. It was very well attended. Reina was only fourteen years old when she was crowned Queen. Her beauty was admired throughout the country. Real Photo postcards of Nieves, such as this one, became very popular in Manila and throughout the country. Her photos even outsold the images of previous Manila Carnival Queen winners. Nieves was born in 1905 to a ruling class family that lived in Pangasinan. A year after her reign, at the age of fifteen, she married Don Manuel Moran. He later became a Chief Justice and an Ambassador. In 1973, Nieve’s granddaughter won the Miss Universe contest, representing the Philippines. The photographer credited for the photograph on this postcard, is quite famous. Jose Nepomuceno is considered the father of Filipino Films. He started the first Filipino motion picture company in 1917. Prior to his movie production career, he was a successful and well known photographer. He was innovative and inventive. He was the first photographer in the Philippines to take photographs at night. He was the official photographer for beauty contests, carnivals and even official government events.  SOLD

ISA BOWMAN : LEWIS CARROLL : ALICE IN WONDERLAND : ROTARY PHOTO : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features Isa Bowman (1874-1958), a prominent British stage and film actress. Bowman’s father was Charles Andrew Bowman, a music teacher. Her sisters, Empsie, Nellie, and Maggie were all actresses. Isa was a close friend of Lewis Carroll and wrote a memoir of his life. She met him in 1886 when she performed in “Alice in Wonderland”. Carroll introduced Isa to actress Ellen Terry who gave her elocution lessons. This portrait postcard was published by Rotary Photo as part of a series (no.1542C). The card was postmarked in 1908. SOLD

PRETTY DANCER WEARING A BODY STOCKING : RISQUE 

This vintage risque real photo postcard features a pretty young dancer dressed in a body stocking. The costume is meant to simulate nudity. SOLD

Published in: on July 8, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A MAN AND HIS HORSE IN FRONT OF A BARN IN BRADFORD, ENGLAND

This cabinet card photograph features  a man and his horse standing in front of a barn. Judging by the gentleman’s equestrian clothing and the condition of the barn, I would wager that this is a man of means. His horse is handsome and appears healthy. He is holding the reins with both hands and the tightness of the reins tells the horse who is in charge. The photographic studio that produced this outstanding photograph is A & G Taylor. This studio was one of several British studios that claimed to be “Photographers to the Queen”. Andrew and George Taylor owned the largest Victorian Photography firm in the United Kingdom.  The company was started in London in the 1860’s and by 1886 the firm had branches in 36 United Kingdom cities, and in 6 cities in the United States. The studio that produced this image was located in Bradford, England. It is interesting to note that The mounting board of this cabinet card is dark green. This cabinet card has gilded gold style edges and is in excellent condition (see scans).

Buy this Vintage Original Cabinet Card (includes shipping within the US) #5346

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$78.00

Buy this Vintage Original Cabinet Card (includes International shipping outside the US) #5346

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$88.00

Published in: on July 7, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PRETTY DANCE HALL GIRL : KINGS CROSS, ENGLAND 

I wish I knew more about this young lady. She has an infectious smile. Her dress is frilly and has rows of lace. Judging by her attire, my guess is that she is a “dancehall girl” or actress. Perhaps a viewer of this vintage old photo postcard has another opinion as to the story behind this image. Some might consider this photo a bit risque. The woman seen in this image is wearing a very short dress for her era. An ink stamp on the reverse of the postcard reveals that this photograph was taken at the Avery studio. We only know that the studio was located on King’s Cross Road. King’s Cross is an area located in Central London. It may follow that Avery’s studio was located in London.  SOLD

SWEET LITTLE BOY AND HIS HOOP TOY : FASHION : RPPC

This vintage divided back real photo postcard features a sweet little boy and his hoop toy. He is wearing fancy clothing. Note his straw hat, bow tie, and short pants.   This photo postcard is in good condition (see scans).  

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Buy this Real Photo Vintage Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5082

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$34.00

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$43.00

Published in: on July 3, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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B. RUTKOVSKAYA : RUSSIAN ACTRESS : PERFORMING IN “JEALOUSY” : NEZLOBINS THEATER

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty Russian actress. The previous owner of this card identified the actress as Bronislava Rutkovskaya (1880-1969). She appeared in a number of Russian silent films. She also was a dancer. This photo postcard captures Miss Rutkovskaya as she appeared in the play “Jealousy” at the Nezlobins Theater. This postcard was published by Richard (St. Petersburg}. The photographer was M. Bielovsky. This postcard portrait is in good condition (see scans).           

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Buy this Real Photo Vintage Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5087

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$17.50

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$27.50

SMARTLY DRESSED WOMAN WEARING GLASSES : BANGOR, MAINE : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card portrait features a smartly dressed woman posing for her portrait at the Gerrity Studio in Bangor, Maine. Note the woman’s wire rimmed eye glasses. She is flashing a half smile at the cameraman. An advertisement in a Bangor Board of Trade publication (1899) indicates that the Gerrity studio had two locations; 11 State Street in Bangor, and 244 Miiddle Street in Portland, Maine. City of Bangor directories indicate that he also owned a lumber business in Bangor. Census data reveals that J. F. Gerrity was born in 1855 and had at least two wives; Nancy (1920 census) and Edith (1930 census). This cabinet card photograph is in good condition (see scans).

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Buy this Vintage Original Cabinet Card (includes shipping within the US) #5327

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$18.00

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$28.00

Published in: on June 30, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL AND HER DOG : NEW YEAR WISHES : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features an adorable little girl and her dog. The girl is bright eyed and is flashing a beautiful smile. The dog appears pretty intense or perhaps tired. This postcard is a Happy New Years card. The postcard was published by DLG (Deutsche Lichtbild-GmbH) as part of a series (No. 169/1). The firm is located in Berlin, Germany. SOLD