This cabinet card is quite unusual in that it has photographic images on both sides of the card. A very pretty ballet dancer is from the Alhambra Ballet production of Cupid is pictured in each image. In one photograph her legs are crossed while in the second photograph her legs are open and her undergarment is visible through her transparent tutu. The cabinet card is risque for it’s era. The Alhambra was a theatre in London, England. It was opened in 1854 as “The Royal Panopticon”. A circus ring was added and it was reopened in 1858 as the Alhambra. The theatre stage hosted music hall acts, aerial acts, ballet, light opera, and other events. The theatre was closed and demolished in 1936. This cabinet card features a dancer from the ballet, Cupid which opened at the Alhambra on 5/24/1886. The principal dancer in this production was Emma Bessone, and research reveals that the ballerina in this image is likely Emma Bessone. She was an Italian dancer who trained at La Scala and became prima ballerina for both the Maryinsky and Bolshoi companies in Russia. The photographer of this cabinet card was Samuel A. Walker whose studio was located in London. SOLD
ROSARIO GUERRERO : SPANISH DANCER : INTERNATIONAL STAR : AFFAIR WITH BELGIAN KING
POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 2
This lovely vintage real photo postcard (Postcard 1)features Spanish dancer and pantomimist, Rosario Guerrero (1880-1960). She was an international star who is most associated with the role of “Carmen”. She was not a singer. Instead, she performed in the ballet version of the opera. This performance occurred in 1903 at the Alhambra Theatre in London. In 1903 and 1904, she performed in New York. She had been brought to New York City by Florenz Ziegfeld. In 1905 she returned to the stage in London. It was reported that she had a breakdown from “excessive dancing” and was hospitalized in Vienna, Austria (1906). After that episode, she performed in US cities including New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Indianapolis. She owned an estate in France. Guerrero was noted to be quite beautiful. She modelled for well known artists of the day. Her sister, Enriqueta was also a dancer, and she performed in London in the 1900’s. When compared to Spanish dancer, Otero, Guerrero is considered a purer Spanish dancer. Otero’s spanish dancing was alongside her exotic dances. Otero’s fame also came from being a courtesan. However, Guerrero is said to have had an affair with King Leopold of Belgium. One article reports that he gave her over a million dollars worth of jewels. It is interesting to note that King Leopold also had a dalliance with Otero. A brief biographical article reports that Guerrero’s dancing career appears to have ended in 1912. This postcard was published by Rotophot (RPH) as part of a series (2209/3). The company was based in Berlin, Germany. (SOLD)
Postcard 2 was published by Rotophot (RPH) as part of a series (2209/2). The company was based in Berlin, Germany. This postcard is in very good condition (see scans).

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5397
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Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 5397
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POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2
CARMEN DE FOYA : PRETTY SPANISH DANCER : COURTED BY A KING (1906)

The pretty woman in this vintage real photo postcard is the Spanish dancer, Carmen De Foya. “The Sketch: A Journal of Art and Activity (1905) reported on the De Foyas “consderable grace and skill” when she performed at the Alhambra theater in London, England. Her photo accompanied the article. “The San Francisco Call” (1905) labelled her a “famous Spanish Dancer” and announced her London appearance. The newspaper also added that when De Foya performed in Berlin, she danced at a function attended by the Kaiser. The German leader not only complimented De Foya, but also gave her diamond earrings. It is reported that the pair had an interesting exchange about marriage. When De Foya stated she wanted to get married, the Kaiser suggested that she marry an Englishman because they make the best husbands. “The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News” (1905) described De Foya’s act as “poetry in motion”. “The Esoteric Curiosa” (2014) tells a racy story about Miss De Foya. It seems Spain’s King Alfonso XIII nearly went to “the limit of foolishness” over “little Carmen de Foya”. She “knew how to make eyes at a King without getting into trouble”. One night at the Madrid Opera, she kicked her satin toes right at him. The next day King Alfonso sent her flowers and a card. The card said “The loveliest flowers of Spain, to Spain’s loveliest” The King was a known womanizer and he often acted on impulse. In an effort to avoid scandal, Defoya left the next day for Paris. Another version of this story has the two romantically linked. The photograph of Miss De Foya seen on this postcard, was taken by Leopold Reutlinger, a very well respected talented photographer based in Paris. One of his specialties was theatrical photography. The postcard was published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France. The card is part of a series (no. 1309). The postmark indicates it was stamped in Arente (Italy) in the year 1906. (SOLD)

PORTRAIT OF MISS BERTHA OLIVER: PARIS MUSIC HALL PERFORMER

This vintage real photo postcard features stage performer, Miss Bertha Oliver. She is beautiful and has a wonderful smile. This photograph was issued for Alhambra, a popular music hall in Paris, France. This postcard portrait was expertly taken by the celebrated French photographer, Paul Boyer (1861-1908). He photographed many famous people during his career. This postcard is published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France and was part of a series (no. 1009). The postcard has excellent clarity and is in very good condition (see scans). (SOLD) 










