ISABEL JAY : PRETTY ENGLISH OPERA SINGER AND ACTRESS

https://youtu.be/hUbpke_kNTYPOSTCARD 1

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 5000-p-1.jpgPOSTCARD 2

These vintage real photo postcards feature English opera singer and actress, Isabel Jay (1879-1927). She was well known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and in Edwardian musical comedies. Isabel was a very active performer during the time picture postcard collecting was at it’s peak. She was photographed for more than 400 different postcards. There was great demand for cards with her image. Isabel studied piano and voice at the Royal Academy of Music prior to joining the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1897. She immediately was given principal singing roles and by 1899, she became the company’s leading soprano.  Some of her comic opera leading roles included “The Rose of Persia”, “The Pirates of Penzance”, and the “Emerald Isle”. In 1902 she left the company after getting married. Her groom was African explorer and soldier, Henry Shepherd Cavendish and the pair were divorced by 1906. I guess Cavendish really was an explorer. Isabel was the first of his five wives. Settling down was apparently not in Mr Cavendish’s repetoire. The West End stage beckoned Jay in 1903. She starred in eleven musicals until retiring in 1911 at 31 years of age. She sang before King Edward Vll and Queen Alexandra in 1905. The Queen gave her a brooch. Isabel was born in London. Her father was an insurance officer. Her great-grandfather was a musician and composer associated with the Royal Academy of Music. She gave musical recitals by the time she was twelve years old. Isabel made a number of recordings between 1900 and 1906. Most of the songs were from her early musical comedies. Her vocal ability was considered top notch. It was thought that she could have sung Grand Opera, if that was her desire. In 1927, she died at age 47 in Monte Carlo in while on a cruise with her second husband, Frank Curzon. He was a successful actor and theatre manager. Curzon served as a mentor to Isabel. 

Postcard 1 was published by Rotary Photo. The card is a part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 4832 A). The photo was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio from the 1900’s through the 1920’s. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans). #5073

Postcard 2 was published by Rotary Photo. This image captures Jay in her role in “Miss Hook of Holland”. The card is a part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no.4417C). The photo was taken by the Foulsham & Banfield studio. Foulsham & Banfield were well known celebrity photographers. Frank Foulsham and A. C. Banfield operated a studio from the 1900’s through the 1920’s. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans). #5000

Buy this Real Photo Vintage Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #2976

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$25.50

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #2976

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$34.00

5000-p-3

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5000

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$17.85

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 5000

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$27.10

POSTCARD 1
POSTCARD 2
Advertisement
Published in: on October 23, 2022 at 11:10 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: , , , , ,

MARIE STUDHOLME: BEAUTIFUL STAGE ACTRESS (THREE VINTAGE REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS)

POSTCARD 1

actressthreePOSTCARD 2 (SOLD)studholme pcPOSTCARD 3

studholme2POSTCARD 4A   (SOLD)

studholme2 1POSTCARD 4B (CLOSE-UP)  (SOLD)

These vintage real photo postcards feature beautiful stage actress Marie Studholme (1872-1930). The English actress and singer was known for her supporting and starring roles in Victorian and Edwardian musical comedies. Her theater career spanned from 1891 through 1915. Her roles included appearances in “An Artists Model” (1895), “The Messenger” (1900), and “Lady Madcap” (1906). Marie Studholme’s beauty made her one of the most popular postcard models of her time.

Postcard 1 is a wonderful portrait of Miss Studholme in costume for the stage production of “Miss Hook of Holland). The play was an English musical comedy. It opened at the the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1907 and ran for 462 performances. It originally starred Isabel Jay and Harry Grattan. The play also ran on Broadway. Studholme starred in the title role in “Miss Hook of Holland” on a long provincial tour from 1907 to 1910. This vintage photo postcard was published by Rotary Photo (no. 4890 A) and the photo was taken by the Foulsham and Banfield studio. This postcard has an interesting message. Rather than signing the card, the writer left his identity a secret by signing it with one word, “Guess?”. The postcard is postmarked “1908”. The card is in excellent condition (see scans).

Postcard 2 is part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 4188 A) and was printed in England. Miss Studholme’s portrait was photographed by the celebrated Foulsham & Banfield studio. Although photo postcard portraits of Miss Studholme are common , this particular photograph is uncommon.  (SOLD)

Postcard 3 is also part of the Rotary Photographic Series (no. 348 K). This photograph highlights the beauty of Miss Studholme. The postcard is also aimed to be erotic judging by the generous view of the actress’s cleavage. The photography studio that produced this image is W & D Downey of London, England. This studio was well known and highly respected in England. They advertised themselves as photographers specially appointed to photograph the imperial and royal families of Europe and they photographed many other celebrities. Although Studholme posed for many postcard portraits, this particular photo postcard is uncommon. The postcard is in excellent condition (see scans).

Postcard 4 is a member of the Rotary Photographic series (No. 24 L), just like Postcard 1 and Postcard 2. In this portrait, Miss Studholme flashes a beautiful smile. The low cut dress that she is wearing is a bit risque for the era. It appears that she was not adverse to the idea of suggestive poses. The photographer who took this portrait photo of Marie Studholme is a well known female photographer named Lizzie Caswall Smith. Smith (1870-1958) was a British photographer who operated in the early 1900’s. She specialized in photographing members of society and celebrities. Many of her photographs were used for postcards. She was involved in the Women’s Suffrage movement and photographed many of the leading suffragettes. She also photographed many actors including Billie Burke and Maude Fealy. She operated the Gainsborough Studio from 1907 through 1920 (309 Oxford Street) and moved to a new location (90 Great Russell Street) where she remained until she retired in 1930 at the age of 60 years-old. Her most famous photograph is a portrait of Florence Nightingale taken in 1910. It was auctioned in 1908 and sold for 5500 pounds which is an equivalent today of nearly 8,000 dollars. The National Portrait Gallery has 84 portraits associated with Lizzie Caswall Smith.  The postmark stamped on this postcard indicates that it was mailed in 1907. The message on the card is written to a 13 year-old girl. The writer of the card apologizes for not sending a letter sooner and explains “but I’m so busy”.  It is interesting to note that “excuses” have not changed much over the last hundred years.   SOLD

Buy this original Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #2800

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$23.50

Buy this original Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) #2800

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$32.00

 

studholme042021_0002-2

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3517

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$31.50

studholme042021_0002-1

Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes International shipping outside the US) 3517

To purchase this item, click on the Pay with PayPal button below

$40.50

POSTCARD 1
actressthree b
POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)
studholme pc 2
POSTCARD 3
studholme2 4
POSTCARD 4 (SOLD)

Published in: on April 30, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
Tags: , , , ,