PRETTY PARISIAN ACTRESS : HAND-TINTED : NPG : RPPC 1904

This is a striking hand-tinted real photo postcard (RPPC) featuring a young actress or performer seated confidently on a chair. The card is part of the NPG (Neue Photographische Gesellschaft) series, serial number 645/2, and dates to 1904. It was printed in Berlin, Germany, as indicated on the reverse. The woman in the image has voluminous, dark, curly hair adorned with colorful ribbons, one pink and one lavender. She wears a bold theatrical costume: a bright turquoise satin dress trimmed with cream-yellow ruffled sleeves and skirt, accented by a vivid red flower at the bodice. The layered ruffles of her skirt spill over her lap, giving her a lively, almost playful stage presence. She sits with her legs crossed, her expression calm and slightly defiant, exuding poise and self-assurance. Her dark stockings and buttoned heels complete the look, emphasizing her identity as a stage performer rather than a conventional society portrait sitter. Neue Photographische Gesellschaft A.G. was a leading German postcard and photographic publishing house active in the early 20th century. The left-side imprint, translated, reads: “Original photograph by NP Steglitz refers to the Berlin district where NPG was located, not the photographer’s surname. On the reverse, the postcard carries a green French stamp, confirming that the card was mailed from France, even though it was printed in Germany. The stamp is from the French “Sower” (La Semeuse) series, first issued in the early 20th century. The message on the card, translated from French reads: “Guess who is sending this to you.”  SOLD

Published in: on October 19, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY DANCER : RISQUE : JEAN AGELOU : PARIS : JENNY BELL : TITTILATING RPPC

his French vintage risque real photo postcard features a pretty young woman modeling for an artist. This photograph is meant to titillate. The young woman is scantily dressed. More of her body is exposed than covered. The previous owner of this portrait postcard identifies the woman as a Parisian dancer named “Jenny Bell”. After preliminary research, I have been unable to confirm this identification. This risque photographic portrait was published by celebrated photographer, Jean Agelou (1878-1921), as part of a series (No.035). Agelou was a French photographer of the 1910’s and 1920’s who is best known for his erotic and nude photographs. He was born in Egypt and not much is known about his private life. Agelou generally used models between the age of 20 and 24 years-old. Although the 1900’s was the “golden age” of erotic photograph, photographers who took such risque photos had to use discretion. As a result, Agelou signed his work “JA”. In 1908, nudity in photographs was banned in France and photographers had to cover nude women images with strategically placed undergarments or other materials. Nude images had to circulate on the down low. They were sent in the mail inside of envelopes. Jean Agelou died in 1921; the result of a car accident. His brother George, who managed Jean’s business, also was killed in the crash.  SOLD

Published in: on October 15, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY NUDE WOMAN : PC PARIS : ART NOUVEAU : FRANCE : REAL PHOTO POSTCARD

This striking real photo postcard features a confident young woman posing against a neutral backdrop, dressed in a decorative fringed shawl that is elegantly wrapped around her hips. Her bare torso and boldly direct gaze give the portrait a sense of intimate glamour, common to the French “nude étude” genre of the early 20th century. Her hair is neatly parted and styled in a sleek, classic fashion, and she wears distinctive looped earrings that accent her graceful neck and shoulders.  The woman’s expression is both engaging and relaxed, her slight smile inviting and warm. Her stance—turned slightly in profile yet facing the camera with a sense of ease—demonstrates a poise that suggests she may have been a dancer or performer. The use of light and shadow on the wall behind her adds visual depth, while the soft focus enhances the romanticism of the image. Interestingly, the woman modeling on this postcard has been described by some commentators as Arab and other observers have hypothesized that she is Hispanic. This postcard was produced by P.C. Paris, one of the leading French publishers of glamour, artistic nude, and theatrical postcards during the 1920s and 1930s. The postcard is numbered 1887 in the lower corner, part of a large series of posed studio portraits often issued in sequential sets. The reverse reads “Made in France” and bears the P.C. Paris publisher’s mark, indicating it is an original continental European issue—not a later reproduction. P.C. Paris (Phototypie C. et Cie), based in Paris, was known for creating refined studio portraits of women, including risqué and erotic studies, often with exotic or theatrical styling. Many of their models were dancers, actresses, or professional models. Their cards were sold widely across Europe and were sometimes considered collectible art photography.  SOLD

Published in: on September 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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TWO PRETTY NUDE MODELS : BLACK STOCKINGS : RISQUE : LAGACHE : PARIS : POSTCARD

This French vintage  postcard features two young woman in risque poses. One woman is completely nude while the other is wearing lingerie and black stocking and garters. Both ladies have mischievous smiles. This postcard was published by Lagache Imp. (Paris, France). The card is part of a series (No.6). SOLD

Published in: on August 1, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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BATHING BEAUTY : RISQUE : JEAN AGELOU : PARIS : 1910-1920

This French vintage risque real photo postcard features a pretty young bathing beauty. The young woman is wearing a bathing suit that has straps on the bottom of the suit. Her shoes also have black straps wrapping partially up her calves.This is a risque photograph. This postcard was published by celebrated photographer, Jean Agelou (1878-1921), as part of a series (No.036). Agelou was a French photographer of the 1910’s and 1920’s who is best known for his erotic and nude photographs. He was born in Egypt and not much is known about his private life. Agelou generally used models between the age of 20 and 24 years-old. Although the 1900’s was the “golden age” of erotic photograph, photographers who took such risque photos had to use discretion. As a result, Agelou signed his work “JA”. In 1908, nudity in photographs was banned in France and photographers had to cover nude women images with strategically placed undergarments or other materials. Nude images had to circulate on the down low. They were sent in the mail inside of envelopes. Jean Agelou died in 1921; the result of a car accident. His brother George, who managed Jean’s business, also was killed in the crash.  SOLD

Published in: on May 31, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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VINTAGE NUDE PHOTOGRAPH : BY LUCIEN WALERY (AS YRELAW) : FRENCH ART DECO MODEL

This striking vintage postcard features a classic nude portrait by celebrated Parisian photographer Lucien Waléry, whose name appears here in reverse as “YrélaW” — a common practice he used to subtly obscure his identity on more provocative works. The image is numbered 1088 in the lower right corner, indicating it was part of a larger, collectible series. 
The young model is posed in an artful semi-recline, one hand supporting her as she leans back against a textured curtain backdrop. She appears relaxed yet lively, her head turned to the side as she offers a gentle, playful smile. Her hair is dark, voluminous, and naturally wavy, framing her face with softness. Her expression conveys youthful confidence with an air of ease — not coy or provocative, but serene and open, as though caught in conversation or reacting to someone just out of frame. The pose emphasizes the natural curves of her body, rendered with artistic sensitivity in the soft lighting typical of Waléry’s photographic style. Though nude, the model is not sexualized in a gratuitous way; the tone is classical and aesthetic, clearly intended as fine art rather than erotica.  Lucien Waléry was the pseudonym of Stanisław Julian Ignacy Ostroróg (1863–1929), a French-born photographer of Polish descent. He came from a line of photographers — his father was also a notable portraitist — and worked during the height of the Belle Époque and Art Deco periods in Paris. Waléry’s photography specialized in glamour, cabaret performers, and nude or semi-nude models, often featuring stars of the Folies Bergère and other Parisian revues. His studio attracted both high-society clientele and show business personalities. While many of his portraits were openly credited, he used backwards spellings of his name (YrélaW or similar variations) for his nude and risqué imagery — a clever form of self-censorship and anonymity designed to navigate laws and cultural norms concerning modesty and pornography in early 20th-century Europe. His works were widely reproduced as postcards, photogravures, and portfolio prints, making them highly collectible today. (SOLD)

Published in: on May 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY WOMAN BARELY WEARING A NEGLIGEE : NUDE : JEAN AGELOU : PARIS : RPPC

This French vintage nude real photo postcard features a pretty young woman model. Her facial expression can be described as alluring. This photograph is meant to titillate. The young woman is scantily dressed. More of her body is exposed than covered. She is wearing bed clothes, a negligee to be exact. This risque photographic portrait was published by celebrated photographer, Jean Agelou (1878-1921), as part of a series (No.D107). Agelou was a French photographer of the 1910’s and 1920’s who is best known for his erotic and nude photographs. He was born in Egypt and not much is known about his private life. Agelou generally used models between the age of 20 and 24 years-old. Although the 1900’s was the “golden age” of erotic photograph, photographers who took such risque photos had to use discretion. As a result, Agelou signed his work “JA”. In 1908, nudity in photographs was banned in France and photographers had to cover nude women images with strategically placed undergarments or other materials. Nude images had to circulate on the down low. They were sent in the mail inside of envelopes. Jean Agelou died in 1921; the result of a car accident. His brother George, who managed Jean’s business, also was killed in the crash. SOLD

Published in: on April 26, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN WITH HER GUITAR : RISQUE : VINTAGE RPPC 1914

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty young woman posing with her guitar. Her plunging neckline makes this a risque postcard. The card was published by Adolph Engel (Berlin, Germany) and is part of a series (No.2504/4). SOLD

Published in: on April 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY WOMAN BARELY WEARING A NEGLIGEE : NUDE : JEAN AGELOU : PARIS : RPPC

This French vintage nude real photo postcard features a pretty young woman model Her facial expression can be described as alluring. This photograph is meant to titillate. The young woman is scantily dressed. More of her body is exposed than covered. She is wearing bed clothes, a negligee to be exact. This risque photographic portrait was published by celebrated photographer, Jean Agelou (1878-1921), as part of a series (No.D107). Agelou was a French photographer of the 1910’s and 1920’s who is best known for his erotic and nude photographs. He was born in Egypt and not much is known about his private life. Agelou generally used models between the age of 20 and 24 years-old. Although the 1900’s was the “golden age” of erotic photograph, photographers who took such risque photos had to use discretion. As a result, Agelou signed his work “JA”. In 1908, nudity in photographs was banned in France and photographers had to cover nude women images with strategically placed undergarments or other materials. Nude images had to circulate on the down low. They were sent in the mail inside of envelopes. Jean Agelou died in 1921; the result of a car accident. His brother George, who managed Jean’s business, also was killed in the crash.  SOLD

Published in: on April 3, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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TOPLESS WOMAN SERVING TEA : RISQUE VINTAGE POSTCARD : BOUDOIR GLAMOUR : 1920’s

This rare risque real photo postcard captures a staged and playful tableau likely from the 1920s or 1930s. The photograph features a woman in a provocative pose, standing against a backdrop with decorative elements. Her attire is minimal—she wears a halter-style garment fashioned from a patterned scarf or similar material, leaving her torso exposed. She also dons stockings secured with garters, along with a string of pearls that adds a touch of elegance to her otherwise suggestive presentation. Her curly hairstyle is typical of the early 20th century. The woman holds a tray containing a striped tea set, consisting of a teapot, cups, and saucers, which she presents as if serving tea. On the small table to her left, there is a whimsical figurine, perhaps a pierrot or clown. This object adds a playful and slightly surreal touch to the scene. The art on the wall behind her appears to be a fabric panel with a floral design, adding a domestic and slightly bohemian atmosphere to the setting. The woman’s facial expression is subtle, with a faint smile that exudes confidence and a hint of amusement. Her pose, along with the setting, suggests that this postcard was intended as a risqué but artistic depiction, typical of many such images produced for collectors or admirers of “boudoir” photography during this era. The publisher of this postcard is unidentified, other than the initials “NP”. Preliminary research did not reveal the actual name of the publishing company. SOLD

Published in: on February 24, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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