This vintage real photo postcard features French opera singer, Suzanne Balguerie (1888-1973). She is considered one of the best sopranos performing between the two World Wars. She studied singing at the Conservatoire de Paris. Her debut was at the Opera-Comique in 1921. She received rave reviews. She made a career at the Opera-Comique. When the Nazis occupied France during World War II, there was little opportunity for her to work and she became impoverished. She retired in 1950 and in 1953 she became a professor at the Conservatories in Grenoble and Geneva. For an unknown reason, she did not pursue an international opera career. Mlle Balquerie’s photo portrait seen on this postcard was taken by esteemed photographer, Henri Manuel. The card was published by Alfred Noyer (Paris, France). (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features French opera singer and actress, Ellen Baxone (1881-1964). She began her theatrical career as an operetta and comic opera singer in 1901. She began performing at the Moulin-Rouge in 1903. She performed in many stage productions and also in one short film in 1917. She married Ivo Radonich in 1918, although she had a son by him in 1908.. He was an officer in the cavalry of the Montenegrin army and cousin to both the king of Montenegro and the king of Italy. Upon her marriage, she ended her theatrical career. Their marriage lasted about two years. This postcard close-up portrait of Miss Baxone shows her beauty. The photograph was taken by Leopold Reutlinger. He was a well known and talented celebrity photographer who operated out of Paris, France. The postcard is hand colored. The card was published by Misch & Co. as part of a series (no.35). The postcard has a postmark from 1908. SOLD
Lina Cavalieri was an Italian operatic soprano and renowned beauty who captivated audiences in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on Christmas day in1874, in Viterbo, Italy, as Natalina Cavalieri, she would go on to become one of the most celebrated and iconic sopranos of her time. Cavalieri’s journey into the world of opera began at a young age when her exceptional vocal talent was discovered. She received formal training in Milan, where she honed her skills and developed a remarkable voice. Her operatic debut occurred in 1892 at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele in Turin, and she quickly gained recognition for her powerful and expressive singing. In addition to her vocal prowess, Lina Cavalieri was known for her striking beauty, and she was often referred to as the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman.” Her enchanting looks and captivating stage presence helped elevate her status beyond the opera world. As her fame grew, she became a sought-after performer in major opera houses across Europe, including La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Cavalieri’s repertoire included a wide range of operas, and she was particularly acclaimed for her performances in works by composers such as Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. Her ability to convey emotion through her singing and her charismatic stage presence endeared her to audiences worldwide. Beyond her operatic career, Lina Cavalieri ventured into the world of acting and appeared in several silent films. Her beauty made her a natural fit for the burgeoning film industry, and she transitioned seamlessly between the stage and screen. Despite her success, Cavalieri faced personal challenges, including a tumultuous love life and financial difficulties. She had an affair with a Russian Prince and was married multiple times. Her marriages were often short-lived. Tragically, Lina Cavalieri’s life was cut short when she perished in an allied bombing run over Florence, Italy. She was killed running from her house to a bomb shelter. Her legacy lives on through recordings of her performances, photographs, and the enduring image of the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” who left an indelible mark on the world of opera and entertainment. Cavalieri’s photograph seen on this hand tinted postcard was taken by Leopold Reutlinger. The postcard has a 1906 postmark from Mexico. The card was published by SIP as part of a series (No. 52/19). SOLD
This vintage real photo, Postcard 1, features Geraldine Farrar (February 28, 1882 – March 11, 1967). She was an American soprano opera singer and film actress. She was one of the most popular singers of the early 20th century and she appeared in several silent films as well as on stage. She was also a successful recording artist and a leading figure in the world of opera. She was known for her beauty, as well as her powerful and expressive voice. She was also known for her striking stage presence and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. Farrar had a particularly successful career at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she performed for many years. She also performed in many other major opera houses around the world including La Scala (Milan), The Royal Opera House (London), and the Opera-Comique (Paris). Geraldine Farrar was born in Melrose, Massachusetts, in 1882. She began her career as a singer in vaudeville and later studied voice in Paris. In 1902, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she quickly became one of the most popular singers of her time. Farrar retired from the opera stage in 1922 and settled in New York City. She continued to perform in concerts and recitals for several more years. She also appeared in a few films, including a silent film version of Carmen, in which she played the title role. This postcard photo of Geraldine Farrar was taken by Julius Cornelius Schaarwachter (1847-1904). The photographer has five portraits in Britain’s National Portrait Gallery. Farrar is dressed in costume for her performance in the opera “Faust”, by composer, Charles Gounod. This vintage postcard is in very good condition (see scans).
Postcard 2 is a rare close-up portrait postcard of Miss Farrar. SOLD
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5444
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This vintage real photo postcard features Dame Emma Albani (1847-1930). She was a Canadian-British operatic soprano during the 19th century and the early 20th century. She became an international star focusing on the operas of Mozart, Rossini, Bellini, and Wagner. She performed in many venues across Europe and North America. (SOLD)
This vintage real photo postcard features a famous German opera singer who met a tragic end. In 1906, hours before she was to go on stage as Carmen, at the Opera Comique, Walter was murdered in her own home. She was killed by her ex boyfriend, Karl August Hesse, who suspected that Walter was planning on becoming engaged to Juan Raventos, a Spanish Tenor. Hesse committed suicide after killing the 21 year-old Miss Walter. Hesse was a frustrated opera singer who could not find success. He had a history of being jealous of other men. He also had a history of physically abusing Walter in his jealous tantrums. Walter had tried to end the relationship with Hesse but he would not comply. The police found letters from Raventos in Hesse’s apartment. Raventos had written to Hesse telling him that he would not end his relationship with Walter. This postcard was published by Georg Gerlach & Co.. The firm was a real photo card publisher and printer based in Berlin, Germany. This antique postcard is in good condition (see scans).
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #5031
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This vintage real photo postcard features German soprano, Erna Sack (1898-1972). Her nickname was the “German Nightingale” due to her high vocal range. She looks pretty in her dizzying attire and her feathered hat. Her blonde hair has been styled into ringlets. Sack was a very successful opera star. She toured all around the world. She also made many radio appearances and recordings. She performed in two movies, Flowers from Nice (1936) and Nanon (1938).This postcard was published by Ross Verlag as part of a series (no. A1930/1). The logo for the film company, UFA can be seen in the right hand lower corner of the image. Miss Sack’s photo was taken by the Hammerer studio. She also toured in the United States and one of the venues in her tour was Carnegie Hall. (SOLD)
This color tinted vintatge real photo postcard features actress, Nina Barkis playing the ancient Greek courtesan, Phryne. She has very long hair and she is shielding herself with a transparent lacey fabric. Miss Barkis was an opera singer and dancer. She was known for playing “Salome” and for modelling for photographer Jean Agelou. She also appeared on cards by postcard publisher, Gerlach. This image was created by a photographic process called “Emaillographie”. It is interesting that the first five letters of the technique is “Email”. This vintage postcard is of French origin. SOLD
This vintage real photo postcard features opera singer, Gabrielle Demougeot. This is a color tinted portrait of the pretty opera singer. There is little biographical information readily available about Miss Demougeot. I was able to find a snippet review of one of her performances. The writer describes her as “a pretty coquette with the voice of a high soprano, of a somewhat sour tone, who was charming and …”. Unfortunately, the snippet stopped mid sentence. This postcard is a studio portrait from the renowned French photographer, Leopold-Emile Reutlinger. His studio was located in Paris, France. The postcard was postmarked in 1909. The front (image side) is in excellent condition while the reverse has a scrape near the center bottom of the card (see scans).
Buy this Vintage Real Photo Postcard (includes shipping within the US) #3552
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This vintage real photo postcard features French singer and nurse, Nelly Martyl (1884-1953). Nelly was born in Paris. Her mother was English and her father was French. She was trained as a singer at the Conservatoire de Paris. Martyl was a soprano opera singer in Paris who made her professional debut in 1907 at the Grand Opera in Paris. . She joined the Opera-Comique in 1909. She sang many parts there and performed in several premieres. She sang in London’s Covent Garden in 1910. She was a frequent model in fashion magazines (notably, Les Modes). She advertised gowns by famous Paris designers. She became a French heroine by working as a Red Cross nurse during World War I. She served in the 1916 Battle of Verdun and earned the nickname of “la fee de Verdun” (the fairy of Verdun). She also worked as a nurse during the Second Battle of the Aisne in 1917. She didn’t just do “cameo roles” at military hospitals. She heroically worked in dangerous, close to the front, hospitals. Her nursing career included being wounded and gassed several times. She was awarded the “Croix de Guerre” for her dangerous work during the war. After the war, she was a nurse to victims of the 1918 flu epidemic. Later, Martyl partnered with an automobile racecar driver in creating a charitable medical foundation Somehow, Nelly found time to have a personal life. She was married to French artist George Scott (1873-1942). This photo of Miss Martyl was taken by the studio of Boyer & Bert. Paul Boyer (1861-1908) operated his studio in Paris. He was very talented and won many awards. He produced many portraits of theater performers as well as other celebrities. This postcard was published by Societe Industrielle de Photograpie (SIP) of Rueil, France, as part of a series (no. 2075). It is in very good condition (see scans).
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