1st DOROTHY IN WIZARD OF OZ : ANNA LAUGHLIN :AMERICAN STAGE & SILENT FILM STAR

This vintage real photo postcard features American stage and silent film actress, Anna Laughlin (1885-1937). One of her major claims to fame is that she was the first actress to play Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She was born in California and began her stage career as a “child elocutionist” (public speaker). At age six, she started acting in vaudeville and later, in touring theater companies. When she was a young teenager, she began appearing on Broadway. In 1900, she was in the Belle of Bohemia and in 1903 she performed in the Wizard of Oz. According to the IBDb, Laughlin appeared in eight Broadway shows between 1900 and 1914. The IMDb reports that Laughlin acted in 14 silent films between 1913 and 1915. She is most well known for her roles in “Northern Lights” (1914), “The Greyhound” (1914), “The Amazing Mr. Fellman” (1915) and “What Happened to Father” (1915). She quit show business in 1915 to focus on raising her daughter. Laughlin was married in 1904 (age about 19) to a jeweler. She was widowed in 1925. Laughlin’s daughter became a noted singer. Anna Laughlin died by suicide in 1937. Her cause of death was gas poisoning. She turned the gas on in her apartment because she was very depressed about being estranged from her daughter. They had previously been very close. According to the IMDb, the following words were found in her three page suicide note. “This is good-bye. People are dreadful. I love my child. I have given all I have in the world to put her where she is now … Lucy is never coming back. I am so afraid. Where did I fail?” This postcard was published in Germany by NPG (Neue Photographische Gesellschaft) as part of a series (no.1098). A. G. Steglitz is also listed as a publisher. The postcard is an “Oranotypie” and was published in 1904. An oranotype is a trade name for a type of glossy real photo postcard published by NPG. The company was a leading bromide photo printing company for many years at the beginning of the 20th century. This card has a French stamp and was postmarked in 1907. SOLD

Published in: on February 5, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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TWO PRETTY YOUNG EUROPEAN WOMEN : BASKET OF FLOWERS : RPPC (1909)

This vintage postcard features two pretty young European women in traditional clothing. One of the women is holding a large basket of flowers. Both women are flashing beautiful smiles.This postcard was published by NPG (“Neue Photographische Gesellschaft”  as part of a series (No.751/5). The card is an “oranotypie”. An oranotype is a trade name for a type of glossy real photo postcard published by NPG. This postcard portrait has a 1909 postmark.  SOLD

Published in: on April 18, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY DANCER : REUTLINGER : ORANOTYPIE : NPG : BERLIN, GERMANY

This vintage real photo postcard features a pretty costumed performer. She is a dancer or actress or both. The woman is beautifully dressed. Note her wasp-like waist and her lovely kerchief. The photographer of this unidentified performer’s  portrait was Leopold Reutlinger (1863-1937). He was a leading photographer of his time and was, and is, renowned for his photographs of celebrities and beautiful women. The postcard was published by NPG as part of a series (No.551/2). The card is a “Oranotypie”. An oranotype is a trade name for a type of glossy real photo postcard published by NPG.  (SOLD)

Published in: on March 12, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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HAND TINTED REAL PHOTO POSTCARD PORTRAIT OF A PRETTY YOUNG GIRL

This real photo postcard portrait features a pretty long haired young girl wearing a fancy colorful hat. The hat is trimmed with pink ribbon. The postcard is an Oranotypie. An Oranotypie is a trade name for a type of glossy real photo postcard published by NPG at the beginning of the 20th century. NPG was a German publisher located in Berlin and Stuttgart, Germany. A. G. Steglitz, is also noted as the publisher and the photo was produced in 1904. The postcard was written in 1908 and has a postmark from Villar-les-Dombes, France.  (SOLD).

Published in: on December 7, 2017 at 3:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A CHARMING LITTLE GIRL AND HER DOLL

This vintage hand-colored real photo postcard features a charming little girl holding her doll. The child has a wonderful smile. She is wearing a fancy white lace dress, a necklace, and a hair bow. The postcard was published in 1904 by Neue Photographische Gesellschaft (NPG) which was located in Berlin and Stuttgart, Germany.The company was in business between 1894 and 1948. It was founded by Arthur Black (1862-1943) and it became one of the most well known and largest companies involved in the production of postcards.The postcard is an Oranotypie. An oranotype is a trade name for a type of glossy real photo postcard published by NPG at the beginning of the 20th century.The postcard was mailed to someone in Paris, France and is postmarked in either 1906 or 1908 (it is difficult to decipher which date).  (SOLD)

Published in: on July 14, 2017 at 5:43 pm  Comments (1)  
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AN ADORABLE BABY AND HER DOLL

girl-and-doll

This vintage real photo postcard features a lovely image of an adorable little girl holding a beautiful doll. The child is wearing a lacy dress, a necklace, and a pink ribbon in her hair. She is so photogenic. This postcard was sent by a woman named Suzanne to her younger brother living in Argentan, France. The postmark dates back to 1906. Suzanne wrote her name on the top right hand corner of the front of the postcard. She wrote it in red which is the same color ink she used to write her message on the reverse. The postcard was published by Germany’s Neue Photographische Gesellschaft (NPG) (New Photographical Society). The company was in business between 1894 and 1948. It was founded by Arthur Black (1862-1943) and it became of the most well known and largest companies involved in the production of postcards. Over time, NPG opened subsidiaries in London, Paris, Rome, and New York. Interestingly, the company was one of the “Best Companies to Work For”. Employees were given free medical treatment and illness benefits. Employees also received bonuses and life insurance. The company offered it’s employees a library, a casino, and a dining room which sold food for cost. In addition, the company offered it’s workers a reading room and a theater for lectures and theatrical performances. Now we know where Google and other employee friendly companies got some of their ideas from. Printing on the reverse of this postcard mentions that this postcard is an “Oranotypie” and also lists the name “A. G. Steglitz”. An oranotype is a trade name for a type of glossy real photo postcard published by NPG at the beginning of the 20th century. These cards are hand colored. I am unsure if Steglitz was a postcard publisher or a photographer. I have seen postcard aficionados refer to him as both a photographer and a publisher. My guess is that most of these “experts” are as unsure as I am about his role in producing postcards. 

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Published in: on November 24, 2016 at 12:00 pm  Comments (3)  
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