ANITA PAGE w/ CAT : SILENT FILM STAR : MGM : ROSS VERLAG : RPPC 1920s

This sepia-toned publicity postcard features Anita Page (1910-2008), an iconic silent and early sound film actress, posing with a tabby cat. She cradles the cat gently in her lap, both arms encircling it protectively. The cat appears calm, eyes half-closed in contentment or sleep, nestled into Page’s arms. Anita is styled with soft, sculpted blonde curls typical of late 1920s-early 1930s glamour. She wears a tailored dress or top with a broad, satin-trimmed collar and decorative slashes on the cuffs, along with a double-stranded pearl necklace and a bracelet on one wrist. Her expression is wistful—perhaps intentionally melancholy or dreamy—a popular aesthetic in studio portraits of the era. Her makeup emphasizes the eyes with dark liner and curved brows, enhancing her expressive gaze. The presence of the cat lends the portrait an intimate and slightly whimsical tone, softening the glamorous studio setting and humanizing the star. It was not uncommon for stars to be photographed with animals to add charm or relatability. The publisher of this postcard is Ross Verlag, a German company based in Berlin. The card is identified as (No.6247/1). The circular logo in the bottom right corner of the card belongs to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the major Hollywood studio with which Anita Page was under contract. The message on the reverse of the card is written in Czech (or possibly Slovak). A rough translation reads: “Your devoted, Wishes you everything good – Your dear Miloš,  I send you this card for memory. The card is dated 1929. Anita Page was a major screen star in the late 1920s and early 1930s, often called “the girl with the most beautiful face in Hollywood.” She rose to fame starring alongside Joan Crawford in Our Dancing Daughters (1928) and appeared in The Broadway Melody (1929), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. She retired young in the 1930s but returned sporadically to the screen in later years. She was one of the last surviving stars of the silent film era.  (SOLD)

EDITH STOREY : AMERICAN SILENT FILM ACTRESS

This vintage real photo postcard features American silent film actress, Edith Storey (1892-1967). She was born in New York City and began acting when she was still a child. Her first film was “The Two Brothers” (1908). By 1913, she had appeared in 75 films and between 1908 and 1921 she performed in nearly 150 films. She performed in many Westerns and was noted for her excellent horseback riding skills. She also did her own stunts. She worked for Vitagraph Studios (New York) for the majority of her career. Storey also acted on stage and was noted for acting in a number of male impersonation roles. She appeared in two Broadway plays. The first was in 1903 and the second was in 1904. She retired at the age of 29 in the year of 1921. During the Spanish Flu Epidemic, Storey drove an ambulance in New York City for the National League for Women’s Service. It is also reported that she worked as a hospital night nurse at the height of the epidemic. After retiring she served almost 30 years as village clerk for Asharoken, Long Island. She died at the age of 75 in Northport, Long Island, New York. Within the message on the this postcard, Daisy (the sender) tells Lucille (the recipient) that Edith Storey is her favorite movie actress. A caption on the front of this card states that Storey has brown eyes and dark brown hair. This postcard was published by Kraus Mfg. Co. of New York.  (SOLD)

MISS VEGLIA : PRETTY ACTRESS: ROMANTIC MESSAGE ON THIS POSTCARD MAKES IT SPECIAL

This vintage real photo postcard features performer, Miss Veglia. The title on the card indicates that she performed at the Folies Bergere, in Paris France. This actress may be Tina Veglia who was a silent film actress. One of the films that she is noted for is “The Three Musketeers” (1918).She is also listed as appearing in two Italian silent films. Interestingly, the word “Veglia”, translated from Italian to English, means “Vigil”.  The portrait of Miss Veglia was hand tinted. She is wearing quite the interesting head piece. The ornate jeweled piece is crownlike and has a hodgepodge design. The message on this postcard, written in French, is captivating. A translation app translates the message as ” I suffer in silence and I do not complain. Not seeing me, you may think I’ve moved on, but despite that, I will love you always. I’m letting a little bit of hope shine through. Try to guess who is sending you this card…”. This is an extremely dramatic message. I wonder what eventually happened. Did the writer and recipient ever get together and live “happily ever after”? This photo portrait was taken by Walery at his Paris studio. He was a well known and talented celebrity photographer. The postcard was published by SIP as part of a series (no.5026). The postcard has a Belgian stamp and the care is addressed to someone in Courcelles-Pont-à-Celles, Belgium. (SOLD)

THELMA TODD : MOVIE ACTRESS : GODFREY PHILLIPS : CIGARETTE CARD : 1934

This vintage tobacco card features American silent and talkie film actress, Thelma Todd (1906-1935). She was also a businesswoman. Her nicknames included “The Ice Cream Blonde” and “Hot Toddy”. She appeared in about 120 feature films and shorts between 1926 and 1935. She was known for her comedienne talent. Among the performers she worked with are the Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, and Buster Keaton. In 1934 she opened a restaurant in Los Angeles with two partners. In 1935 she was found dead in her Lincoln automobile. The car was in a garage and had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Her death was ruled to be accidental but there was much speculation about whether she committed suicide or had been murdered. This cigarette card was published by Godfrey Philips Ltd. The firm was a British tobacco importer and manufacturer of cigars and Cigarettes. The business was established in 1844 and was one of the first tobacco companies to issue cigarette cards. Their first set was published in 1904. The cards were meant to stiffen cigarette packaging, to serve as a collectible, and to advertise the cigarette brand. This cigarette card was issued in 1934.  SOLD

LIL DAGOVER : PRETTY GERMAN SILENT & SOUND FILM STAR : MADAME BOVARY : RPPC 1942

This vintage real photo postcard features celebrated German actress, Lil Dagover (1887-1980). She was renowned for her work in silent films, particularly her collaborations with key figures of German Expressionist cinema. Her striking beauty and ability to convey complex emotions made her one of the most recognizable faces of early 20th-century European cinema. Lil Dagover was born into a well-to-do family in the Dutch East Indies, where her father worked as a forestry officer. After his death, her mother relocated with the family to Europe, and Dagover spent much of her youth in Switzerland and Germany. She was orphaned at 13 years of age and was raised by relatives. She initially planned to become a painter but was drawn to the performing arts, which led her to pursue acting. Dagover’s acting career began on the stage, but her breakthrough came with the advent of film. She made her debut in 1913, though her rise to stardom began in earnest in the early 1920s when she worked with director Robert Wiene in the landmark German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). Dagover became a favorite of directors such as Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau, and Ernst Lubitsch. Her notable silent-era films include “Destiny” (1921), “Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler” (1922), and “The Chronicles of the Grey House” (1925). Her success continued during the sound era, where her aristocratic demeanor and elegance suited roles in historical dramas and comedies. Dagover remained active in German cinema during the Third Reich, a time when the industry was heavily influenced by propaganda. However, she largely avoided overtly political films, focusing instead on character-driven narratives. After World War II, she transitioned to stage work and television, continuing her career well into the 1970s. In regard to her personal life, in 1913 she married Fritz Daghofer, an Austrian officer. They had one child and the marriage ended in divorce. She married for a second time to a German film producer. This postcard was published by Film-Foto-Verlag as part of a series (No.A3735/1). Miss Dagover’s photograph was taken by Baumann between 1941 and 1944. The logo for Terra Film is in the bottom right corner of the image. Terra Film was a Berlin-based film production company. Founded in 1919, it became one of Germany’s largest film production companies in the 1930s under the Nazi regime.  SOLD

ORMI HAWLEY : AMERICAN SILENT FILM ACTRESS : OPULENT ORMI : REAL PHOTO POSTCARD

Ormi Hawley (1889-1942) was a pretty and popular American silent film actress. The IMDb reports that she has 129 film credits between 1911 and 1919. She must have garnered a significant amount of money because her nickname was “Opulent Ormi”. She also earned the nickname of “The Lillian Russell of the Pictures” because she frequently played society or aristocratic roles. Like many silent film actresses, she began her career as a teen on the stage. In 1911, she joined the Lubin Stock Company and over the next five years, she starred in dozens of short films. In 1918, she was the leading lady with opera legend Enrico Caruso. Later in her career, she managed the All-American Girls Symphony Orchestra. Upon marriage, she retired to her farm where she painted portraits and wrote children’s stories. This card was published by Kraus Manufacturing Company (New York) for the Lubin film company. Interestingly, the caption on the front of the card describes Hawley’s appearance. She is said to have blonde hair and gray eyes. (SOLD)

CAROL DEMPSTER : AMERICAN SILENT FILM ACTRESS : D W GRIFFITH : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features American silent film actress, Carol Dempster (1901-1991). She was born in Minnesota. Her father was a captain on a ship that travelled on the Great Lakes. The family moved to California when her father switched careers. She was spotted dancing in a school program by noted dancer Ruth St. Denis. St. Denis recruited her for her own dance school. Griffith discovered her at the St. Denis school. Dempster began her film career as a protege of film director extraordinaire. She was one of a number of actresses he collected for his “stable”. Others included Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Miriam Cooper, and Mae Marsh. These other actresses were said to detest Dempster because she mimicked their acting styles. Dempster was given her first role in the 1916 film, “Intolerance”. She played a harem girl along with teenage newcomer, Mildred Harris. Dempster was just 15 years old. She became one of Griffith’s favorites and appeared in nearly every one the films he directed through the 1920’s. Their relationship became a romantic relationship during the arly 1920’s. Dempsters last film appearance was in 1926. She retired that year to marry a wealthy banker. Dempster was not seen as a great actress by critics. She was overshadowed by Lillian Gish. In addition her animated acting style and physical appearnce were considered relatively ordinary. The IMDb reports that Dempster appeared in 19 films between 1916 and 1926. This vintage postcard offers a closeup view of Miss Dempster She looks pretty and glamorous. The card was published by Cinemagazine (Paris Edition). The postcard dates back to the 1920’s and is in very good condition (see scans).

carol dempster

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carol dempster

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FANNIE WARD : PRETTY STAGE & SILENT FILM STAR : PHOTO BY LIZZIE CASWALL SMITH : RPPC 1905

This vintage real photo postcard features pretty American stage and silent film actress and film producer, Fannie Ward (1872-1952). She was also the star of light comedies on Broadway. She began her career in the early 1890s, and appeared in over 100 films between 1895 and 1920. She was known for her roles in silent comedies and melodramas, and was considered one of the most popular actresses of her time. She played starring roles in “Madam President”, “The Shop Girl” and many others. Her screen debut was in Cecil B DeMille’s sexually charged, “The Cheat” (1915). Ward also produced several films, including the 1913 film “The Chink in the Armour,” which was directed by her then-husband, Frank Keenan. She retired from acting in 1920, but continued to work in the film industry as a producer until her death in 1952. In addition, after her retirement from the screen, she opened a beauty salon in Paris called “The Fountain of Youth”. The name of the salon is a bit ironic. Ward was known for her youthful appearance. It was not ununsual for her to play the parts of women one of two decades her junior. Ward held feminist beliefs which she wasn’t shy to talk about. In 1909, she told a reporter that her husband hated her work and then pointed out the hypocrisy of society’s support of men pursuing their interests (ie. art, sports, travel) but not supporting women who did the same. In addition, Ward worked as a film producer, a role not usually populated by women. Rotary Photo published this postcard as part of a series (No.1661A). The firm was located in London. Miss Ward was photographed by celebrated female photographer, Lizzie Caswall Smith. This posted postcard has a 1905 postmark.  SOLD

GERALDINE FARRAR : PRETTY AMERICAN OPERA SINGER AND SILENT FILM STAR

POSTCARD 1 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 3 (SOLD)

POSTCARD 4 (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. SOLD

Postcard 2 is a rare close-up portrait postcard of Miss Farrar. SOLD

Postcard 3 is a rare photo of Geraldine Farrar that was published by Paul Fink (Berlin) as part of a series (No.S26). The postcard was postmarked in 1911. SOLD

Postcard 4 was published by Georg Gerlach (Berlin) as part of a series (No.217/2). SOLD

FRANCESCA BERTINI : INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ITALIAN SILENT FILM STAR : RPPC

POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 1 (CLOSE-UP)

POSTCARD 2 (SOLD)

These vintage photo postcards feature Italian silent film actress, Francesca Bertini (1892-1985). She is thought to be one of the leading silent film stars in the history of this movie form. Bertini was internationally acclaimed. She began her stage career at age seventeen and soon was performing on Italy’s silent screen. By 1915, she had made more than fifty films. She was thought to be beautiful, elegant, and charming. Hollywood’s Fox Film offered her a contract but she turned down the opportunity. She was married to Paul Cartier, a wealthiy Swiss banker, and wanted to move with him to Switzerland.

Postcard 1 measures about 3 3/8″ x 5 1/2″ and is in very good condition (see scans).  

Portrait Postcard 2 was taken by G. Vettori of Bologna, Italy. The card is part of a series (No.1050). (SOLD)

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POSTCARD 1

POSTCARD 2