Lot 680. 7 Different 19th Century Virginia Brights Cards of Actresses Russell, Sara Bernhardt. When I was a kid acting melodramatically, my mother would say, “You’re a regular Sara Bernhardt.” Now I know who she was talking about. These 1 ½” x 2 ½” black & white cards came packaged with Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Six show Lillian Russell in different poses. All of the backs are clean; 5 cards show strong contrast. The sixth card has good contrast. One card is ex-m, three ex+, one ex and one g. The Sara Bernhardt card is vg-ex. All seven read “Pure and Sweet, Virginia Brights Cigarette, the Favorite Smoke” on the back.
Winning Bid $92.
Lot 681. 225+ Mostly 1880s-1930s Postcards of Battleships, Luxury Liners, Harbors, Etc. What a collection! Pre-linen pcs are abundant, including four from the late 1800s pioneer era. About 120 are from the early 1900s, including one that is embossed, some that have undivided backs and some that were mailed. There are 27 “bordered” 1920-30s postcards with writing and postmarks, 45 “bordered” 1920-30s with no writing or postmark, 14 lower border postcards with no writing or postmarks, 6 real-photo postcards, 24 photochromes from the 1950s. Also included are 3 1930s linens and 13 1950s linens. Some notable ships and luxury liners are: American Line “S. S. New York,” Steamer “Plymouth,” Steamer “Mt. Washington,” Atlantic Transport Liner “Minnetonka,” Steamer “Dorothy Bradford,” The “Queen Elizabeth,” Real Photo “U.S.S. Saratoga” and Real Photo “U.S.S. Maine.” Included are 4 cards of the “M.V. Georgic,” a White Star Line 1930s Ocean Liner. Two are “Letter Cards.” Postcards are primarily ex with some better and some worse.
Winning Bid $301.
Lot 682. 5 Early 1900s Actresses on 3 Old Mill Colored Silks, 2 Sweet Caporal Pins. The silks are rich, beaming with strong color. Both sepia pins have their Sweet Caporal Cigarette paper backs. Vg-ex to ex. These items capture the style, grace and character that were the hallmarks of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Winning Bid $25.
Lot 685. 20 1916-39 Cards Featuring Female Film Stars. This collection of British cigarette cards represents a “Who’s Who” of movie stars from the first half of the 20th Century. One of the key cards is from the 1939 “Film and Stage Beauties” Carreras set, a real-photo 3” x 2 ½” card of Betty Grable. In 1939, Grable was largely an unknown actress. Stardom was about a year away. Scarce, desirable card. Mary Pickford is on the 1916 card, a 2 ¼” real-photo oval from Godfrey Phillips. Four cards are from the 1925 ”Popular Film Stars” set produced by Lambert & Butler – Pickford, Dorothy Gish and Gloria Swanson (2 different). Lilliam Gish is the subject of a 1925 Rothman’s “Cinema Stars” card. Judy Garland provides the only duplicate in the group – two copies of her “My Favorite Part” 1939 Gallaher card. Her part in “The Wizard of Oz” was her favorite. One of the more attractive cards pictures Marlene Dietrich; it’s from Carreras’ 1936 “Film Stars” by Desmond set. Other cards show Clara Bow, Deanna Durbin, Dorothy Lamour, Mae West and Loretta Young. The cards average ex+ to ex-m. Very attractive collection.
Winning Bid $83.
Lot 686. Alberto Vargas “Vanities” Deck of Playing Cards in Original Box. In 1919 Alberto Vargas was contracted full time by famed stage producer Florenz Ziegfeld. Perhaps this is where he got the inspiration for his future artwork that later graced the pages of “Esquire” magazine and a multitude of other venues. Vargas was the most successful of the pinup artists. In 1940 his first girl calendar was produced. It was an enormous success. The playing cards, which appear to be 1940s to early 1950s, feature a wide variety of Vargas girls from his original paintings. The deck of cards is complete and appears to be unused. The cards are nm-m. The colorful box that holds them is about ex.
Winning Bid $204.
Lot 688. 2 Exhibit Card Vending Machine Promotional Inserts: Cowboys, “Movie Stars Then and Now.” These inserts were once inside the glass of a device that dispensed exhibit, or arcade, cards. The 1930s-40s cowboy promotion, 12” x 8”, pictures Max Terhune, Bill Elliott and Rufe Davis. The insert consists of three monochromatic cards, one brown, one purple and one green, attached to a cardboard background. Text beneath the cards credits the Exhibit Supply Co. of Chicago and offers the cards at one cent each. Ex. The second insert, from the 1950s, features “Then and Now” (child and adult) photos of female film stars. Twelve paper-stock cards affixed to a 12 ½” x 26 ¾” cardboard background. Among the stars are Virginia Mayo, Shelley Winters, Yvonne DeCarlo, Loretta Young, Jane Wyman and Debbie Reynolds. G-vg because of some slight tears; looks much better.
Winning Bid $35.
Lot 689. 1940s Lone Ranger Exhibit Card Vending Machine Promotional Insert. At one time, this colorful insert graced the inside glass of an exhibit card vending machine. About 11 ½” x 23 ½”, it features 12 arcade cards with a “Lone Ranger” copyright. These are actual cards, rather than thin-paper versions that were commonly used for these inserts. The cards are attached to a cardboard background, which credits the Exhibit Supply Co. of Chicago and offers the cards for two cents each. There is a small inoffensive stain in the lower left corner and a dinged corner in the upper right. Vg attention-grabber with great artwork.
Winning Bid $301.
