Unusual postcards by Ross Verlag and Walter Steinhaus in Hamburg.
Known as "Zerschneiderpostkarte" (cut in half postcards).
These cards paired photos of film actors with pictorial scenes from Hamburg.
They measure approximately 6 X 4 inches. There are at least 30 cards in the series.
This particular card (#21) shows American actor George Bancroft on the left side of the card,
and a photo of a Blohm & Voss floating shipping dock in Hamburg on the right.
The connection between the actors and the Hamburg scenes are tenuous.
#1 has Hans Albers and an aerial view of City Hall and the Alster lake
#16 has Marlene Dietrich and the oceanliner "Europa."
#30 has Evelyn Holt with the Hamburg main station.
#36 has Mady Christians and the Hamburg Harbour.
Thanks to Klaas Dierks for the photo and information!
Gustaf Gründgens postcard. On the back is a an advertisement for a weekly illustrated newspaper from Cologne, in which one can read of the life of the film star in a pictorial report. The newspaper was also published in Hamburg, Munich, Leipzig and Berlin. (Thanks to Klaas Dierks for the information) I have seen other examples with different actors.
This Shirley Temple card is part of a series of cards known as "Meisteraufnahme" (translation: "master photographs"). #1474/1 The German sentence on front is in Sütterlin script. It translates to "laughing happiness." There are other Shirley Temple cards that are similar, but not all have her name on it. Other cards in the series portray non actor children, animals, flowers and landscapes. The cards used different variations of script writing. (Thanks to Klaas Dierks for solving another mystery!)
Further information provided by Hans Schnepper: There were other actors portrayed on these cards including Peter Bosse, Marta Eggerth and Karin Hardt. Some text printed on the cards included "Frohe Weihnacht" (Merry Christmas), "Fröhliche Ostern" (Merry Easter), and "Viel Glück" (Good Luck).
Here is a partial list of "Meisteraufnahmen" cards:
Shirley Temple:
1474/1 "Lachences Glück" -- Laughing happiness
1475/1 "Schlauköpfchen" -- Smartypants
1639/1 "Im Gebet" -- In prayer
1639/3 "Da muss ich wirklich lachen" -- I really have to laugh
1639/4 "Lachende Augen" -- Laughing/smiling eyes.
Marta Eggerth:
1269/2 "Frohe Weihnachten" -- Merry Christmas
1284/3 "Prosit Neujahr" -- Happy New Year
Karin Hardt:
1203/1 "Fröhliche Ostern" -- Merry Easter
1203/4 "Glükliche Ostern" -- Happy Easter
"Meisteraufnahmen"
postcard of young girl #1007 |
"Meisteraufnahmen" of vase
of flowers. Message translates as
"Best Wishes on your Birthday"
#1126/3 |
Another "Meisteraufnahmen"
postcard of Shirley Temple
"I
really got to laugh there!" |
"Meisteraufnahmen" of children
Message translates as
"This way it tastes better"
#2615/4 |
New Years card from 1940
2544/3 |
German soldier holding flowers
offering birthday greetings
Message translates as
"Many affectionate wishes for your birthday!"
#2615/4 |
A back of a "Meisteraufnahem"
card that shows
the Horse emblem instead of "Ross" name.
(Above five scans courtesy of Klaas Dierks!)
Although these cards do not have "Meisteraufnahem" on the back, the numbers of these two Shirley Temple's cards match the numbers on the list above.
1639/1 "Im Gebet" -- In prayer
1639/4 "Lachende Augen" -- Laughing/smiling eyes.
Neither of these phrases are printed on the cards, although they do match the expressions of Miss Temple in the photos. The card numbers do not match the regular series as 1639/1 would be too early for a Shirley Temple card and A 1639/1 is taken by another actor. Note that the Fox Film Logo on these Temple cards are very different from any others on the Ross cards
This is part of the same series above, but has "Ross Verlag" printed on the front, even more unusual for a Meisteraufnahem card. The card is also scalloped. Scalloped cards do turn up now and then, but whether or not they were cut at the factory like that is unknown. The reverse of this card also has "Germany" printed in one corner of the card, which I have not seen before. (Thanks to Hans Schnepper for the above Shirley Temple scans.)
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