Massilia ia a little known French label, that published dozens of collectors cards during the 1930s, in colour (hand-coloured cards) and black and white, and in different formats. On 23 April 2012, EFSP did a post with Massilia cards from the collection of Canadian collector Amit Benyovits. Today, a post with Massilia cards from our own collection.
Jean Gabin. French collectors card by Massilia.
Annabella. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Fox.
Fernandel. French collectors card by Massilia.
Jules Berry. French collectors card by Massilia.
Louis Jouvet. French postcard by Massilia. Photo: Eclair.
Wikipedia mentions that Massilia is the Latin name of the Greek colony of Μασσαλία. It was founded by the Ionians of Phocaea in 600 BC. The colony was located on the southern coast of Gaul, at the place of modern Marseilles.
Massilia was also an affiliated label with bonbons Loriot (etablissements UNGEMAC Strasbourg) in the 1930s. Massilia issued ‘Sammelbilder’ (collectors cards) about various subjects, in different formats, in colour and in black and white or sepia.
Many labels used the collectors cards as a gift and promo for their products, including Kivou in Belgium (chocolate), and an incredible amount of cigarettes labels in Germany: Altona, Orami, and so on.
These labels often used Ross Verlag for their film stars albums. Other subjects for the collectors cards were dancers, beautiful women, animals, flags and martial subjects when the NSDAP took over in Germany.
Some of the Massilia cards are large sized (10,5 cm x 15 cm) and printed on high quality card stock. Others are smaller (8 x 11 cm). Almost all of them have vibrantly colour-toned images on front and plain white backs. But there are also series in black and white or sepia. On each card you’ll find a small Massilia logo at the bottom.
Corinne Luchaire. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: London Film Productions.
Roger Tréville. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Paramount.
Pierre Blanchar. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Filmsonor.
Michèle Morgan. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Osso.
Elvire Popesco. French collectors card by Massilia.
At the memorabilia site Immortal Ephemera, Cliff Aliperti dates Amit Benyovits' set to approximately 1937-1938 due to inclusion of child stars such as Shirley Temple and Deanna Durbin. At Immortal Ephemera, you 'll find scans of the album cover plus of all the cards of Benyovits, including some cards of pairs.
Cliff Aliperti: “Of these pairs Yvette Lebon and Tino Rossi only appeared in one film together, released 1936; Viviane Romance and Tino Rossi appeared in 2, released in 1937 and much later (1972). Also included are the pair of Jacqueline Delubac and Sacha Guitry who appeared in a whopping 11 films together: 1 in 1935, the other 10 all between 1936-1938.”
Some of the photos look a lot like pictures you can see on similar postcards of other publishers, but the poses are different. What could be the reason?
Collector Didier Hanson: “Keep in mind that 9 times out of 10 the photo atelier took many shots during the photo session, and many or all of them were used to issue postcards, even if the publishers were different. This explains why you can come across similar postcards from different publishing houses.”
Marie Glory. French card by Massilia.
Armand Bernard. French card by Massilia. Photo: A.C.E.
Madeleine Robinson. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Studio Harcourt.
Conchita Montenegro. French collectors card by Massilia.
Dita Parlo. French collectors card by Massilia.
Dolly Mollinger. French collectors card by Massilia.
Henri Rollan. French card by Massilia. Handwritten text at the backside (not entirely readable): "Je suis heureux de pouvoir vous saluer de cette façon un peu inattendue.... aussi inconnue à qui sont dédiés mes efforts, mais qui en pensez... quoi??? Bien sympathiquement... quoi qu'il en soit. Henri Rollan".
Henri Alibert. French card by Massilia. Photo: Film Malsherbes. Publicity still for Titin des Martigues (René Pujol, 1938).
Junie Astor. French postcard by Massilia. Photo: Filma Albatros. Publicity still for Les Bas-fonds/The Lower Depths (Jean Renoir, 1936).
Tino Rossi. French card by Massilia.
Marie Glory. French card by Massilia. Photo: R. Joffres.
René Dary. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Léo Mirkine.
Maurice Chevalier. French collectors card by Massilia.
Sources: Didier Hanson, Amit Benyovits, Clifford Aliperti (Immortal Ephemera), and Wikipedia.
It is Postcard Friendship Friday, hosted by Beth at the The Best Hearts are Crunchy. You can visit her by clicking on the button below.
Jean Gabin. French collectors card by Massilia.
Annabella. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Fox.
Fernandel. French collectors card by Massilia.
Jules Berry. French collectors card by Massilia.
Louis Jouvet. French postcard by Massilia. Photo: Eclair.
A Greek Colony
Wikipedia mentions that Massilia is the Latin name of the Greek colony of Μασσαλία. It was founded by the Ionians of Phocaea in 600 BC. The colony was located on the southern coast of Gaul, at the place of modern Marseilles.
Massilia was also an affiliated label with bonbons Loriot (etablissements UNGEMAC Strasbourg) in the 1930s. Massilia issued ‘Sammelbilder’ (collectors cards) about various subjects, in different formats, in colour and in black and white or sepia.
Many labels used the collectors cards as a gift and promo for their products, including Kivou in Belgium (chocolate), and an incredible amount of cigarettes labels in Germany: Altona, Orami, and so on.
These labels often used Ross Verlag for their film stars albums. Other subjects for the collectors cards were dancers, beautiful women, animals, flags and martial subjects when the NSDAP took over in Germany.
Some of the Massilia cards are large sized (10,5 cm x 15 cm) and printed on high quality card stock. Others are smaller (8 x 11 cm). Almost all of them have vibrantly colour-toned images on front and plain white backs. But there are also series in black and white or sepia. On each card you’ll find a small Massilia logo at the bottom.
Corinne Luchaire. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: London Film Productions.
Roger Tréville. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Paramount.
Pierre Blanchar. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Filmsonor.
Michèle Morgan. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Osso.
Elvire Popesco. French collectors card by Massilia.
Different Poses
At the memorabilia site Immortal Ephemera, Cliff Aliperti dates Amit Benyovits' set to approximately 1937-1938 due to inclusion of child stars such as Shirley Temple and Deanna Durbin. At Immortal Ephemera, you 'll find scans of the album cover plus of all the cards of Benyovits, including some cards of pairs.
Cliff Aliperti: “Of these pairs Yvette Lebon and Tino Rossi only appeared in one film together, released 1936; Viviane Romance and Tino Rossi appeared in 2, released in 1937 and much later (1972). Also included are the pair of Jacqueline Delubac and Sacha Guitry who appeared in a whopping 11 films together: 1 in 1935, the other 10 all between 1936-1938.”
Some of the photos look a lot like pictures you can see on similar postcards of other publishers, but the poses are different. What could be the reason?
Collector Didier Hanson: “Keep in mind that 9 times out of 10 the photo atelier took many shots during the photo session, and many or all of them were used to issue postcards, even if the publishers were different. This explains why you can come across similar postcards from different publishing houses.”
Marie Glory. French card by Massilia.
Armand Bernard. French card by Massilia. Photo: A.C.E.
Madeleine Robinson. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Studio Harcourt.
Conchita Montenegro. French collectors card by Massilia.
Dita Parlo. French collectors card by Massilia.
Dolly Mollinger. French collectors card by Massilia.
Henri Rollan. French card by Massilia. Handwritten text at the backside (not entirely readable): "Je suis heureux de pouvoir vous saluer de cette façon un peu inattendue.... aussi inconnue à qui sont dédiés mes efforts, mais qui en pensez... quoi??? Bien sympathiquement... quoi qu'il en soit. Henri Rollan".
Henri Alibert. French card by Massilia. Photo: Film Malsherbes. Publicity still for Titin des Martigues (René Pujol, 1938).
Junie Astor. French postcard by Massilia. Photo: Filma Albatros. Publicity still for Les Bas-fonds/The Lower Depths (Jean Renoir, 1936).
Tino Rossi. French card by Massilia.
Marie Glory. French card by Massilia. Photo: R. Joffres.
René Dary. French collectors card by Massilia. Photo: Léo Mirkine.
Maurice Chevalier. French collectors card by Massilia.
Sources: Didier Hanson, Amit Benyovits, Clifford Aliperti (Immortal Ephemera), and Wikipedia.
It is Postcard Friendship Friday, hosted by Beth at the The Best Hearts are Crunchy. You can visit her by clicking on the button below.
1 comment:
These are amazing. Once again I am breathless with your wonderful research and your ability to write about these folks in a way which is so fascinating. I was intrigued with the postcards where color had been added to the faces. I found it interesting that so many of the fellas were sporting red and pink lips!!!
Have a great weekend, my Friend. May the sun shine upon you where you are, halfway across the world. :D
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