04 September 2021

Europe

Little is known about the French postcard publisher Europe. The Europe cards started in the silent period (probably in 1927) and progressed to the late 1930s. However, lower-numbered Europe cards (up to about 149) are from the sound period. Europe cards were produced originally in sepia or later in black-white, just like the postcards of Ross Verlag. During the transition, both tonal varieties were on the market. Not all Europe cards were produced or released in France. Some cards are marked with the JKO logo of the Czech producer or dealer, Ignaz Kramer. Others were released in Germany, through a publisher named 'Marre,' and in Belgium and The Netherlands. The Europe logo also changed through the times. A slightly larger logo started the series, with a switch to a smaller logo around no. 222. Some of the cards are marked with Europe in semi-script. Several cards bear no logo, and a few are marked with a logo on the picture itself. However, we love the Europe series and chose 25 of our favourite postcards of the series for this post.

Greta Garbo in Mata Hari (1931)
French postcard by Europe, no. 20. Photo: Clarence Sinclair Bull / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Greta Garbo in Mata Hari (George Fitzmaurice, 1931).

Brigitte Helm
French postcard in the Europe series, no. 66, ca. 1932. Photo: Studio Lorelle. Brigitte Helm.

Ivan Mozzhukhin in Casanova (1927)
French postcard by Europe, no. 175. Photo: Société des Cinéromans. Ivan Mozzhukhin in Casanova (Alexandre Volkoff, 1927).

Marcella Albani
French postcard by Europe, no. 185. Marcella Albani in Die Flucht in den Zirkus (Mario Bonnard, Guido Schamberg aka Guido Parish, 1926). Albani plays a snake charmer performing in a Salome-like attire in a circus.

Nita Naldi and Rudolph Valentino in Cobra (1925)
French postcard by Europe, no. 197. Photo: United Artists Corp, New York. Nita Naldi and Rudolph Valentino in Cobra (Joseph Henabery, 1925).

Ricardo Cortez and Maria Corda in The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927)
French postcard by Europe, no. 312. Photo: Mercure Film. Ricardo Cortez as Paris and Maria Corda as Helen in The Private Life of Helen of Troy (Alexander Korda, 1927).

Billie Dove
French postcard by Europe, no. 317. Photo: Mercure Film. Billie Dove.

Fred Louis Lerch and Lya Mara in Mary Lou (1928)
French postcard by Europe, no. 321. Photo: Mercure Film. Fred Louis Lerch and Lya Mara in Mary Lou (Friedrich Zelnik, 1928).

Gilbert Roland
French postcard by Europe, no. 429. Photo: Regal Film / United Artists Corp. N.Y. Gilbert Roland.

Lupe Vélez
French postcard by Europe, no. 470. Photo: Regal Film United Artists. Lupe Velez.

Harry Liedtke in Dragonerliebchen (1928)
French postcard by Europe, no. 586. Photo: Aafa. Harry Liedtke in Dragonerliebchen/Darling of the Dragoons (Rudolf Walther-Fein, 1928).

Colette Darfeuil
French postcard by Europe, no. 588. Photo: G.L. Manuel Frères. Colette Darfeuil.

Ossi Oswalda
French postcard in the Europe series, no. 590. Photo: Agence Européenne Cinematographique. Ossi Oswalda.

Louise Brooks
French postcard by Europe, no. 599. Photo: Néro Film. Louise Brooks.

Marlene Dietrich in Die Frau, nach der man sich sehnt (1929)
French postcard by Europe, no. 647. Photo: Mercure Film. Marlene Dietrich in Die Frau, nach der man sich sehnt/The Woman One Longs For (Kurt Bernhardt, 1929).

Colleen Moore
French postcard by Europe, no. 655. Photo: First National / Arta Film. Colleen Moore.

Fay Wray in Pointed Heels (1929)
French postcard by Europe, no. 720. Photo: Paramount. Fay Wray in Pointed Heels (A. Edward Sutherland, 1929).

Barbara Kent
French postcard by Europe, no. 774. Photo: Universal Film. Barbara Kent.

Nancy Carroll
French postcard by Europe, no. 817. Photo: Paramount. Nancy Carroll.

Gretl Berndt in Das Rheinlandmädel (1930)
French postcard by Europe, no. 825. Photo: Riccoli Film. Gretl Berndt in Das Rheinlandmädel/The Rhineland Model (Johannes Meijer, 1930).

Charles Morton
French postcard by Europe, no. 834. Photo: Fox / Astra Cinegrafica. Charles Morton.

Ramon Novarro
French postcard by Europe, no. 905. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Ramon Novarro.

Lily Damita
French postcard by Europe, no. 959. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Lily Damita.

Dria Paola
French postcard by Europe, no. 991. Photo: Produzione Pittaluga Cines, Roma. Dria Paola.

Max Pallenberg in Der brave Sünder (1931)
French postcard by Europe, no. 2384. Photo: Emelka. Max Pallenberg in Der brave Sünder/The Upright Sinner (Fritz Kortner, 1931).

Source: Ross Postcards.

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