In stock · No. group 57
"
RARE EDWARDIAN TENNIS LADY POSTCARD - VIBRANT RED DRESS - EARLY WOMEN'S SPORTS
Descriptionyou're looking at an authentic Edwardian-era postcard featuring a stylish young woman in tennis attire dating from approximately 1907-1915. This charming chromolithograph captures a pivotal moment in women's sporting history when athletic pursuits were beginning to become acceptable for fashionable ladies.
The striking image shows an elegantly dressed tennis player in a vibrant red dress with a high white collar cinched at the waist with a dark belt. She stands confidently holding her wooden tennis racquet wearing a fashionable large hat with white trim that epitomizes Edwardian style.
Artistically framed by a natural archway of trees the composition creates the impression of glimpsing this sporting lady through a garden setting. The soft yellowish-green background and hints of distant buildings suggest a country club or estate environment where early tennis was enjoyed by society.
Historical SignificanceThis postcard documents a fascinating transitional period in women's athletics. The early 1900s marked the era when women first began participating more openly in sports like tennis though still constrained by the formal fashion requirements of the day.
The outfit depicted - with its long skirt structured bodice and elaborate hat - illustrates the impractical yet mandatory attire women were expected to wear even for athletic activities. This visual record of early women's sportswear makes the card particularly significant for both sports and fashion historians.
Tennis held a special place in early women's athletics as one of the first sports considered acceptable for ladies of refinement. This card captures that cultural moment perfectly showing how athletic activities were carefully balanced with maintaining proper feminine appearance and decorum.
Special FeaturesThis premium-quality postcard includes several notable features that enhance its collectibility. The card features an embossed floral/scroll design around the edges that adds texture and dimension indicating this was a higher-grade production.
The early divided back format with ornate decorative elements around 'POST CARD' shows the characteristic layout of cards from 1907-1915. The stamp box indicates both domestic (one cent) and foreign (two cents) rates typical of this transitional period in postcard history.
The publisher's code 'A 527' appears vertically in the bottom left corner of the back providing a reference point for specialized collectors. The artistic chromolithography process has maintained remarkably vibrant colors particularly in the striking red dress despite being over a century old.
ConditionThis 110+ year old postcard remains in good vintage condition with the expected signs of age. The colors stay impressively vibrant especially the bold red of the tennis dress which remains the focal point of the image.
There is moderate toning/yellowing of the paper consistent with its age along with some corner and edge wear. The back shows several creases or wrinkles and the embossed decorative border while still visible has flattened somewhat in areas over the decades.
Some minor surface scuffs and slight fading in background areas are present but there are no major tears or significant damage. This postcard was never used or mailed remaining in clean condition without postal markings or writing.
Age/EraMultiple elements confirm this postcard's Edwardian origin:
• The divided back format (introduced around 1907 in the US)
• The one-cent domestic/two-cent foreign postage rates (1907-1917)
• The woman's fashion (high collar cinched waist long skirt and large decorative hat)
• The style of tennis racquet shown
• The chromolithography printing technique
• The embossed decorative elements typical of premium cards from this period
All these factors place the card squarely in the 1907-1915 timeframe making it a genuine artifact from the late Belle Époque/early Edwardian period.
RarityFinding women's sports-themed postcards from the Edwardian era in good condition has become
increasingly difficult as the years pass. Most have been damaged discarded or permanently archived in museum collections.
The specific combination of tennis the eye-catching red dress and the premium embossed quality makes this a particularly desirable example. Sports-themed postcards from this era especially those depicting women athletes represent a specialized collecting niche with growing interest from both sports memorabilia collectors and those focused on women's history.
The card's unused status has helped preserve its condition over more than a century making it even more unusual to find on the open market today. Each year fewer of these tangible connections to early women's sports history remain available to collectors.
Collector's NoteWhen you hold this postcard you're touching an authentic artifact from a time when women were just beginning to claim their place in the sporting world. The physical connection to this pivotal moment in women's athletic history cannot be replicated through digital images or reproductions.
Vintage postcards like this one are
irreplaceable time capsules that capture social customs fashion trends and cultural attitudes that have completely vanished. The tactile experience of owning a genuine piece of early women's sports history offers a dimension that no modern reproduction can provide.
This card would make an exceptional addition to collections focused on:
• Early women's sports memorabilia
• Tennis history
• Edwardian fashion and society
• Women's history
• Belle Époque illustration
• Early 20th century ephemera
Its vibrant colors charming composition and clear connection to early women's athletics make it a standout piece that tells an important story about the evolution of women's roles in sporting life.
A Vanishing Piece of Sports HistoryAs museums and institutions increasingly seek to preserve these fragile documents of women's sporting history fewer authentic examples remain available to private collectors. When postcards like this disappear from the market they rarely return.
The opportunity to own and preserve this window into early women's tennis allows you to become the caretaker of a moment in time that would otherwise be lost forever. These physical artifacts tell the story of how women gradually gained access to athletic pursuits that were previously closed to them.
Shipping InformationThis historical treasure will be carefully packaged in an archival-quality sleeve and shipped in a rigid mailer to ensure it reaches you safely despite its age.
Buy multiple postcards and pay only ONE low shipping cost! I combine shipping on all postcard purchases so feel free to browse my other listings for similar vintage treasures.
Act Quickly - Genuine Edwardian Women's Sports History!Finding Edwardian-era women's sports postcards in this condition becomes more challenging with each passing year. Once this authentic piece of tennis and women's sports history is gone finding another with this combination of vibrant color subject matter and good condition may prove impossible.
Don't miss this opportunity to own a striking visual document of early women's tennis history from over a century ago!"
_gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))
_gsrx_vers_1736 (GS 9.9.5 (1736))
Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.
Gosla Antiques & Collectibles