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Vintage original 3.5 x 5.25 in. German postcard depicting the handsome prolific German silent film and sound era actor CARL AUEN. He is depicted in a close publicity shot wearing a dark overcoat with a fur-trimmed color and posing in front of a studio background. This postcard was signed in black ink by Carl Auen on November 18, 1926 (see "Provenance" below), the year in which he appeared in 3 silent films in Germany. Printed by the renowned Ross-Verlag company of Berlin, this vintage original "country of origin" postcard was posted in the German mail and cancelled in Berlin on November 19, 1926 (the day after he signed it). It is in very fine condition with a light diagonal mark on each corner from where it was inserted into on of the albums shown in this listing. There are no tears, stains, or other flaws.
Provenance: Approximately 8 years ago, we purchased a collection of two albums of vintage original German postcards from a rare book dealer at an antiquarian book fair in Pasadena, California (see photos). Approximately half of the postcards were signed by the respective personalities and the ones that were dated by the actors are all dated "1926." We were informed by the dealer that these photographs came from a film collector in Germany who acquired the postcards at the time they were issued and then had them signed by the respective actors when he met them in person. We are now pleased to make these vintage original postcards available to other collectors.
Carl Theodor Auen (February 16, 1892 in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany – June 23, 1972) was a German actor of the silent film era. He appeared in 119 films between 1914 and 1938 and was known for Tante Gusti kommandiert (1932), Marschall Vorwärts (1932), and Was Frauen träumen (1933). He first attracted attention with his portrayal of the criminologist "Rat Anheim," whom he portrayed in about 10 films. He was a leading actor of the silent screen and was subsequently a character actor. In 1933, Joseph Goebbels appointed him to head the film student council of the Reichsfilmkammer (Film Chamber of the Reich), a key position in the personnel policy within the Nazi film industry. He strongly identified with national socialism and was a member of the antisemitic Militant League for German Culture. After the end of World War II, Auen became a representative for liquor company. Completely forgotten, he died on June 23, 1972 at the age of 80 in Lichterfelde, Berlin, Germany. Ross-Verlag in Berlin was a German publishing house specialized in photographs and photo postcards of artists. The owner of the company was Heinrich Ross (b. 10 August 1870; d. after 1954 as emigrant in the USA). |