Movie Star Photo Appraisal

Mary Astor Vintage Portrait Photo Card (Hansa Filmbilder)

This item is a vintage black and white photographic card featuring a portrait of the American actress Mary Astor. The image depicts Astor with a classic 1920s-1930s bob hairstyle, smiling directly at the camera. She is adorned with what appears to be a multi-strand pearl necklace and large, possibly teardrop-shaped, earrings. Her attire includes a patterned dress or top, seemingly with a layered or ruffled embellishment on the shoulder/bodice area, a common style for the period. The card itself is made of paper, likely cardstock, with a visible white border surrounding the photograph. Below the image, the name 'Mary Astor' is printed centrally in a clear sans-serif font. To the bottom left of the image, very faintly visible, are the words 'Ross' and 'Verl.'. The overall condition of the photo card appears to be good given its age, with no apparent tears or major creases visible in the provided image, though it is currently housed within a clear plastic sleeve for protection. The original photo was likely a promotional still. Given the 'Hansa Filmbilder' context provided, this suggests it was issued in Germany, likely for distribution to fans or as part of a film studio's publicity efforts. This type of collectible photograph is characteristic of the golden age of Hollywood and European cinema promotion, likely dating from the late 1920s to the 1930s. The 'Ross' and 'Verl.' indications might refer to the photographer (likely Atelier Ross) or the publisher/distributor, which was common practice for such collectible cards.