A pretty special night out, by the looks of it! This Real Photo Postcard shows a photo of an older couple dressed in formal wear, holding hands and smiling for the camera. The lovely woman is blond and wears a dark gown with a v-neck and short sleeves in what appears to be velvet, with a reverse underside of satin. She is holding up the train of the gown as a satin backdrop to show off her beautiful evening bag. Her partner is wearing glasses, dark suit with tails, and a white shirt and bow tie. His lapel shows a pin that resembles a Maltese cross.

The back of the postcard shows a diamond-shape with some wording below a certain design (a seal and a fish?) but the wording there is too light to read properly, unless perhaps one reads Latvian. Underneath the diamond print is  “Zigfr. Meierovica bulv. 2, dz. 3, tēl. 30242.”  This indicates an address on Zigfrīda Annas Meierovica bulvāris (Siegfried Anna Meierovica Boulevard) located in the Central District of Rīga, Latvia, and then of course showing the phone number. Several guesses for the photo come to mind. Since the Astor Riga Hotel seems to have been close by, was this couple part of the hotel’s entertainment, or could they have just been enjoying a night out there? Or were they diplomat and wife, dressed up for a formal embassy engagement?

The publisher’s name is probably what is showing running sideways, in script on the back. It looks like it is “Argenta” ? or something close to this; as this is also not fully readable. But in any case, it’s a beautiful photo and the first Latvian postcard we’ve come across!

Divided back, unused Latvian postcard. Circa 1940s – 1950s.

Price:  $15.00