Hand-coloured postcard Madge Lessing - Edwardian actress, sent Antwerp ca. 1908

Hand-coloured photographic postcard depicting a portrait of British music hall actress Madge Lessing, printed in turquoise and pastel tones on a photographic base. Lessing wears a wide-brimmed hat with abundant ostrich feathers and a multi-strand pearl necklace — the grandeur of Edwardian stage costume captured in small format. The card is published by GLC Co. under number 2199/3. The reverse bears a Belgian 5 centime stamp and the Anvers postmark, probably ca. 1907-1910.

The card was sent from Antwerp to Madame Veuve Webber, Blanchisserie de la Plage in Westende — a laundry on the seafront of the Belgian coastal resort. Sender Anny wrote in French to her friend Joséphine: the message is short and personal, with greetings to Germaine and another family member. Madge Lessing was in the early years of the twentieth century a familiar face on British and European music hall stages, and her portrait appeared on dozens of different postcards collected and sent by admirers.