Featured And Then... There Appeared Three Mata Hari’s ❤️Maven

I had posted awhile ago about obtaining an original cyanotype portrait of the famed, and legendary, dancer, courtesan, and spy, Mata Hari.

The sun has shone two more times on my quest to obtain more era correct portraits of her. They date from 1905, 1910, and 1914, and would have been taken in Paris. I have posted all three in successive dates below (I have received the 1905 portrait, pictured first, and have had it properly stored until the other two arrive). All of these will eventually be custom preservation framed. It is very difficult to obtain first generation/era correct originals. From a photography and historic perspective, these are really unique.

❤️Maven

 

Congratulations! Those are lovely.

 

@sabre123 Thank You Very Much! I made the deal for the other two, I am amazed, truly. ❤️Maven

 

@sabre123 Here is the first I bought (year 1905), just temporarily out of it’s dark storage for the picture, and removed from the old frame. I apologize for the terrible lighting on it, I also took this rather hastily. To the naked eye it’s blue tones are still brilliant for its age, just like in the above photo. Under this dim light, it appears very dark, and brownish. It was really incredible, the first time, to look under magnification, the nature of the photo paper etc. I am doing what I can to protect the photo’s integrity until it can be properly preservation frame protected. ❤️Maven

 

It really is stunning, and so was she! Her pose is so striking, too.

I think it's great that you're preserving these. They could not have found a better home.

Thanks for sharing!

 

Thank You Very much for the kind words.....Mata Hari has most certainly found a good home. ❤️Maven

 

More of my Mata Hari info, a video posted by the Washington Post for the International Spy Museum...I’ve been into her story for quite awhile. ❤️Maven
https://www.washingtonpost.com/vide...194c88-b367-11e7-9b93-b97043e57a22_video.html

 

Im up way too late,but I had to remark on how lovely she truly was. I can see how she got away with what she did,men were dazzled !

 

Hello! Late Nite @johnnycb09 Yes, she must have intrigued many. I have uncovered much info, and several great documentaries about her, she was a super-star of her time, I love her story, both truths & legend. I’m sad her life ended the way it did though.❤️Maven

 

A cool & cute vid on the cyanotype process. ❤️Maven

 

An interesting footnote to the story of the 1905 print. The date of the print had been miss-quoted from the owner I had purchased it from. Me having acquired much more knowledge of her history, decided to confirm it’s actual date, also part of the thrill for me is provenance & accuracy. This image actually coincides around the time of her debut dance at the Musee Guimet in Paris of that year. It would have likely been used as a promotion photo at the time. I consulted with someone who is even more of an expert, just to confirm my findings, and yes, it is most certainly from 1905. So there you go, even a collector can be a bit off, but history and analysis isn’t.

 

A fourth Mata Hari has come to light.

I just agreed to purchase this final cyanotype print...it is also from 1905, the same photo-session as the previous acquired print posted. This one, out of the four has the most damage from the elements, but I decided to make it an even four originals. As stated earlier, from a photographic, and historic perspective, these are rare proofs to find. Something of this magnitude could probably happen just once in my life. I stayed up very late pondering this one. ❤️Maven

 

Great collection, Maven! And Mata Hari, what's not to like.

It has damage, but that pose is beautiful. A good reason to buy it, imo.

 

Very nice, Maven!

 

These are great, Maven! A nice collection...

 

It is difficult now for us to realize just how risqué these photos are. Remember in the original Star Trek series they weren't allowed to costume women in a way that showed their navel?

 

Wow! Incredible images and good research. How are you planning to preserve them?

 

@Any Jewelry I am absolutely over the moon, very excited, I think when I woke this morning I truly realize the true significance of these photos. Not that I didn’t before, but I’m even more in love with them now. ❤️Maven

 

Thank You @antidiem ❤️Maven

 

Awe, Thank You @Figtree3 ❤️Maven