Featured Ida Lupino 1935 C & T Bridgewater Star Card. ❤️Maven

From my vintage movie star card collection;

This is a 1935 C & T Bridgewater Star Card. I have not had this card officially graded like many others in my collection, but I’m fairly certain it may receive a mint, or near mint grading. I purchased this one from a series of a private collection in 2018, along with a notable mint/9 condition graded Fay Wray of the same year, same series (The Fay Wray was valued at approx $100.00 in 2018 because of it’s amazing condition, not that value means a lot to me, I just thought it an interesting side note...I simply collect vintage for the love, thrill & discovery of it, as do many here in the forum). ❤️Maven

*One of the rarest cards I own is a 1947 Rita Hayworth Peerless Scales J.C. Penny Edition, last I checked (and it’s been awhile), I had the only one graded world-wide, graded by PSA as a NM/7.

 

She looked much better as a brunette ! Is it aging myself that i know who she is ?

 

Not at all, young @johnnycb09 ❤️Maven

 

Congratulations @Vintage Maven It looks fantastic and very crisp. I do admit to not having a clue to who she was.

Which companies grade these?

I guess you learn something new every day. I am familiar with graded coins, currency, and sports cards but this is new to me. I guess it is only a matter of time before more ephemera is going to be graded in order to help collectors properly evaluate their items and to ensure authenticity.

 

Hi @Joe2007 Very nice of you to comment, and kind words. In answer to your question, the most reputable grading companies I’ve dealt with are PSA, and Beckett. If you are interested, you can check their website’s to see if there may be something specific (sports cards & non-sports cards) you may need to have valued & graded. You can also check your “graded by them” card, with data of other cards world-wide on their extensive data base ie: how many in that series, grading condition, rarity etc. It’s really interesting to see where your particular card stands in the collecting world. ❤️Maven

 

PSA is under the same corporate umbrella as PCGS, the top grading company for rare coins. The data you speak of is fairly similar to their "CoinFacts" where you can see images, populations, and recent auction results.

Grading can cause all kinds of interesting fluctuations in the market with some collectors paying staggering sums of money for "perfect" mint condition items with the highest grade possible. In numismatics (coins) there is a 1-70 scale with mint-state 70 coins carrying a significant premium even if they are modern, fairly common otherwise entirely unremarkable. Not sure if that is my particular cup of tea.

 

Yes, it certainly is that of the means of what I call “the speculators” in the market. I have my cards graded mostly for insurance purposes (much like my vintage & antique photography collection, except through other channels), and, if by chance I do want to sell, it’s mostly a guideline. In the end, it’s quite frankly about negotiations I would have with another collector that would direct the price ultimately, but I don’t really think I’d enter the market, I love my collection. And I’m most happy I obtain mine from known trusted, fair sources when they do come up. ❤️Maven

 

I did a search for C & T Bridgewater cards and can't find it. Do you have any info on this company?

 

Hello @Bev aka thelmasstuff From what I remember being told at the time I had obtained this card, and others, C&T Bridgewater was a tobacco company, with its roots in the UK, I believe. I may stand corrected on its origins, but somewhere in the 1800’s seems to be proper to my memory. I hope that may help. ❤️Maven

 

Just curious. My maiden name is Bridgewater and my parents divorced when I was two so I never met my father's family. Most of his family are in the western USA. I hadn't heard of any postcard manufacturers. It makes sense that this company is in the UK.

 

Maybe you should research....what if you are an heiress, to an unknown lock box of fortune in a bank somewhere! ❤️Maven

 

No such luck. Farmers all. I am on ancestry and found a few relatives and messaged back and forth. In fact, on both sides (mother is French Canadian) all my ancestors were farmers or loggers. No hidden royalty in there going back to the late 1500s.

 

Well, I seriously have to give very, very much respect to those who farm. (I’m grateful for all my vegetables lol) ❤️Maven

 

The latest trend is to find your "ancient" roots. There are companies that say they can trace your lineage back thousands of years BC. LOL.

 

Do you have any Sterling Hayden cards ? He was at Paramount in the 40's, then other studios afterward.

 

I have a lot of these cards, but no Sterling Hayden.

 

Beautiful card of a beautiful & talented woman! I've always enjoy watching the films she acted in, & directed. Ida was one of the first women to direct film in Hollywood, if I'm not mistaken. Thanks for sharing!

 

Yes; while channel-surfing a few days ago I came across a movie she directed, and looked her up. Not the first, but the first woman to direct a film noir movie (the Hitch-Hiker, now public domain); and one of the most prominent female directors of the 1950s.
She directed 8 movies and over 100 TV episodes; the only woman to direct a Twilight Zone episode, and the only director to star in one.