Lot #781: Two Vintage 1900s Art Postcards - "The Virgin and Child" Botticelli (Medici Society, UK) - "Lady Hamilton" Romney (Phostint Detroit Publishing Co.)

Two Vintage 1900s Art Postcards. (1) One Vintage UK 1900s Art Postcard, unused, showing a haloed Mary and Jesus, leaning over an illuminated manuscript, with caption "The Virgin and Child. Botticelli. Milan, Museo Poldi Pezzoli". This richly coloured postcard indicates the publisher as "Medici Society, Ltd., No. 54, Engraved and Printed in England". No Stamp. Never Postally Used. No Message. This Medici Society card (No. 54) reproduces one of the most tender works of the Italian Renaissance, known formally as The Madonna of the Book (Madonna del Libro). Printed during the height of the Edwardian "Renaissance Revival," it represents the pinnacle of early 20th-century color reproduction. Painted around 1480 by Sandro Botticelli, this work is a masterpiece of the Quattrocento style. The "illuminated manuscript" is a Book of Hours (a personal prayer book). Mary is shown teaching the Christ Child to read, symbolizing the transition from the Old Testament to the New. The Christ Child holds three nails and a crown of thorns, the "Instruments of the Passion," that foreshadow his future. The Medici Society utilized a collotype or a high-end chromolithography process. The Medici Society’s high-resolution printing was essential to capture the fine gold leaf details and the translucent skin tones. Being No. 54, this was part of the Society's foundational "National Gallery and Continental Series." These cards were often kept in specialized albums rather than being sent through the mail, preserving them as a "personal museum." (2) One Vintage USA 1900s Art Postcard, unused, showing a young veiled woman with title caption "Lady Hamilton as Daphne - George Romney - Metropolitan Museum of Art". This coloured postcard indicates the publisher as "Phostint Card. Made Only by Detroit Publishing Company. Trade mark. Re. U.S. Pat. Off." . No Stamp. Never Postally Used. No Message. This Phostint card is a standout piece of American lithographic history, representing the "high-water mark" of color postcard production in the United States. It reproduces a famous portrait by the British master George Romney, capturing his muse and obsession, Emma Hamilton, in one of her many theatrical "Attitudes." Painted around 1782–1784, this portrait of "Lady Hamilton as Daphne" by George Romney depicts Emma Hart (later Lady Hamilton) before she became the world-famous mistress of Lord Nelson. Emma was legendary for her "Attitudes," where she would pose (semi-clothed) as classical or mythological figures. Here, she is Daphne, the nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape the pursuit of Apollo. The veil and her upward gaze capture a sense of ethereal, fleeting beauty. Romney was so infatuated with Emma that he painted her over 60 times. This specific portrait is known for its soft, fluid brushwork and the romantic, almost breathless quality of the subject. The Detroit Publishing Company was the most prestigious postcard firm in America, and their "Phostint" brand was their flagship product. The "Phostint" Process was a proprietary method of colorizing black-and-white photographs or fine art negatives. It involved as many as 10 to 15 different lithographic stones, allowing for a richness of color and a "velvety" texture that other American publishers couldn't match. Phostint cards are highly prized by collectors today because their colors tend to remain vibrant even a century later. The "Trade Mark Reg. U.S. Pat. Off." indicates the company's aggressive protection of its high-end brand. Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}