Vintage original 3.5 x 5.25 in. German postcard depicting the renowned German silent film actor, HANS ADALBERT SCHLETTOW. He is depicted in a close interior publicity in a serious pose. It was inscribed in black ink by Hans Adalbert Schlettow in 1926 (see "Provenance" below), the year in which he appeared in seven silent films in Germany. Printed by the renowned Ross-Verlag company of Berlin, this vintage original postcard, which was mailed in the German post and cancelled on March 13, 1926, is in fine+ condition with light signs of wear on the corners. There are no tears, stains, or other flaws. We've also included an image of Schlettow in his role of "Hagen von Tronjein" from Die Nibelungen (for reference purposes only).

Provenance: Approximately 8 years ago, we purchased a collection of two albums of vintage original German postcards from a rare book dealer at an antiquarian book fair in Pasadena, California (see photos). Approximately half of the postcards were signed by the respective personalities and the ones that were dated by the actors are all dated "1926." We were informed by the dealer that these photographs came from a film collector in Germany who acquired the postcards at the time they were issued and then had them signed by the respective actors when he met them in person. We are now pleased to make these vintage original postcards available to other collectors.

Hans Adalbert Schlettow was born on June 11, 1887 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany as Hans Adelbert Droescher von Schlettow. He was an actor who appeared in approximately 160 films during his career, the majority during the silent era. He is best known for his portrayals in epic films directed by Fritz Lang including Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (1922), the two-part epic, Die Nibelungen: Siegfried and Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge (1924) (in which he portrayed Hagen von Tronjein), and his role of Satan in Hiob (1919), directed by Kurt Matull. In 1929, he starred in the British director Anthony Asquith's classic film, A Cottage on Dartmoor. A fervent supporter of national socialism and anti-Semitic ideals, he gleefully performed in Nazi propaganda films during the 1930's and early 1940's. He was a member of the Militant League for German Culture and the National Socialist Factory Cell Organization. He joined the army as a volunteer in the final stages of the war and was killed during the battle for Berlin in April 1945.

Ross-Verlag in Berlin was a German publishing house specialized in photographs and photo postcards of artists. The owner of the company was Heinrich Ross (b. 10 August 1870; d. after 1954 as emigrant in the USA).