Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

May Vernacular Photo History Auction

Wed, May 6, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-05-06 11:00:00 2026-05-06 11:00:00 America/New_York Michael Lehr Michael Lehr : May Vernacular Photo History Auction https://auction.michaellehrantiques.com/auctions/michael-lehr-antiques/may-vernacular-photo-history-auction-22757
Michael Lehr Antiques info@michaellehrantiques.com
Lot 356

RPPC Classic Tattooed Woman Astoria Gibbons - Back View

Estimate: $500 - $700
Starting Bid
$250

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$100 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,500
Real photo postcard showing classic posed studio portrait of tattooed woman Astoria Gibbons, photographed from behind. Anna Mae Burlingston aka“Astoria” Gibbons took the stage name Artoria Gibbons after marrying tattooist Charles “Red” Gibbons. She worked for decades as a tattooed‑lady attraction with shows including Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Hagenbeck–Wallace, and various carnival sideshows. Unmarked with no photographer’s imprint visible. The divided back layout is visible on the reverse.


Astoria stands with her head turned slightly to the side, hair pinned up with a headband. Her classic dense and detailed tattoo of the Last Supper is visible spaning her upper back in a wide band, with star motifs along the top edge. Additional scrollwork and patterned fill extend across both shoulders and down her arms. Astiroa wears a strapless dark garment with a decorative band across the back. The studio background is softly graded, and the lighting highlights the tattoo linework and the curve of the shoulders. On the reverse, the postcard is unused but has a clearly printed POST CARD heading and a stamp box outline, plus address and correspondence divisions.


Handwritten inscriptions read: Astoria Gibbons; Los Angeles, Calif.

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