North America, United States, ca. 1914 CE. A photogravure of the ever seductive "Kaloma," dubbed "Kaloma" because it appeared on the cover of a piano composition entitled, "Kaloma Valse Hesitante" (Kaloma: Hesitant Waltz) by Gire Goulineaux (New York: Cosmopolitan Music Pub. Co, 1914). The brunette beauty was long rumored to be Josephine Earp (1861-1944) as decades after it was created, the image appeared on the cover of Glenn Boyer's book entitled, "I Married Wyatt Earp" published by University of Arizona Press in 1976. Boyer identified the woman as Wyatt Earp's third wife Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp in the credits. Ms. Earp was the alluring actress, dancer, and wife of famous Old West gunslinger, gambler, and lawman Wyatt Earp. The legendary image features the beautiful "Kaloma" standing in a three-quarter frontal pose, donning a sheer gauze peignoir, and boldly gazing at the photographer. According to legend, Earp's third wife posed for the risqué shot while inebriated. A novelty company in New York City published the picture as a postcard, and "Kaloma" became a popular pinup during World War I. Some have also suggested that the subject was actually Evelyn Nesbitt (1884-1967), taken when she began her early vaudeville career in the 1910s. Ms. Nesbit was America's adored "Gibson Girl" model and of course Stanford White's famous "Girl in the Red Velvet Swing" whose beauty inspired a illicit affair, the end result being that her husband, millionaire Harry Kendall Thaw, shot and murdered White in a duel on the rooftop theatre of Madison Square Garden in 1906, leading to "The Trial of the Century"! The true identity of this femme fatale remains somewhat of a mystery. What we do know, however, is that this photogravure bears a 1914 copyright, the earliest known version of the photograph. It is labeled "Kaloma" underneath, and at the bottom right is printed, "COPYRIGHT 1914-P N CO." - the copyright of the Pastime Novelty Company located at 1313 Broadway, New York. It was circulated by the ABC Novelty Company in Brooklyn, New York, in 1914. Furthermore, a Sotheby's April 8, 1998 sale of a comparable photogravure print included an image that was labeled an anonymous picture, taken in 1914 and titled Kaloma, of a siren-like figure wearing a sheer gown with a plunging neckline. Described in the Sotheby's catalogue as a hand-tinted photograph of Josephine Marcus Earp, the one-time wife of lawman Wyatt Earp, the photo was estimated at $3,000 to $4,000 and sold for $2,875. The Sotheby’s catalogue was distributed widely and often cited as the source used to "identify" Kaloma images as Josie Earp in numerous subsequent auction sales. A wonderful vintage photograph and illustrious piece of American visual culture, matted and framed under glass. Comes with a collection of articles written about the piece throughout the 20th century. Size: photograph itself measures 12" L x 5" W (30.5 cm x 12.7 cm); matted and framed 16.125" L x 9.25" W (41 cm x 23.5 cm)

According to Jeremy Rowe, "In 1914 a vignetted image of a beautiful young woman boldly posed for the camera in a sheer gauze peignoir became popular. Titled "Kaloma," it was originally produced as an art print. The risqué image was popular and sold well. Also in 1914, the image appeared on the cover of "Kaloma, Valse Hesitante (Hesitation Waltz)" composed by Gire Goulineaux and published by the Cosmopolitan Music Publishing Company, 1367-69 Broadway, New York. Kaloma's popularity continued as she became a pinup during WW I, and appeared after the war on post cards. After discrete airbrushing darkened her peignoir, Kaloma appeared in other popular advertising." (2002, see http://www.vintagephoto.com/reference/kaloma/1-02JosieKaloma%20article.htm)

Provenance: Ex-private New York city collection

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#109243

Minor wear to frame. Minor aging to photogravure, but generally excellent.