THE SERIES Most collectors consider the main Ross Verlag series to include the Film Sterne cards, and the regular run from 1/1(?) to 9997/1, as well as all the A cards, which ran from A 1000/1 to A 4096/1, including those cards known as Film-Foto-Verlag. But there were additional series of cards. The most well known are the Ross Luxusklasse cards, more commonly referred to as Ross Luxus.   These cards are larger than the regular Ross postcards, measuring 4 1/8 by 5 6/8 inches.   They are identifiable by a gold emblem on the back of the cards (sometimes the emblems were removed).   These cards could also be color tinted.   The numbering started at #500, but I'm not sure where they ended.   Also, apparently some of the Luxus Cards were printed with regular card numbers. Camilla Horn Ross Luxus 588 Color Luxus card Clara Bow Marika Rökk Luxus sized regular card number There were actually two versions of these cards.   Along with the Ross Luxus were the Ross Splendid.   The Luxus cards were black and white, while the Splendid cards had a brownish sepia tone to them.   The Luxus card was advertised as "Bromsilber, schwarz Hochglanz" and the Splendid as "Bromsilber, braun auf chamois Karton."   Many cards (I'm not sure if all) were printed in both styles. Marlene Dietrich Ross Luxus and Ross Splendid examples Ross Luxusklasse emblem Ross Splendid emblem

The Luxus Cards also had what were referred to as TonFilm cards, which were basically song cards.   These cards printed song verses from German movie musicals, which were very popular in the early 30's.   They included a scene from the film, and sometimes musical notation.   They listed the movie title and the song title.   They were advertised as UFA-TonFilm-Schlager (sound film hits).   These cards started at #705.   Some of these cards were printed as normal sized postcard. Luxus Song card usual format Luxus song card in regular size postcard format

Another group of cards were known as the G Series.   These seemed to be strictly German performers.   They measured 4 1/8 by 5 7/8.   Currently, I have them running from #51 to #232, but it is possible there are more. G 142 Ruth Buchardt Next is the W series.   These cards rarely show up.   I've never seen them advertised in vintage German movie magazines as the other cards were.   They apparently only had a signature on the card. Irene von Meyendorff W card Another series were knows as the K cards.   They were advertised as "Kunstblätter" meaning "art sheets."   These were not postcards, but larger size photo portraits, similar to 8 X 10 or 5 X 9 studio publicity photos.   They came in sizes 20 x 25 cm, 20 X 30 cm, 18 x 24 cm and 15 x 20 cm.   They also came in black and white, or the sepia brown as well as gloss finish.   Although they had their own numbering systems, some of the regular Ross Verlag postcards were reprinted in this larger format, with a "K" in front of the original number.   The "K" photos are not as common as the other cards, probably because they were more expensive to purchase.   Note:   Another German postcard publisher, Photochemie had a series of movie star postcards, whose numbers all began with the letter "k".   They are not related to the Ross Verlag cards. John Gilbert K 1208 photo. Shirley Temple K 1345 photo.

There was also an 800 series of regular sized postcards of American stars.   These are also hard to come by. Clark Gable #806 series card

There is also another series of unnumbered Ross postcards of an undetermined quantity that say "Das Program von Heute" (Program of the day) on the back.   These were made of a thinner, cheaper, brown paper.   These were published as part of a movie program.   The programs were numbered and went above 500.   The series included American stars, but I have not seen any of the programs of American films.   There is also a postcard album designed solely for these cards. Jean Harlow Das Program card Printed on back of the cards. La Jana Das Program #357

Postcard album for Das Program cards. Advertisement for Das Program

Some of the regular Ross cards were also printed without numbers.   These may have been designed to be sent to film studios and to actors to be autographed and given to fans.   In Germany, there are a large number of vintage autographed movie star postcards, and collecting them is a hobby unto itself.   Many of these autographed cards are of the numbered variety too, although these may have been signed many years later.   Postcards were also printed with facsimile autographs. Unnumbered (and unautographed) card of opera star Fritz Soot in role "Siegried." This was part of a series of cards of opera stars in their roles. Unnumbered autographed card of Franz Eichberger.   Note that his name is not printed on card. Unnumbered Andrew Engelmann autographed card. Writer Thea von Harbou autographed unnumbered card Director Fritz Lang autographed numbered card

Xenia Desni "real" autograph Lilian Harvey "real" autograph Xenia Desni facsimile autograph Facsimile autograph Tom Mix full photo Renate Müller yellow card facsimile autograph

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