SMITH, BESSIE. Real photo postcard of the noted blues singer by Carl Van Vechten, his blindstamp in lower right corner. 5.375 x 3.375 inches. [New York?], circa 1930-33 E600/800 Bessie Smith (1894-1937) is the most famous female blues singer of the

SMITH, BESSIE. Real photo postcard of the noted blues singer by Carl Van Vechten, his blindstamp in lower right corner. 5.375 x 3.375 inches. [New York?], circa 1930-33 E600/800 Bessie Smith (1894-1937) is the most famous female blues singer of the 20th cen-tury. Born into poverty in Chattanooga, one of 7 children, she was orphaned at 9. She began street-singing to help pay for groceries, etc., while eldest sister Viola raised the family. In 1912 she joined a traveling group which included blues great, "Ma Rainey," who had a profound influence on her. Though some of her records sold 100,000 copies, Bessie Smith was never wealthy; her difficult life ended tragi-cally after an auto accident in Mississippi. [SEE ILLUSTRATION].