A real photo postcard from sometime after 1900 of a trooper of the 17th Lancers and his "Geisha". A souvenir of date night at Horse Guards perhaps? Actually, this photo was part of a group that belonged to the seated soldier. A number of the images depicted him taking part in various regimental theatrical performances. My guess is that this photo shows him costumed for a role in a regimental production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado.

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All of the photos in the collection were taken in British India. Real photo postcards were introduced around 1905 and the 17th Lancers were garrisoned in India during the same time period. While the costumed soldier was not identified in any of the photos, he was a member of an infantry regiment and not the 17th Lancers.

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Real Photo Postcard

Unknown Photographer

British India

c. 1905