In my possession is an old black scrapbook with a red spine. The scrapbook is only partly used and contains a number of newspaper cuttings plus a photograph of Arnold Mason and Zahra in costume with a cutting on the back. The scrapbook dates from 1938 during the time that my mother was a fashion model. My mother was coy about her age and subsequently removed any date that would indicate from which year the cuttings came. Enough however remained to warrent a visit to the national newspaper archive at Colindale in north London in the late 1970's where I was able to identify some of the cuttings, subequently added by reference to Internet family history site: Find my Past.

SUNDAY DISPATCH, March 27, 1938: By The Marquess of Donegall: In Confidence

GIRL FRIDAY SAYS "This visiting American actress Miss Zahra Karina, looks absolutely lovely in the exquisite old rose cashmire tea-gown of 1894 that she will model in the Fashions Contrasts display at tea-time at the Dorchester on Monday, April 4, for King's College Hospital. Stage and society mannequins taking part are having a dress rehearsal next Sunday afternoon".

SUNDAY DISPATCH, April 2, 1938: By The Marquess of Donegall

Ice Festival (April 25-30) at Earl's Court represents great Frost Fair on Thomas of 1683 . . . two hours really superb pageantry, with Zahra Karina (visiting American actress) as Duchess of Mazarin, who nearly married Charles II. . . she hitch-hiked for a bet from Miami to Hollywood in ten days - 4,000 miles . . . won 1,000 dollars. . . .

Duchess of Roxburghe (whom you see here) asks I[sic] call attention to "Mystery" Film Premiere May 19 Cambridge Theatre . . . name of film still secret. . . .

WEST OF ENGLAND OBSERVER, Friday, May 13th 1938: OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG BOXERS

NEW PHYSICAL CULTURE ACADEMY - Last week Miss Zahra Karina, the American film actress, opened the new physical culture academy at Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, which is being run by George Cook, ex-heavyweight boxing champion of Australia. The premises consist of a well equipped gymnasium, massage and changing rooms, also something unique in training camps - 10 flatlets which can be occupied by boxers in training whilst downstairs there is a snack bar and restaurant in charge of Mrs. Cook. With Cook to supervise their training in the ring, and Mrs. Cook looking after the feeding arrangements, this new establishment should prove very popular with boxers, wrestlers and anyone desirous of keeping fit.

EVENING STANDARD, --------: FASHION AT ROYAL ACADEMY - A "Coal black mammay" kerchief matching her printed dress concealed the hair of an American vistor to the show. A straw brim turned it into the most dramatic hat of the day. There was something new about the dress too. Printed material made the back; but, as you can just see, it was plain in front.

THE STAR, -----y, April -----: A striking fashion worn by Miss Zahra Karina, from America.

[Arranged below this newspaper cutting is a small item, newspaper unknown:] Three Best Dressed Events. There is a traditional link between Covent Garden Opera and fashion; the Academy Private View, the Opera, and Ascot will be grouped as the tree best-dressed events of the London season when the histroy of the latter comes to be written.

NEWS CHRONICLE, Saturday, -----: Striking hat fashion worn a visitor yo the private view at the Academy.

THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, Saturday, April 30, 1938, page 16: Private view at Burlington House.

--------, April 30, ----: HULLO! HULLO! HULLO! It's a Different Girl Again! She looks one girl when you meet her and another when you've passed . . . because the front of her frock's plain and the back's patterned.

Just like the patterned half is the kerchief draped over her head . . . and, to even things up, the straw brim and her gloves match the plain.

DAILY HERALD, Saturday, April -- ---- : FASHION PARADE. Here are some of the unusual fashions seen among the visitors to the private view of the Royal Academy Exhibition, yesterday.

THE SKETCH, May 11th 1938, page 282: DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS. The HON. MRS. JAMES BECK and her second son, the HON. MARK TENNYSON. MR. and MRS. HENRY TIARKS. MISS ZAHRA KARINA AND HER HAT. MISS SKETCH'S DIARy. FRIDAY NIGHT, APRIL 29. Nothing so nice as a country-house dance, with no restless Are ...

THE GLASGOW HERALD, -----------------: The Princess Royal and the Duchess of Kent driving down the racecourse at Ascot yesterday. Below - The King and Queen with the Duke of Kent and the Earl of Harewood in the semi-State landau on their arrival at the racecourse. Left - An Eastern fashion note in the paddock at the meeting.

THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN, Wednesday June 15, 1938, page 7: ASCOT A turban hat worn on Waterloo Station by an Ascot traveller.

WESTERN MA-------, Wednesday --------------: ASCOT HAT FASHIONS - An Eastern floral turban and gloves to Match the trimming of the frock.

THE STAR, Monday, July ------: A striped fashion with turban to match and white trousers, worn by a sun-specticled woman visitor in Hyde Park.

There are two further cuttings on the opposite page. They have been mostly destroyed but what remains indicates that they are of Zahra in the same outfit. One of them was from the The Daily Herald?, probably on the same date.

DAILY HERALD, January -- 1939: A striking fashion seen in Hyde Park, yesterday.

DAILY HERALD, Saturday, November 19th 1938: Seeing Herself As - Wearing cap-like hat, polo-collar sweater, jacket, trousers and low-heeled shoes, Miss Zahra Karina attended the private view of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition in London yesterday. She provided a striking contrast to the evening gowned portrait of herself by Arnold Mason.

NEWS CHRONICLE, Monday, January 16, 1939: ----alking style seen [in Hyde] Park yesterday.

THE DAILY MAIL, ----day, January 16, 1939: Neither comments nor photograph preserved. Photograph was probably same as below but head and shoulders only.

DAILY SKETCH, ----------------: Now look right and see Zahra Karina in her smart trousered outfit looking at the portrait of herself by Arnold Mason (left).

DAILY SKETCH, Monday, January --- 1939: This young stroller in the Park preferred a more masculine attire.

DAILY MIRROR, Monday, January 16, 1939: -------- though at first you'd ------ polo-neck pullover and -------Sunday morning ------- yesterday.

ON THE BACK OF A PHOTOGRAPH: HISTORY RELIVED, AT ICE STADIUM
Zahra Karina, American Socialite and film actress is to take the part of the Duchess of Mazarin - niece of the Cardinal of Mazarin a leader of France - in the Great Historical Ice Festical at the Empress Stadium Earl's Court. The Duchess was famous for her beauty and as a wearer of exotic fashions and lived at Chelsea and Kensington, who was also a favourite of King Charles II up to his death.

O.P.S. Zahra Karina as the Duchess of Mazarin together with Arnold Mason - a portrait painter with three acceptances at this year's Academy - in the role of Chevalier d'Ecremondem her escort and a famous Beau of 1683. The Duchess resided at No. 11 Kensington Square during 1692 and 1698 and where some of the period furniture can still be seen.
Alfieri.

Photograph of Arnold Mason and Zahra Karina with text on the reverse.

NEWSPAPER NOT KNOWN: FROM SHEEP FARMER TO OPERA SINGER
Alfred Butler O'Shea the Irish-Australian tenor who was at one time a sheep farmer in Australian Bush, gave a recital at the Grotrian Hall last night. It was only after hearing Dame Melba that he decided to become a singer and was fortunate enough to be heard by Lord Dunsany who was so struck with his voice that he sent him to Italy and paid for his musical education. O'Shea has since sung with Melba at the same theatre where he was first inspired by her voice.

P.S. A striking fashion warn by Miss Zahra Karina, an American film actress, inspired by the Spanish Mantilla.