14.00 USD
Remember when as children we would pass around Valentines from school desk to school desk saving the nicest one for our sweetheart? Ah, first love :) Remember when, on the first of April, you would pin a paper fish to your friend's back without them knowing and call out "Poisson d'Avril," or "April Fish?" No? Well. not being older French persons, (just really ancient Americans), we don't either. But it sounds like such fun!
In Belle Epoque France, this was a standard, and we think charming, April Fool's Day prank--in Italy and Belgium also, apparently. Also common was to post, or to secretly slip into a friend's or sweetheart's possession, a paper fish upon which the following phrase would be written: " Qui vous l'envoie?" or, "Who sent this?" ***Please Note*** That is exactly the phrase inscribed on the back of this card! Well it's a bit late for April Fool's Day, but this Belle Epoque artiste holding aloft a huge blue-green fish was just too wonderful to resist no matter what the season. Clearly, postcard publishers do not seem to have been slow to put to use any type of newfangled gimcrackery. After all, why would their customers go to the effort of snipping a fish out of colored paper, when for a few coppers they could obtain an amazingly designed Poisson d'Avril image of just the right size to slip between the pages of someone's book, or into someone's handbag? And, come to think of it, what an awesome collection a few of these wonderful "April Fish" cards would make, and how obviously tasteful and discerning would be the proud possessor of such a collection! Why, they would be the envy of all their friends! What an idea! Hmmm... :) Nice condition, posted in 1907.
Please examine our high res scans for detail.
Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.
And please come visit our blog at:
redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!