18.00 USD
Wish we'd received this in for May day! Lovely hand-coloration on this barely risque French postcard, circa 1904.
Why 1904? Check out the text on the obverse of the card:
"Tous les pays etrangere n'acceptent pas la correspondance au recto se renseigner a la poste,"
which translates (more or less) as, "Not all foreign countries accept correspondence on this side of the card. Inquire at post office."
After England first introduced the divided back postcard in late 1902, an arrangement that allowed for text messages, or even advertisements, in the section to the left of the recipient's address, other nations followed suit, but slowly. Though France began allowing divided back cards in 1904, the United States, for example, didn't allow them until 1906. So the text on our card warned the sender of this limitation. In 1904 or 1905, the text would have made good sense, and also helps us establish a tentative date of publication.
What would have happened if in 1904 we'd sent this card from France to a friend in America? Well, it might have had an "added postage" tariff stamp slapped onto it (an added fee charged to the recipient upon delivery. Not very classy if sending a postcard to a sweetheart, for instance :), or possibly the card would simply have been tossed into the waste basket by one of those "by the numbers" postal clerks they had long ago. Thank goodness we don't have any of those nowadays (wink).
This card is so bright and cheerful, evocative of the era, and just a little weird, don't you think? All of which makes it lots of fun :) Added bonus? Near pristine condition!
Please examine our high res scans for detail.
The item you are considering for purchase is, unless otherwise noted, a vintage postcard of approximately 5 and 1/2, by 3 and 1/2 inches. Postage is for fully-insured, first class shipping in a secure photo mailer (to avoid any damage to your purchase in the mails), and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will not charge for 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 increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.
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!