Of course at this blog we love love, so despite my general indifference to Valentine's Day, we're going to have a series of romance-themed posts leading up to it. Today, a selection from my personal collection. Hand-coloured photo postcards like these were popular from the late 1900s to the early 1930s, though the romance ones were especially big in the 1920s and 1930s. They were made in France, but quite popular in England as well.
The dyes are exceptionally bright, brighter in person than in reproduction. Some of them also have a metallic sheen. Many are written, but in French (of which I know very little) so full/better translations will have to wait. Interestingly, none of the written ones were mailed or intended to be (no address, writing over the spot for the stamp, etc), so they must have been given to the recipients. I am still working on researching the social context, but for now, aren't they grand?
[Since the original post I have collected several hundred of these cards and done a heap of research with them-- visit my site Mille Baisers for an online collection and more information!)
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| Personal collection |
The handwriting is this one is very hard to read but with words like "beloved" and "tender" in it (in French), I think we can say it's a love note.
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| Personal collection |
Dated the 29th of September, but no year. "In response to your sweet letter, take my dearest love, my best kisses, and my good thoughts.Soon, Marie." (translated)
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| Personal collection |
Dated 17 June, 1924. The back is packed with writing in purple ink from Raymond to Irene.
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| Personal collection |
Unwritten.
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| Personal collection |
Dated 30th December 1924. "Dear (female) friend, best wishes for a happy year from your friend. Hoping that next year I can wish for more closeness. Your friend, Rolland." Under the writing is a military address (regiment, company etc.), but there's no indication this card was or could be mailed-- just letting the friend know how to write him, I suppose...?
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| Personal collection |
This was once written, but in pencil, and it's been erased! Ahh!!
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| Personal collection |
Those swirlies are done in glitter, by the way. Across the back, in large letters and dark blue ink it says "Vive laste Catherine", then smaller, in purple ink, something along the lines of "I give you this card. I think you will enjoy it. I don't know what to write. I wrote to the school. I don't have anything else to say. Hugs to you. Sincerely, Halmacy."
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| Personal collection |
Unwritten.
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| Personal collection |
That purple is more of a bright pink in person, and rather makes my eyes hurt! Dated 11th June, 1927. "Dear brother and sister. I am replying to your letter, which I enjoyed. I thought you were going to forget me. But I did not see your letter that you still think about me. [clearly it doesn't say this; I can't figure it out exactly]. I am very happy to read your letter...." There's a lot more--it's very long-- but if I don't stop there this post will never finish!
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| Personal collection |
Dated Monday at 6 o'clock. "Cherie [darling, my love] Come to the garden tomorrow at 2 o'clock. A thousand kisses. I love you. Marcel." (translated).
3 comments:
They are indeed grand!
Yes, they're truly beautiful! Regarding the charming "In response to your sweet letter, take my dearest love, my best kisses, and my good thoughts. Soon, Marie" photo featured in your splendid site; may I have permission to use a copy of it as an enlargeable image, to possibly be featured as part of the background in a play about the 1920s I've written?
Thank you,
- Mike Hunter
Glad you liked them! Absolutely, and thank you for asking permission. I am a big fan of both theatre and the 1920s so if you'd like a bigger/higher-resolution image, I'd be happy to share, just let me know-- my email is anna.krentz [@] yahoo.ca . Cheers!
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