The Romance of Robert and Raymonde

You may recall a series of French romance postcards from the 1920s I featured a few months ago. To say I love these cards is an understatement. I've since acquired many more and, in fact, done a whole research project on them, which I hope to pursue further in the future. One of my favourite things about them-- and postcards in general-- is that they are a social kind of photograph, one intended to be used as a part of a personal narrative. With these particular ones, that narrative can very well be a love story.

That's the case with this amazing set, sent between Robert (also known as Bob) and his girlfriend/fiancee Raymonde in late 1920s France. Both of them loved these cards--they'd send them successive days, or, in once case, many on the same day. Sometimes several views from the same photoshoot were published as separate cards--Robert and Raymonde would buy a few of these. This tinted variety of these cards comes in many colours, but the two of them seem to have especially liked the green and pink ones. While none are addressed or stamped, it was very common for these kinds of postcards to be put in envelopes (at the time, stamps and postmarks went on the front of the card in France, not good for the picture!), and indeed on a few you can see the impression of a postmark through some other paper. 

I don't know anything more about the two of them, although since the cards ended up together, I think it's pretty certain they did get married. I feel honoured to have and share this beautiful glimpse of their love story. 

(I apologize for my poor French translations-- if you have better ones (and/or can read some of the words I can't decipher!) please share!). 

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November 14, 1927. To Raymonde. "More sweet kisses from your Bob who loves you."

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Mainz, February 1, 1928 (1 o'clock). To Raymonde. "To my [?] fiancee, My sweetest kisses. Your Bob for forever."

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Mainz, Februrary 2, 1928. [11?] o'clock. To Raymonde. "My beloved little fiancee, receive my sweetest kisses and assurance of my love, [?] from your little Bob." ("petit", while literally "little", is also a term of affection).

These four were all sent on the same day, to Raymonde:

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"[?] near always, always near you. Robert." Paris, June 6, 1928.

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"I love you. Bob." Paris, June 6, 1928. 

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"More than yesterday, less than tomorrow. Bob." Paris, June 6, 1928. 

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"I embrace you as I love you. Robert." Paris, June 6, 1928. 

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Note the "I love you" written in the top right corner!

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Flixecourt, August 19, 1928. "My beloved fiance, I send my tenderest kisses, and the assurance that my heart belongs to you forever. Raymonde." 

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Flixecourt, October 9, 1928. "My love, I love you forever. [?]. I love you. Raymonde." 

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Flixecourt, Octover 10, 1928. "My beloved little Bob, have the sweetest kisses of your little fiancee who loves you and thinks of you. Raymonde." 

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Flixecourt, October 16, 1928. "My tenderest kisses to my dear little fiancee. Raymonde."

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Mainz, October 23, 1928. "My darling little baby, I send the assurance of my eternal love and my tenderest kisses. I love you. Bob." 

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Flixecourt, October 25, 1928. "My beloved little Bob, I send the assurance of my eternal love and my tenderest kisses. I love you. Raymonde." [This is exactly what he wrote in his last card to her! ha!]

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Flixecourt, October 29, 1928. "To my most beloved Robert, my tenderest kisses. I love you forever. Raymonde." 

There's even one from three years later:

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May 20, 1931. "A thousand kisses from your little Bob." 

Awwwwwwwwww.