If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 598

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bar le Duc, Boulevard de La Rochelle, France, ca 1914-1918

 

French soldiers from World War I can be seen on the curbs and sidewalks of Bar le Duc on this unused black & white real photo postcard.  Visé Nancy – C and the number 27 can be seen under the title at the center top of the card.  The logo seen at the lower left on the card is identified as Visé Paris, enlarged below.  Even when significantly enlarged, the writing around the center is difficult to read.  Beginning at the bottom center and going clockwise it appears to read:  “Notnf. T.T. A. Ruwar Maitris Imprintus du France.”  The postcard back is divided with Carte Postale at the center top.  

 

 

 

Postcard logo – Visé Paris

 

Cards with this logo appear during World War I and often have soldiers in the pictures.  The number on this card, 27, is considerably smaller than most of the war cards that usually are numbered in the 700 to 800 range.  It could mean that this photo was taken earlier than those with higher numbers.  Also, many of the war cards were produced by P. Gaultier, Boulogne-s-Mer or P.G. Visé Paris 800.  This particular card, while it does have soldiers shown has Visé Nancy – C  27. 

 

It is a city street seen, hence the 5 or more hay wagons shown along both sides of picture suggest that cavalry horses may have been in use. 

 

Bar le Duc is a community located about 46 miles or 74 km from Nancy in northeastern France.  From 1354 to 1480 it was the county seat for the independent Duchy of Bar.  After which it was acquired by the Duchy of Lorraine.  Bar was a fortified town with steep narrow roads and staircases.  The 16^th century remains of houses, clock tower, college, and the castle of the dukes of Bar are found in the Ville Haute area.  The lower part of the town has official buildings and churches.  During the Battle of Verdun in 1916,  Bar-le-Duc served as an assembly point for essential supplies.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar-le-Duc

http://www.fergusmackain.com/2014/07/what-is-the-meaning-of-vise-p...

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Logos_of_postcard_publishers