If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 622

 

 

 

 

Old Cottages at Dunster, Somerset, England

 

A photograph of quaint old cottages at Dunster in the Somerset region of England is featured on this unused postcard printed by J. Salmon Ltd with the number 16617 visible at the lower right corner.  The card does not have an information blurb on the reverse.

 

Dunster is a village with a population of a little over 800 people.  It is located within the north-eastern boundary of Exmoor National Park on the Bristol Channel.  Iron Age habitation is evidenced by hillforts.  There is a castle called Dunster Castle that was built shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066 by William I de Moyon.  The village grew up around the castle and became a center for wool and cloth production in the 13^th century.  “The Shambles” where the wool market was held was demolished in 1825 but the old Yarn Market from the 1600s still remains.  The River Avill, just a half mile from the village, and its harbor, Dunster Haven, were used to aid in exporting wool during the Saxon times but this was discontinued during the 17^th century when the dykes, meadows, and marshes had new land added near the shore. 

 

Today there are a variety of different shops for both local people and tourists.  Some fun trivia:  On the evening of May 1 each year the Minehead Hobby Horse visits Dunster accompanied by the beating of a loud drum.  The hobby horse dances its way about the town on up to Dunster Castle.  On the 3^rd Friday in August the village hosts the Dunster Show where local businesses and producers showcase their work and livestock, including horses, cattle and sheep.  Also, a more recent tradition is “Dunster by Candlelight” held on the first Friday and Saturday of December when this “remarkably preserved medieval village turns its back on the present and lights its streets with candles.”  There is a candle lighting activity with a procession of children and their families accompanied by stilt-walkers in colorful costumes who put up the lanterns.

 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunster

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunster_Castle

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 621

 

 

 

 

 

Interior, Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France

 

This beautiful color postcard showing the interior of Saint-Chapelle in Paris is from Collectionnez les Cartes Postales, Editions Chantal, of Paris, France.  The card is identified as a Mexichrome product.  Mexicrome specializes in French souvenir cards

 

When Bob and I were in Paris in 2018 we visited Saint Chapelle.  The long wait to get in was well rewarded by the stunning interior beauty.  Visitors are not allowed to use flash camera settings inside the church and the photos we took that day appear quite dark but could be lighted up using Photoshop, see examples of a similar view below.  Also, it was crowded inside and difficult to get photos without people. 

 

 

 

Before adjusting the light

 

 

 

After adjusting the light

 

Saint-Chapelle or Holy Chapel was constructed sometime around 1238 and consecrated in 1248.  Commissioned by King Louis IX of France, it is considered among the highest achievements of the Rayonnant period of Gothic architecture.  The king had the chapel built to house his collection of Passion relics including a piece of the crown of thorns.  The crown of thorns was once in the gold box on top of the arch with angles holding a replica of the crown just beneath it.

 

 

 

The crown on thorns was originally housed in the gold box above the arch

 

 These angels holding a crown of thorns were below the box

 

The crown of thorns was later moved to Notre Dame where it survived the 2019 fire.  Sainte-Chapelle is now a museum under the French Centre of National Monuments.  

 

 

 

This statue of King Louis IX is featured in the lower chapel

 

The lower level, where the postcard picture was taken, is beautiful but the upstairs chapel with its tall stained-glass windows is breath-taking and awe inspiring.  Here are both the exterior view of Sainte-Chapelle and an interior view of part of the upper chapel. 

 

 Exterior of Sante-Chapelle

 

 

Interior of upper chapel showing the spectacular stained-glass windows

 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Chapelle

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 620

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Arch of Constantine, ca early 1900s

 

This is an unused vintage postcard from the early 1900s with a divided back and a tinted or colored, black & white photograph of the Arch of Constantine.  It is hard to discern how the color was applied or what type of coloring was used.  It almost looks like a watercolor wash.  The card does not have a photographer or printer/publisher identified or a number.  There is; however, a blurb in the correspondence space that reads:  “The Arch of Constantine.—Erected by Constantine, the first Christian emperor in Rome:  is one of the great relics of Rome in the great and glorious past.” 

 

There is a figure standing in the arch on the right side of the card that provides some perpective as to the overall size of the arch.  The main arch measures 69 ft (21 m) high, 85 ft (25.9m) wide, and 24 ft (7.4 m) deep.  The two smaller arches are 38 ft (11.5 m) high, 21 ft (6.5 m) wide.  The entire structure is decorated in reliefs and statues that were removed from earlier triumphal monuments dedicated to Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius.  The portrait heads were replaced with Constantine’s likeness.  Constantine reigned from 306 to 337 with the arch built between 312 and 315.  The arch is on the route, called the Via sacra triumphalis, taken by emperors when they entered the city in triumph and is located between the Palatine Hill and the Caelian Hill.  The arch is not far from the Colosseum, a section of which can be seen at the right lower side of the card. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_of_Constantine

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 619

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lyon (France), La Cathedrale St. Jean, ca. Early 1900s

 

This unused Vintage L.L. (Levy – Leon) postcard features a black & white photograph of the Cathedral in Lyon, France called Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and dated early 1900s.  The card has a divided back but no identifying number on the front or reverse.  The top edge of the card is perforated as if the card was torn from a booklet or fold out collection of cards. 

 

The seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lyon, the cathedral is dedicated to John the Baptist.  There were ruins of a 6^th century church on this spot when construction of the cathedral began in 1180.  It was not until 1476 that it was completed.  Two crosses, one on the right and one on the left of the altar, date from 1274.  This building along with other historic sites in Lyon were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

 

One of the features of the cathedral is a 29 ft or 9 m tall astronomical clock dating from 1661.  This elaborately decorated clock indicates the date and position of the Moon, Sun, and Earth as well as the stars.  It replaced an earlier similar type clock that was made in 1383 but destroyed in 1562.  The clock has several figures that are automated, such as angles that strike bells, turn an hourglass, the Virgin Mary who kneels in the chapel and turns to the Angel Gabriel as he opens the chapel door and a white dove descends representing the Holy Spirit.  A Swiss Guard rotates around the dome.  A tune is played on bells and the hour is struck.  All movements of the figures cease at the sounding of the hour.  There are several YouTube videos showing the clock movements and views of the interior of the cathedral.

 

For more information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon_astronomical_clock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon_Cathedral

https://youtu.be/99ifX1jS4_E   (Lyon Cathedral and Astronomical clock video about 4 min. long)

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 618

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giant Pacific Octopus

 

This unused postcard comes from the Seattle Aquarium and was shared by Bob’s son who, with his wife and children, visited us this summer.  The Aquarium was one of several places they enjoyed while they were here. 

 

The blurb at the upper left corner on the reverse of the card says:  “Giant Pacific octopus:  The world’s largest octopus species is found throughout the Salish Sea—and even directly below our pier!  Learn about these fascinating, intelligent animals at SeattleAquarium.org/octopus.” 

 

The Salish Sea is comprised of Puget Sound (Seattle), the Strait of Juan de Fuca (San Juan Islands), and the Georgia Strait (Vancouver Island).  These animals are found in the North Pacific Ocean from Baja California (Mexico) up along the coastline from California to Alaska and across to Russia, Eastern China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.  They are best adapted to the cold, oxygen rich water found from the inter-tidal zone to depths up to 6,600 ft or 2,000 m.  The average large adult octopuses typically weigh about 33 lbs or 15 kg.  The arm span can reach to 14 ft or 4.3 m. Very large ones have been weighed at 110 lbs or 50 kg with an arm span of 20 ft or 6 m. 

 

Their diet consists of a variety of sea creatures, such as, shrimp, crabs, scallops, abalone, cockles, snails, clams, lobsters, fish, squid, and even other octopuses.  Their long tentacles or arms with suckers snare the food and the tough beak is used to bite into the prey. 

 

Astonishingly, the female lays between 120,000 and 400,000 eggs!  After mating, she can hold the spermatheca in her own body for several months until she is ready to fertilize them.  One of the female octopuses at the Seattle Aquarium waited seven months before laying her eggs.  The eggs are preyed upon by many other sea creatures and require the female to constantly watch over and tend the eggs until they hatch.  Unlike the males, the females only breed a single time in their life.  While she is tending and watching over the eggs and fighting off predators she does not eat and is believed to eventually die of starvation shortly after the eggs hatch. 

 

Ranked as the most intelligent of invertebrates, the Giant Pacific octopuses are often on display in aquariums.  It has been observed that they can recognize humans with whom they frequently have contact.  Sometimes they will respond by jetting water or changing body texture when they see a person they know.  They can solve simple puzzles, open childproof bottles, and use tools.  According the the Wikipedia article, “…they have been known to open tank valves, disassemble expensive equipment, and generally wreak havoc in labs and aquaria.  Some researchers even claim they are capable of motor play and having personalities.” 

 

Thanks R for sharing the postcard!

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Pacific_octopus