If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 746

 

 

 

 

 

View of Cairo, Egypt, ca early 1900s

 

This unused divided back postcard has a tinted or dyed black & white photograph featuring a view Cairo, Egypt.  As has been seen on other cards from this era, the predominate color agent is red and shades of red printed over the original picture.  The photographer, printer, and publisher are not identified.  However, there is a blurb on the left side on the reverse that says: “View of Cairo.—Cairo is one of the great historic cities of the known world. It is built on the ruins of one of the most ancient cities, and it still maintains all the characteristics of narrow streets, and is the typical home of the Star and Crescent.” 

The use of some color on postcards can be noticed beginning as early as around the 1860s.  Various methods and mediums, such as dyes, watercolors, oils, crayons, pastels and pencils have been used to enhance black and white pictures.  This postcard appears to have used a dye that was printed over the image, then run through a printer more than once, allowing for easier mass production.  I think the card made two or three extra runs through the printer in order to achieve the different colors.  The outline around the red colored building in the foreground looks almost like a stencil cutout.  The lighter tinted or dyed building at the left has less color bleeding into the background.  It is possible that a light blue dye or tint was added to the sky.  The card would be considered a souvenir card. It was among several others found in a jumble box at a local antique mall.  

There is scaffolding around the towers on the mosque seen at the left side of the photo.  Without identification of the building it is difficult to tell if this is a new structure that hasn’t yet been fully completed, or a very old one that was undergoing some renovation. 

 

For additional information, see:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wik/Cairo_Citadel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand-colouring_of_photographs 

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

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 745

 

 

 

 

 

Saint Malo, home of the Duchess Anne de Bretogne (Brittany)

 

Although this card was never mailed it is technically a used card as it has a type written description on the reverse:  “This is the home of the duchess Ann of Brittany in the 15^th century.”  The card has a divided back.  Under the photograph is:  “178  SAINT-MALO—Maison de la Duchesse Anne de Bretagne Fille de Francois II, duc de Bretagne, temme de Charles VIII, puss de Louis XII, elle donna la Bretagne à la France (1476-1514)  Artaud et Nozals, Nantes. [“178 Saint Malo – Home of the duchess Anne of Brittany, daughter of Francois II, duke of Brittany.  Under Charles VIII and Louis XII, she gave Brittany to France.”]  The publisher/photographer is identified as Artaud et Nozals, Nantes.  At the top of the picture is:  “Côte d’Emeraude” or Emerald Coast. 

 

The colors of the sea and shore were the inspiration for the name, Emerald Coast.  It is located on the English Channel coast of eastern Brittany near Normandy, France.  Saint-Malo is a walled city along this coastline. 

 

Anne of Brittany was born on the 25 or 26 of January 1477, the daughter of Francis II, the Duke of Brittany.  He was the last male heir of the House of Montfort.  When he died in 1488, Anne, who only 11 years old, became the duchess regnant of Brittany, countess of Jantes, Montfort, and Richmond and viscountess of Limoges.  Because Brittany was a strategic position, Anne had several suitors.  When she was 12 she married Maximilian I of Austria by proxy, but was later forced to renounce that marriage by Charles VIII of France who saw that union as a threat.  She eventually married Charles VIII in 1491 when she was 14.  None of their children survived to adulthood.  Charles died in 1498 and the throne passed to his cousin, Louis XII.  Anne had to marry the new king.  Louis XII loved her and she was able to reassert the independence of her duchy.  Anne and Louis had two daughters. 

 

It is thought that Anne learned to read and write in French and perhaps knew some Latin.  She was raised by a governess and had several tutors as well as a butler and a court poet.  Anne had a congenital displacement of her hips and as a result a limp.  She had special heeled shoes to aid in walking more smoothly.  She is said to have learned how to dance, sing and some music.  Anne was a highly intelligent woman who spent much of her time administering the affairs of Brittany.  She died at age 36 in 1514.

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant-Malo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B4te_d%27%C3%89meraude

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 744

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

 

Although it is hard to tell here, this early 1900s unused postcard is embossed.   That means the leaves, and decorative border around the central illustration are raised.  The reverse of the card shows the indentations of the design.  Along the left margin is:  New Year series No. 34.  The card has a divided back.  At the upper right corner, just under the box outlined for a stamp is:  “Corp. E. Nash.”  The left side of the card is identified as Correspondence.  The right side as Address.  No other information is printed on the reverse.  The colored illustration features a cozy house, snow, trees, stream and waterwheel.

 

The front of the card has "A Happy New Year" title.  The divided back dates from 1907/1908 in the United States and indicates that the card was printed, published, and distributed in the early 1900s before 1920.  Other countries had slightly earlier or later dates for divided backs.   Prior to 1907 cards in the United States were not divided and only the name and address of the recipient plus the postage stamp could be place on that side of the card.  Any correspondence had to be written on the picture or front side of the card. 

 

 

 

E. Nash Logos

 

At the bottom left on the front, are two small marks, one is a circle with the letter C, the second is a triangle with the letter N.  These two logos are a second confirmation that the card is one produced by E. Nash.  These logos were used by Nash sometime around 1912-1915. 

 

Holiday greetings cards similar to this were a popular and convenient way to send wishes to friends.  During the golden age of postcards, 1905-1915, stamps were one cent, the cards were mass produced and not expensive.  In addition to cards sent as greetings, many of the cards, like this one, were never sent but instead were kept by collectors. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

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

https://www.laurelcottagegenealogy.com/?p=6114