If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 747

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rothéneuf, Cȏte d’Émeraude, Un coin du Havre, France, ca early 1900s

 

This is an unused, divided back, postcard with a black & white picture by the French photographer and postcard publisher, Henri Le Malloit (1866-1953).  The title identifies the view as part of the harbor.  Rothéneuf is a seaside village resort community located in northwest France not far from Saint-Malo. 

 

The Emerald Coast, or Cȏte d’Émeraude, is a name given to the English Channel coast of eastern Brittany near the border with Normandy, France.  Eugene Herpin, who was a lawyer and historian, named it because of the colors of the sea and the shore.  It was hoped the name would encourage tourism and development. 

 

Thursday postcard #605, dated 27 April 2023, has another view of Rothéneuf that includes the famous sculptures in the rocks that were created by Abbé Fouré, who lived as a hermit in the cliffs above Rothéneuf. To see it, use the search option on the blog:  Rotheneuf.  

 

The photographer, Henri Le Malloit, used this logo on his postcards:

 

 

 

For additional information, see:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roth%C3%A9neuf

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Henry_Le_Malliot

 

 

 

 

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

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcard, 743

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas

 

The vintage illustration from ca 1900 on this unused modern postcard was reproduced by a local company, Laughing Elephant.  The illustrator is not identified.  The card features two children and a cut Christmas tree. 

 

Christmas trees are usually evergreen conifers, such as spruce, fir, or pine.  Today there are also realistic artificial trees, some even with lights already attached and ready to plug in.  The tradition or custom of having a Christmas tree originated in places like Germany, Latvia and Estonia, where Protestant Christians brought and decorated trees in their homes.  Long ago instead of artificial glass, wooden, or metal ornaments things like roses made from paper, tinsel, apples, cookies, and candies were used as decorations.  Moravian Christians were the first to illuminate Christmas trees with candles.  The candles were set in holders that clipped onto a branch and had a drip dish affixed to catch the hot melting wax.  After electricity was common in homes, candles were replaced by Christmas lights as we know them today.  An angel, representing the Angel Gabriel, or a star, for the Star of Bethlehem, is often placed on the top of the tree.  Some people still add candies, gingerbread, chocolate, handmade ornaments, or ribbons, as tree decorations in addition to store bought ornaments. 

 

Evergreen trees symbolize eternal life.  The triangular shape of an evergreen tree is also a symbol of the Trinity and points to heaven.  Anciently, tree worship was common among pagan Europeans.  In pre-Christian times it is believed that trees or evergreen branches, were used as decorations by the ancient Romans as part of the holiday called Saturnalia, in honor of the god Saturn, held in mid-December.    Even after Christianity was introduced in Scandinavia, ca 1000 AD, their houses and barns might be decorated with evergreens to scare away the devil. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

https://laughingelephant.com

 

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 742

 

 

 

 

 

Lectern, inner room of the hall of Old University, Heidelberg, Germany

 

The Old University in Heidelberg, Germany is featured on the front of this card distributed by Edm. V.  König, Heidelberg.  M. Bauder is identified as the photographer in the space at the upper right corner where a stamp would be placed on the reverse side of the card.  At the lower left corner on the reverse is F 137.  The place is named at the upper left corner as “Heidelberg – Alte Universität, Aula.”  There is no date on the card; however, it does have scalloped edges that were popular from the 1940s to the 1960s.  The card is a color picture and is likely to have been distributed closer to the 1960s. 

 

The hall shown on the card is the main assembly hall and lecture theater of the University.  Built over a period of 23 years between 1712 and 1735, the Old University was based on plans by the baroque architect Johann Adam Breunig.  It replaced a four-story college building erected in 1591.  The name “Old University” came into use in the 1930s after another lecture hall was constructed and called New University. 

 

As can be seen on the card, the wall behind the speaker’s platform is the focal point of the room with the arched painting by Ferdinand Keller (1842-1922).  The painting depicts the foundation and history of the University allegorically.  The wooden ceiling has four round paintings by Rudolf Gleichauf (1826-1896) of female figures.  The figures represent Philosophy, Medicine, Jurisprudence and Theology.  The walls list 37 names of famous Heidelberg scholars, divided into two rows.  The entrance area commemorates the Grand Duke of Baden.  A tablet of congratulations from the University of Freiburg dates 1886 hangs above the doorway.

 

Today the Hall of the Old University is used mainly for academic celebrations, and as a venue for concerts, readings, and presentations, especially awards of cultural prizes. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_University,_Heidelberg

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Keller_(painter)

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

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 741

 

 

 

 

 

Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy

 

The Palazzo Vecchio, or Old Place, in Florence, Italy is featured on this pink tinted unused vintage postcard.  While the card does have a blurb at the upper left corner on the reverse it does not identify the photographer or the publisher/printer.  With a magnifying glass it is possible to see horse drawn wagons at the right near the arches and at the left center near the building, making it possible to estimate the date of the picture to the late 1890s or early 1900s.  The card has a divided back narrowing the publication date to after 1902 for the card itself.  The blurb is in English and says:  “The Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy—For many years this magnificent building was the seat of the Florentine government.  The court of the Palace dates back from the 16^th century.  On the right of the picture is the Loggia de artists, in marbles and bronzes.”

 

Before full-color photographs were common or available for reproduction, various methods of tinting or coloring pictures was a popular trend on cards like this one.  Pink or light red seems to be predominant on most early tinted cards.  Sometimes more than one color was used.  This card has a slightly darker reddish tint on the building behind the main structure.  The foreground is a very pale pink in contrast. The top of the tower is partially cut off on the card, hence there is not a complete image of the entire building.

 

The Palazzo Vecchio has had different names at different times over the centuries.  It was called Palazzo della Signoria, Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo dei Priori and Palazzo Ducale depending upon what entity was using the building.  The people of Florence decided to build a palace here that would be more secure and defensible in times of conflict.  Construction for a new building began in 1299 on the ruins of Palazzo dei Fanti and Palazzo dell’Esecutore di Giustizia that had once been owned by the Uberti family.  The Uberti were said to be rebels and the new fortress palace was built to prevent that family from rebuilding at that location ever again. 

 

A cubical shaped building it is made of solid stonework, with two rows of two-lighted Gothic windows, each with a trefoil arch.  Decorative bas-reliefs by Michelozzo were added in the 15^th century.  Crenellated battlements are supported by small arches and corbels.  There is also a simple tower with a clock. 

 

When Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici moved his official seat from the Medici palazzo to this palace in 1540 he renamed it Palazzo Vecchio or Old Palace.  He also commissioned an above-ground walkway called the Vasari corridor that went from the Palazzo Vecchio through the Uffizi, over the Ponte Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti.  He also moved the seat of government to the Uffizi.  Today most of the Palazzo Vecchio is now a museum. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

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