L'Hirondelle in the port of Monaco

I have several vintage cards from Monaco, most of them in a booklet of cards which has never been used, and this one of the yacht L'Hirondelle is one of them.  A total contrast to my previous one.

It's fairly easy to date the card.  It has a divided back so it must be after 1905.  The yacht is L'Hirondelle.  Prince Albert I of Monaco had two yachts called L'Hirondelle.  The first dated from 1873 but was replaced in 1891 by the first Princesse Alice.  L'Hirondelle II was built in 1911 and in 1923, after Albert I died in 1922, it was sold in England, so I think the date must be roughly during that time, even allowing for old pictures being used.

The Hirondelle was used extensively in oceanographic expeditions but after it was sold to William Randolph Hearst in 1923 it lay idle in New York.  It changed hands several times and there are conflicting reports as to where it ended up, one saying that it ended up as a pontoon in the Panama Canal.

Of course the skyline of Monaco would give another way of dating the card if you knew the place well.  All I know is that it's completely different from the modern Monaco, easily seen when you contrast it with the modern card I posted last year showing Monaco at night.

This is a post for Postcard Friday, which is hosted by Beth Niquette at The Best Hearts are Crunchy.