My husband found this card in amongst some stamp albums but has no idea where it came from. Finds are the best treasure, I think.
It was issued in August 1969 to mark the bicentenary of Napoleons birth in Corsica, and it is postmarked Ajaccio, Corsica, which is where Napoleon was born very soon after Corsica was given to France (Treaty of Versailles 1768) by Genoa , now itself in Italy. I used to know someone born in Corsica and he and his parents considered themselves to be more Italian than French, more than 200 years after the treaty!
I suppose it's a bit of a stretch to call this a postcard, but it isn't like any First Day Covers as I know them. The card itself, according to the back, was issued by the museum of Château of Versailles but it also says it's a creation of FDC Paris. It's a slightly crude effort, I think, because the image of Napoleon is glued on with a glue that has marked the back of the card. I don't mind that, though, I am delighted with my new find.
This is a post for Postcard Friday, which is hosted by Beth Niquette at The Best Hearts are Crunchy.
I love this! You are right--sometimes the best treasures are unexpected finds! Congratz--this is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing!
Happy PFF!
That is a fabulous find! I think it is part of a famous picture.
ReplyDeleteWonderful find ... sort of like the box of stuff I found in my *craft* closet with the old linen look postcards! Too much fun! Great card. Happy PFF!
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to know if it IS INDEED a FDC.
ReplyDeleteNapoleon is 'hot' at the moment. Two weeks ago, I was at a huge Dutch collector's event in Utrecht, where a seller told me that postcards of Napoleon was the new trend among collectors. So your husband did a fine find. Happy PFF!
ReplyDelete@Beth, thanks, I certainly love it!
ReplyDelete@Coffedoff, it says in the small print that it's Bonaparte crossing the Alps by Jacques Louis David. Apparently it's in the Château de Malmaison.
@Snap, you are so right!
@MrCachet, the postmark says Premier Jour (First Day) but I don't know what makes it into an FDC as such. I looked up maximum cards and from what I could understand, they were first philatelic items rather than postcards so it seems to me there are a lot of grey areas.
@Bob, really? I didn't know that. I must send him out on a hunt. :)
A serendipitous find and very collectable. The island and people unique. I always like the description of it as being "like Scotland but with good weather".
ReplyDeleteThat is a good find. I think it would definitely be considered a maximum card.
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteYou have been awarded!
I hope you can stop by and pick up your award when you have a chance...
Bests!
http://burcikos.blogspot.com/2010/12/whoop-whoop-here-comes-my-new-award.html
What is so really cool about PFF is that an old lady like me can learn (or relearn) some things that I maybe did or did not know from my school days! However, how long it will be retained in my mind is questionable! There is such a great variety of subjects and you all seem to be so in touch with them. I thoroughly enjoy taking part in Beth's "party". Carol
ReplyDeleteWonderful history on Corsica... Great first cover! TFS
ReplyDeleteHappy PFF!