Cartes Postale | jonknowles.eu

Deltiology is the hobby or pass-time of collecting postcards. The French seem to be as keen on it as anywhere else. In fact there is something I find particularly revealing about French village postcards. You may see it time and time again in the links below. Unsurprisingly, the early years of photography did not usually permit of ordinary people to commission portraits of themselves owing to the great expense. Instead, travelling photographers did good business going from cities to towns to villages and taking a few photographs and making as many prints required for sale to the locals. In this way villagers, and any guests who might be passing through, could send an image of where they lived or were staying at the time to friends and relatives. The law of December 1872 allowed the sending of postcards in the same town for 10 centimes and between towns for 20 centimes and came into force the following year.

Some of these pictures serve other functions such as documenting ways of life and customs that would soon vanish or even displaying ownership of property and family relationships in a manner similar to Renaissance portraiture. A fine example of this is the card from St. Leger-Bridereix showing the proprietor of the local restaurant, J. Coudoin and his family. We can see them all arrayed outside for the benefit of the picture, which Monsieur Coudoin seems to have published at his own expense. Even the family dog gets into the act. Even more interestingly, the picture shows what appear to be plans for enlargement of the property. Today, if you pass through the hamlet you will see there is a pizza restaurant in precisely the same building – albeit enlarged according to Old Coudoin’s plans.

Aigurande
Anzeme
Azerables

Bazelat

Bussière-Dunoise

Chamborand
Colondannes
Crozant

Dun-le-Palestel

Fleurat
Fresselines

G | H | I | J | K

La Celle Dunoise

La Chappelle Baloue
La Souterraine
Lafat
Le Grand Bourg
Lizieres

Maison Feyne
Montaigut-le-Blanc

Naillat
Noth

Paulhac