Here we have six postcards published over much of the 20th century featuring Napoleon and Waterloo plus two cigarette cards. Five are older and one is a modern sized card posted in 1993. Three were posted and three are unused. Four are Belgian and two are French. Two are Musee de Versailles cards. The cards have some edge and corner wear, most notably on the 1993 card from international postal handling, and the Arcole card has minor staining on the reverse. The Moet et Chandon card has minor surface disturbance on the back.
They picture:
-- Bonaparte a Arcole on an unused black-and-white Musee de Versailles card.
-- The elaborate Voiture du Mariage du Napoleon 1 on another unused Musee de Versailles card, this time in colour. This is a Mme Moreau edition. His bride Josephine can be clearly seen.
-- A Moet et Chandon Champagned advertising card depicting Napoleon during a visit to the famous cellars in 1807. Also pictured is his host, Jean-Remy Moet. This is a Breger Freres card. The firm's logo is on the back.
-- A Souvenir de Waterloo of a "Vue du Puit d'Hougoumont ayant servi de tombeau a 300 cadavres" -- the well at Hougoumont that was a tom for 300 bodies. This card was posted in 1912 and has a Belgian coat of arms stamp with "Ne Pas Livrer Le Dimanche" (Do Not Deliver on Sunday) label attached. It has a Waterloo single circle postmark of 1912 15 III. It was sent to a Mr Hewett at the Cecil Hotel, Gard du Nord, Brussels.
-- An early view of the Lion atop the Waterloo Monument near Brussels. This is an undivided back card with space for a message, which reads: "Papa and I are here for the day. 5.8.04." It is addressed to John Steele, Edinburgh, Ecosse (Scotland). The stamp has been removed along with most of the Waterloo postmark. The card was Series 5, No 30, published by E.B.
-- The sole modern card, a striking portrait of Napoleon in colour by Delaroche with the emporer's signature below, was posted from Brussels in 1993 to England. It is a Thill card.
-- Plus we have two older (probably early 20th century) cigarette cards picturing him and the Duke of Wellington, the British general who defeated him decisively at Waterloo. The backs are blank. The cigarette cards have some staining and disturbance on the back and the Napoleon one has a crease. They are in a very early format that probably dates from the first years of the 20th century.
A varied and interesting group of postcards and cigarette cards on an enduring and controversial figure. This listing has been expanded.
The postage costs on this item are higher than I would like and, after leaving them unchanged for several years, I have raised them slightly in line with the 2023 postage rates. I advise that items costing more than $40 be sent via tracked post and cannot be responsible for such items sent by ordinary post.
As I have some fixed-price lots, anyone who purchases one of my items might want to look at them before paying. Additional postage is free for subsequent purchases unless they are too big for my normal very low basic rates.
When payment for lots won is received by teatime British time (it is usually dished up about 4:30) I normally post the item the next morning. Our village post office is closed on Saturdays, however, so if you pay on Friday the item cannot go out until the following Monday.
Ref 6635s