Postcard, Longuyon, World War I, 1916
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1916
Black and white picture postcard with photograph depicting destroyed houses in the French village of Longuyon during World War I. Most of the postcard is illegible, but it is written in Suetterlin, a version of German.
Around 11 billion letters or postcards were sent from the front free of charge through the German Army Postal Service during World War I. Black and white picture postcard used as army postal service/ Feldpost. The image shows the rubble of destroyed houses in the French village Longuyon. It shows signs of wear. On the back is handwritten text in Suetterlin, an old German style of handwriting.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The black and white picture postcard is an invaluable record of a theatre of war. It is part of a postcard series especially printed for the German army postal service. Through its iconography it depicts themes like communication with family and friend at home and life at the front.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Overall Dimensions: 137 mm (Width), 86 mm (Height)
Design
- Marks and inscriptions
- Front: Longuyon Back, printed text: Herausgegeben von der Feldbuchhandlung der V. Armee; Translation: Published by the army postal service publisher of the V. army Date stamp: Bayer. Feldpost Exped. des Alpenkorps; 28. 8. 16; Translation: Bavarian Army Postal Service of the Alpine Corps, 28. 8. 16 Handwritten: Obers_________ H_______ [illegible] / __________________ 10._____ [illegible] / Feldpost Herrn / Wilh. O_____ / Celle Zöllnerstr. 43 26 Aug. 1916 / Mein lieber Herr _____ / A___ ____ _____ _____ ___ / _____ den besten Grüße u. hoffe / dass es Ihnen gut geht, was [ich] / ___ ____ auch von
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Museums Victoria, Melbourne collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- mv-1826513
- Museum object name
- Postcard - 'Longuyon', German, World War I, 28 Aug 1916
- Holding institution
- Museums Victoria, Melbourne
- Museum object number
- HT 31406
- Published references
- Information on World War I German postal service from German History in Documents and Images (GHDI) web site http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2153, accessed 9/2012.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.