'Honni soit qui mal y pense'
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1910
This collectible object is an erotic postcard produced circa 1910 in France by an unknown maker. Printed on card as a lithograph, the postcard measures approximately 9 cm in height by 14 cm in width.
The illustration depicts an optical illusion featuring a woman emerging from a broken egg, with a small winged Cupid whispering into her ear alongside floral elements. The visual arrangement is designed so that the woman's upper body, shoulders, and cleavage are formed from the depiction of hindquarters, buttocks, and pudenda as if seen lying on her back with thighs akimbo, while stockinged legs double as arms. The composition is framed by sinuous decorative borders and bears the printed title 'HONNI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE' across the surface of the egg.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- 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
This card forms part of the Milford Haven Collection, an assemblage of 442 French, Italian, and German erotic postcards—termed 'Cartes postales fantaisistes'—originating from the early twentieth century. Mounted in three bound albums, the collection highlights regional styles and subject matter, including scatological and novelty movable cards. Historically owned by a member of the Milford Haven family, the collection was accompanied by a 1960 typed catalogue and was acquired by E.J. Dingwall that same year.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Lithograph
- Dimensions
- Height (album): 25.8 cm; Width (album): 21 cm; Depth (album): 7 cm; Height (card): 9 cm; Width (card): 14 cm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Text and label on album cover; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: 'PostCards / THE MILFORD HAVEN COLLECTION OF POST CARDS / SECTION I - SECTION VI. SECTION IX. / SECTIONS 1 - 6.9 / Numbers 1-35/ " 72 - 120 / " 148 - 153 / " 163 - 184 / " 205 - 227 / " 250 - 313 / " 350 - 412'; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
- Maker recorded
- Unknown
- Place recorded
- France
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- 'Honni soit qui mal y pense'
- Museum object number
- E.523:29-2001
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.