Museum The Postcard Museum

Welcome to the Postcard Museum.

Only original documents (period 1869-1920) are presented to you.

At the beginning of the 20th century, postcards were used with the same fervour as the mobile phone today.

Here are all the topics covered during your visit :

History of the postcard

1. History of the postcard in France

1.1 First type of postcard used in France

1.2 An invitation postcard for Victor Hugo’s funeral

1.3 First postcard featuring an engraving

1.4 First card featuring a photograph

1.5 Paris World Fair 1900

1.6 Cards published by Léon Besnardeau

1.7 Series on the manufacture of postcards

1.8 Different postcard formats

2. History of the postcard worldwide

2.1 The world’s first postcard

2.2 Jubilee of the invention of the postcard in Vienna

2.3 International success of the postcard

2.4 Demonstration of chromolithography

3. Widespread popularity of the postcard

3.1 The magic of pictures

3.2 Itinerant salespeople

3.3 Specialized boutiques

3.4 Postmen, victims of the postcard

3.5 Collectors in action

3.6 Unusual uses of postcards

3.7 The holed envelope

4. The postcard business

4.1 A postcard keeps friendship alive

4.2 Postcard salesmen cards

4.3 Postcards advertising printing firms

4.4 Adverts made by publishers with international reach

4.5 Competitions organised by the Press and exhibitions

4.6 The international postcard market

4.7 First international exhibition held in France

A century of human life

5. A matter of life

5.1 Birth and early years

5.2 Teaching and education

5.3 Women’s lives

5.4 Men’s lives

6. France uncovered

7. Life in Paris

8. Time flies

9. Woodworking postcards

10. Music

11. Recording sound

12. Means of transport

13. Medicine

14. Fairground and music hall performers (circus freaks)

15. Advertising

16. Novelty illustrators

17. Puzzle postcards

18. Artists of international renown

19. Oddities

20. Surrealism

21. Anthology of beautiful fantasy cards

22. Oddities

23.1 Stereo cards

23.2 Tabletop enlarger

23.3 Video: musical card

23.4 Radio postcard

23.5 ”Shaped” postcards

24. ‘Naughty’ cards

25.1 Italy

25.2 Monaco

25.3 Holland

25.4 Small time merchants

25.5 The laws of balance

25.6 Strength training performers

25.7 Russia

25.8 USA

25.9 Japan

26. “Archimboldesque”- style cards

26.1 Puzzle of the Emperor Napoleon

27. Mechanical postcards

27.1-3 Video : Mechanical postcards

28. Butterfly cards

29. Collage cards

30. Transparent postcards

31. French proverbs

31.1 Linear puzzles

32. The horrors of the First World War

33. Means of communication

34. Temporary exhibition