Alès Vintage Postcard Book Artistic Views Old Album

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Visual Description

This lot consists of a hardcover notebook or album, blue-grey in color, dedicated to the city of Alès. The front cover, visible in the photo, displays elegant typography with the inscription "ALÈS" in large capital letters, centered and framed by a double black border. In the lower part, there is the mention "VUES ARTISTIQUES" (Artistic Views), indicating the nature of the content: a collection of postcards or photographic reproductions with an artistic purpose. The whole suggests a product published to highlight the heritage or landscapes of the city of Alès.

The cover has a matte finish, with a slight patina visible on the corners and a small mark of wear in the lower left corner. The graphical aspect, sober and refined, evokes an edition from the early to mid-20th century, although it is not possible to state a precise date without further clues. The apparent structure of the notebook suggests the presence of several cards or views inside, typical of old postcard albums. No publisher, logo or printer’s mark is visible on the front side.

The horizontal format, known as "landscape" or "oblong," is characteristic of tourist view albums or regional souvenirs. The contrast between the cover color and the black print reinforces the object's vintage style. The notebook is placed on a wooden shelf, surrounded by old books, which underlines its heritage character.

The left edge of the notebook shows a slight deformation, probably due to age or handling, without seeming to affect the overall solidity. No other major defects are observable on the visible face. The cover shows no handwritten title or label, which suggests an official edition rather than a handcrafted assembly.

This is typically an album of old artistic postcards dedicated to Alès, intended for both the preservation and presentation of photographic or illustrated views of the city and its surroundings.

Condition

Second-hand item, sold as is. Minor wear visible on the lower left corner of the cover, general patina consistent with age. The interior content is not visible in the photo.

Did you know? Artistic view albums were very popular in the early 20th century for promoting French cities and their monuments. They were often used as tourist souvenirs or gifts at a time when postcards represented a true means of visual and heritage communication.

AFW Reassurance

Careful packaging and fast shipping ensured by a professional seller specializing in antique and vintage items.

Keywords: Alès postcard album, old artistic views, vintage notebook, Alès city souvenir, heritage photo album, old tourist edition, France postcard album, vintage postcards Alès, old photographic notebook, regional album, old Languedoc views, French vintage postcard book