Vintage phone card Télécarte 50 René Barthélemy, rare, chip for collection

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

This French telephone card, known as a "Télécarte," features an illustrated portrait of René Barthélemy, a television pioneer, on its front. The card predominantly uses warm colors, with a reddish-brown background and a "TELECARTE 50" box in the bottom left, indicating a capacity of 50 units. On the left, the electronic chip is clearly visible, typical of the chip cards used in France starting in the 1980s. A white arrow points to the chip, indicating the direction of insertion into public phone booths of the time.

The bust portrait of René Barthélemy is rendered in a semi-realistic style, featuring round glasses, a polka-dot bow tie, and a brown suit. The inscription "René BARTHELEMY" appears in white letters on the right, perfectly legible. The entire visible face appears to be in good condition, without any noticeable scratches or chips on the photographed surface.

The card has a standard rectangular format with rounded corners, typical of vintage French phone cards. The finish appears smooth and slightly glossy, with no specific material mentioned in the keywords (usual plastic appearance for this type of item, without affirmation about the exact composition).

This type of chip card was used in French public telephone booths before the rise of mobile phones. The illustration of René Barthélemy, an iconic figure in the history of television, gives this télécarte a special appeal for enthusiasts of technical objects and telecommunications memorabilia.

The visual and typography suggest a commemorative edition, likely issued in the 1990s, a period when many télécartes paid tribute to French inventors and personalities. No other visual elements (serial number, operator logo, back) are visible in the provided photo.

Condition: Used item, sold as is, as shown in the photo. The visible face shows no major apparent defects.

Did you know? René Barthélemy (1889-1954) was one of the pioneers of television in France. In 1931, he conducted the first public demonstration of French television and contributed significantly to the development of cathode-ray tube television.

AFW Reassurance: Careful packaging and fast shipping guaranteed by a professional seller specializing in antique and collectible items.

Keywords: old phone card, vintage chip card, telecom France, retro telephony, collectible phone card, René Barthélemy, commemorative card, French phonecard, telecommunication object, electronic chip, 90s card, rare French card