Old illustrated birth announcement + vintage envelope, baby motif, 1950s

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Detailed description

This lot consists of a vintage birth announcement card accompanied by its period envelope. The birth announcement card, visible in the foreground, features a delicate illustration in soft colors: a naive motif depicting a baby in a white pram, surrounded by blue and white flowers, accompanied by a child sitting next to it, against a background of green lawn and black fence. The drawing is enhanced with fine details, typical of the children's aesthetic of the 1960s, and a handwritten signature "Jeannette Ribul-Gicquel" at the bottom of the card.

The envelope, positioned at the back, bears a handwritten address in blue ink (addressed to "Madame B Blanc, 180 Rue de Rome, Marseille"). It has a violet stamp featuring the French Republic and a postmark from La Celle-Saint-Cloud, adding an authentic touch and a probable dating to the first half of the 20th century. The cursive writing, the style of the stamp, and the patina of the envelope all attest to its age.

The birth announcement card has a square format and a neat presentation, typical of birth correspondence from this period. The central illustration, in pastel colors, is framed by a stylized floral motif, while the pram and characters are rendered in a recognizable retro graphic style.

The paper surface shows a slight matte texture, without glossy reflections, and the overall condition of the lot, although showing some signs of time (small marks, slightly marked corners visible on the card), remains very satisfactory for a document of this era. No interior text is visible in the image; only the illustrated front and the envelope's address are observable.

This type of document, both a birth announcement and handwritten correspondence, constitutes an authentic testament to the social customs and graphic practices of birth announcements in France in the mid-20th century. The childlike illustration, the period calligraphy, and the preservation of the original envelope make the whole particularly representative of vintage stationery.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. Visible signs of use: small folds, slightly marked corners, envelope with handling marks. See photos for more details on the general presentation.

Did you know? Illustrated birth announcements experienced a particular boom in France starting in the 1950s-60s, a period when personalized stationery and childlike motifs multiplied, often created by specialized illustrators. The presence of the stamped and dated envelope now allows us to trace the postal and social customs of the time.

AFW Reassurance

Fast and careful shipping, packaging adapted to the fragility of antique documents. Professional seller specializing in period items and vintage stationery.

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