Vintage 1959 Marseille handwritten letter graph paper blue ink
AFW - Antique France Worldwide
Description
Old handwritten letter, written in blue ink on a sheet of large-squared grid paper, typical of French school supplies from the mid-20th century. The document is presented flat, main side visible, and shows a regular and neat cursive script, characteristic of the era. The header mentions the sender "Mlle Girin Germaine", residing in Marseille (Saint-Jean, Notre-Dame district), and the letter is dated September 3, 1959, precisely placing its writing in the late 1950s.
The text begins with "Cher Serge" and develops a personal and intimate tone, confirming the private nature of the correspondence. The entire visible content expresses vacation memories, anecdotes from the stay in Marseille, and personal reflections addressed to Serge. The handwritten script occupies almost the entire page, without apparent erasures or corrections, and testifies to a mastery of traditional calligraphy.
The visual appearance of the paper shows a light blue grid and slight horizontal and vertical folding, typical of letters sent by mail during that period. No watermark or commercial mark is visible on the presented side. The margins are regular, and the sheet shows no illustrations or ornaments, which reinforces its vintage authenticity and its purely epistolary use.
The style of the letter, the form of the characters, and the choice of medium clearly place this document in the context of French correspondence from the 1950s. The handwritten address and date in the upper right add to the documentary value of the object. The overall condition is good for its age, with signs of handling and slight folding marks, but no tears or major stains visible on the exposed side.
This type of handwritten letter is an authentic testimony to daily life and personal relationships in the mid-20th century, particularly in an urban context like Marseille. The letter, in its current presentation, is an ideal medium for the study of handwriting, language, and social codes of the time.
Condition
Used item, sold as is. Presence of horizontal and vertical folds, slight signs of use visible on the surface. The writing remains perfectly legible, without erasure or apparent stain on the visible side.
Did you know? Handwritten letters on grid paper were commonly used in France in the 1950s-60s, both for private correspondence and for school use. Grid paper, invented in the 19th century, facilitated writing alignment and was preferred for its practical and structured appearance.
AFW Reassurance
Fast and careful shipping guaranteed by a professional seller. Suitable packaging to preserve the integrity of the document during transport.
Keywords: old letter, handwritten correspondence, grid paper, vintage handwriting, Marseille 1959, epistolary document, intimate letter, handwritten missive, 1950s letter, French vintage letter, old handwritten letter, old paper, cursive writing