Télécarte 50 units Giovanni Caselli vintage chip France phone card

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

This French phone card honors Giovanni Caselli, a historical figure in communication, set against a satin purple background. The card features an illustrated portrait of Caselli in period costume, accompanied by a stylized technical diagram, likely in reference to one of his major works. The inscription "Giovanni Caselli" appears in white letters in the upper right part, while the mention "Télécarte 50" is clearly visible in the lower left. A silver electronic chip is integrated on the front, typical of French phone cards from the 1990s.

The card has a matte finish with vibrant and contrasting colors, mainly in shades of purple, brown, and silver. The central visual, very detailed, gives the whole a neat and retro look, representative of the commemorative editions distributed at the time. The illustration occupies almost the entire visible side, with no graphic elements other than the inscriptions and the chip.

The format is that of a classic smart card, with rounded corners and a flat surface. No other text, serial number, or logo is visible on this side, apart from the elements mentioned above. The phone card appears to be in good overall condition, with no major scratches or apparent signs of wear in the image.

This type of smart phone card was used in France for public booths and some landline phones during the late 20th century. Themed phone cards or those featuring historical figures are particularly emblematic of the "vintage" period of the 1990s, both for their graphics and for their daily use at the time.

The card is photographed on a yellow-orange background, which highlights its colors and retro appearance. No additional accessories or supports are visible in the image.

Condition
Used item sold as is, as shown in the photo.

Did you know? Giovanni Caselli (1815-1891) was the inventor of the pantelegraph, the first system for transmitting images over long distances, the ancestor of the modern fax machine. His invention was used as early as 1865 between Paris and Lyon, marking a key step in the history of telecommunications.

AFW Reassurance
Careful packaging and fast shipping provided by a professional seller specializing in vintage items and antique telephony.

Keywords: telephone smart card, French phone card, old prepaid card, public booth card, telecom chip, phonecard, vintage telecom, Caselli, collector card, themed card, 90s phone card, French phonecard