France Marseille Chateau d'If Lighthouse Monte Cristo 1936 Postcard New Haven US

Item Specifics

Country

France

Condition

Cover (Postal History)

Stamp Format

Single

Item Description

Grade: Ungraded
Item: Postally Used Printed Postcard (Stamp Removed) Image: Front: Sepia-toned view captioned "LL – 2 MARSEILLE – LE CHATEAU D'IF – Le Phare et vue sur Marseille" (LL – 2 MARSEILLE – THE CHATEAU D'IF – The Lighthouse and view of Marseille). Publisher: "LL" (Lévy et Neurdein Réunis). The reverse also has "Edit. spéciale du Château d'If" printed vertically, suggesting this might be a special edition produced by LL for sale at the Château d'If. Location depicted: The Château d'If and its lighthouse, in the harbor of Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône department, France. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde is visible on the hill in the background. Postmark: Dispatch Postmark: Location: MARSEILLE R.P. / BOUCHES-DU-RHÔNE (Marseille Recette Principale - Main Post Office) Date: SEPTEMBER 12, 1936 (12 . IX . 1936). Time: 18.50 (6:50 PM). Address: From: Marseille, France (per postmark). Sender signed "Stanley". To: L. Small, 286 Sherman Ave, New Haven, Conn., U.S.A. Message (handwritten in English): Transcription & Key Content: "Am fine folks. I have a long letter written but will mail it in Naples as it is written or rather scribbled in pencil. Just arrived the place whose picture you see on card. This edifice was made famous by book Monte Cristo. Regards to all. Give stamp to Celia. Stanley" Highlight: The sender explicitly references the Château d'If's fame due to Alexandre Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Travel: From: Marseille, France. To: New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Dispatch Date: September 12, 1936. Mode of Transport: Likely transatlantic sea mail. Approximate Travel Distance: Marseille to New Haven, CT is roughly 6,300-6,500 km (approx. 3,900-4,040 miles). Historical Context for Postmark Date (September 12, 1936): Interwar Period: Europe was between World War I and World War II. Château d'If & The Count of Monte Cristo: The Château d'If, a former prison, gained immense international fame through Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel The Count of Monte Cristo, where it serves as the site of Edmond Dantès' lengthy and unjust imprisonment. The sender's direct reference underscores this enduring literary connection, which made the Château a popular tourist destination. Spanish Civil War: Had begun in July 1936. France: The Popular Front government was in power. New Haven, Connecticut: A significant port city and home to Yale University. This postcard is a compelling piece of postal history, directly linking the iconic Château d'If with its most famous literary association, The Count of Monte Cristo, through the sender's own words. Mailed from Marseille to the USA during the turbulent mid-1930s.

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2wayrus (778)

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03/05/2019

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2colllect

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Item Location

Florida, United States

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Worldwide

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