Humorous London Mustache Card Redirected from France to Italy 1911 Hidden Ima...

Item Specifics

Country

France

Condition

Unused

Stamp Format

Single

Item Description

Carefully selected from a vast collection, this original early 20th-century postcard is an exceptional piece for collectors, historians, and philatelists. Each postcard uniquely combines three key aspects that make it highly attractive:

1️ Philatelic: Mailed from London in 1911 bearing a One Penny red stamp (King George V), this postcard was originally addressed to Aix-les-Bains, France, and later redirected to Arquata Scrivia, Italy, as evidenced by both address corrections and handling marks. The path illustrates cross-border forwarding, a sought-after postal history feature.

2️ Aesthetic / Humorous: The front of the postcard presents a striking close-up of a mustache, highly stylized and exaggerated. Beneath the image is a caption: "Have arrived. Think LONDON is a jolly fine place. Hope to come again." The oversized mustache and its framing of the nose and mouth may serve as visual satire, potentially hiding a secondary image or evoking British stereotypes with dry humor. The printed message paired with the visual creates a comic postcard in the Edwardian tradition of facial caricature and touristic irony. The mustache motif may mock the “British gentleman” archetype or reflect popular trends of the era.

3️ Social: The reverse is filled with a handwritten message in Spanish, describing the sender’s impressions of London, reflecting on its size and movement, but also the fatigue it brings. The combination of languages — printed English humor with Spanish handwriting and French/Italian addresses — makes this a multilayered document of early 20th-century cosmopolitan travel.

This outstanding blend of visual satire, redirected postal use, and intercultural content makes it ideal for Open Class exhibits, especially those involving humor in the mail, tourism, or redirected international correspondence.

Seller Information

Seller

OpenPhilately (2287)

Registered Since

04/08/2016

Feedback

99.6%

Store

Open Philately / Collectorbazaar

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Item Location

Montevideo, Uruguay

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No

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