Bergeret Various

Title

Bergeret Various

Description

1901? A. Bergeret Phototypes. Two cards each using one or two photographs of human beings to suggest a La Fontaine fable. GA, "Le Serpent et la Lime," GA, or "The Oyster and the Litigants." The message on two is dated October 21, 1902. Nancy: Phototypie A. Bergeret et Cie. 30 Francs each from P. Bresch, Clignancourt, August, '01. The two further cards cost €5 in St. Ouen, August, '15. Extra copies of WL and FG for €1.30 each from Collecman through Ebay, Jan., '23.

The verso of each card is given entirely to the address. The note in each case is thus written on the picture side of the card. The GA adult card presents a traditional view of the fable: a girl holding a guitar reaches out for help to the woman at the spinning wheel. A pastoral background is added behind these photographed figures. Is it not winter in the fable? "Le Serpent et la Lime" pictures an outrageous fusilier/pistolier against a wary bandolier. Which is the serpent and which the file? These cards are among the more unusual La Fontaine things I have found.

1901? A. Bergeret Phototype. A card offering a photograph of four human beings to illustrate La Fontaine's fable "L'Huitre et les Plaideurs." No message, stamp, or postmark. Nancy: Phototypie A. Bergeret et Cie. £8.69 from A. Harper, Hartlepool, Cleveland, UK, through eBay, Jan., '06.

The verso of the card is again given entirely to the address and is otherwise uniform with the other two cards from Bergeret. This time the verso is blank. The application of La Fontaine's fable is imaginative and properly risqué. While two gentlemen get the disrobing woman's shoe and garment respectively, the judge gets the woman!

1901? A. Bergeret Phototype. Three more cards offering "The Rooster and the Partridge"; FG; and "The Wolf Become a Shepherd." No message, stamp, or postmark. Nancy: Phototypie A. Bergeret et Cie. Gifts of Bertrand Cocq, Calonne-Ricouart, France, August, '15.

The "Rooster and Partridge" card may be the most difficult to decipher. "If they are that way to their own, why am I surprised if they are ugly to me?" FG follows a common turn in having a gentleman look up to women above him. This man in "Wolf Become a Shepherd" may project an image of caring for the seated woman, but his true designs may be more wolfish.

1901? A. Bergeret Phototype. Three more cards offering FG; GA; and WL. Postmarks of 1902. Nancy: Phototypie A. Bergeret et Cie. From CPAPHIL, Saint-Fargeau, France.

Of these three, WL is new to me. It does not take much to decipher the meaning here!

1901? A. Bergeret Phototype. A landscape card quoting WL but titled "La Question du Transvaal." $8 from Bertrand Cocq, Calonne-Ricouart, France, Sept., '20.

Here is a surprise. As Bertrand noted, the very same photo appears in this card and 'Le Serpent et la Lime." Is this a fable postcard or a political postcard? Might it refer to the British terms given to the Boer republics at the end of the Anglo-Boer War in 1902 or perhaps earlier to the war itself?

Date

1901?

Source

30 Francs each from P. Bresch, Clignancourt, August, '01. The two further cards cost €5 in St. Ouen, August, '15. Extra copies of WL and FG for €1.30 each from Collecman through Ebay, Jan., '23.

£8.69 from A. Harper, Hartlepool, Cleveland, UK, through eBay, Jan., '06.

Gifts of Bertrand Cocq, Calonne-Ricouart, France, August, '15.

From CPAPHIL, Saint-Fargeau, France.

$8 from Bertrand Cocq, Calonne-Ricouart, France, Sept., '20.

Subject

Cards See all items with this value

Postards See all items with this value

Postcard Series See all items with this value

The Grasshopper and the Ant See all items with this value

The Oyster and the Litigants See all items with this value

The Snake and the File See all items with this value

The Rooster and the Patridge See all items with this value

The Wolf Become a Shepherd See all items with this value

The Wolf and the Lamb See all items with this value

The Fox and the Grapes See all items with this value