1920? Two crayon-colored cards advertising "Le Sirop de Gaïarsol." FS and WL. Illustrated by Benjamin Rabier. "Image a colorier." Laboratoires Bouty, Paris. €4 each at St. Ouen, August, '15. And nineteen uncolored trade cards from Le Sirop de Gaïarsol, a product of Laboratoires Bouty, Paris. A larger black-and-white image by Benjamin Rabier and a colored small image as model. One duplicate: "Bird and Rabbit." $90 from Bertrand Cocq, Calonne Ricouart, France, Sept., '18.
After finding the two colored cards, I noted that Rabier is easily distinguished by the smile -- or smirk? -- on the fox's face in FS. Nine of the uncolored cards picture known fables. I will display them at the top of the second table below. Others may well be drawn from the diverse other children's books Rabier created. The combination of cheap paper, large cartoon, and small colored portion is unique, in my experience. Each card proclaims that this remedy "calms a cough, disinfects the bronchi, fortifies the organism." The verso has two forms, both giving "Conseils d'hygiène familiale." OF, "Two Goats," and "Two Rats with an Egg" are other vintage displays of Rabier's wit! The series is replicated in a set of leaflets using the same images in a different format.
1890? 1 French card, "Le Singe du Buffon," from Chocolat Besnier, Le Mans. Just over 2¾" x just over 4". Lith. Parisienne, Rue Courbeau, Paris. Unknown source, August, '01.
This full-color portrait-formatted card has an image framed with a blue line, with four gold-and-blue corners like old photo-holders from albums. It is marked "1", and has its title on the picture side. The verso is given completely to advertising Besnier's chocolate. The boldest boast is "1re Marque Française."
1900? "Série de 12 Fables éditées spécialement pour Le Royal Chocolat." "Two Doves" and "Oyster and the Litigants." €3.75 each from victorbrauner on Ebay, Sept., '23
This version of "Two Doves" seems now to me, but I believe I have seen this version of "Oyster and the Litigants" somewhere before. The format here is different from the format for cards also marked "Le Royal Chocolat" but listed under "Le Royal and Chocolat Poulain." Is there anything in La Fontaine's text for "Two Doves" that requires a romantic or even sexually romantic relationship between the two birds?
1896? 1 French card picturing OF in a human scene of a boy smoking a cigar just as a tycoon does. Chocolat de la Havane is advertised on the verso, available at pharmacies. €2.99 from loccaz through Ebay, Jan., '23.
I am not sure that I understand this scene, perhaps along the Seine. The image of the strutting tycoon is delightful; I am less sure how to read the "cadet" dwarf beside him! It was not easy to find the two matches for this card in the collection, both from different chocolate suppliers.
1896? 1 similar French card picturing the same scene but this time advertising Chocolat Poulain. €8 from Albert van den Bosch, Antwerp, June, '23.
I so enjoy the fun of this scene, and the fun expressed in this series of cards! It also struck me as a great example of seeing the same card used by two different companies.
1896? 1 French card picturing FG in a human scene of a poor father condemning jewelry before his daughter. Le Royal Chocolat. Lavril & Cie, Saint-Aquilin de Pacy. Printer not acknowledged. 4¼" x 2½". 60 Francs from Annick Tilly, Clignancourt flea market, August, '99.
The scene of disdain at the Joaillerie is delightful, as this plaid-jacketed and bearded man puts down what he cannot have. The back is full of information, including the fact that Le Royal Chocolat won the grand price at the Bordeaux International Exposition in 1896. Royal Chocolat has created a truly hygienic chocolate! There is also a price-list, for those who want to know how little a good candy bar cost in the 1890's.
1896? 1 French card picturing DS in a human scene. Chocolat Poulain. Printer not acknowledged. 4¼" x 2½". St. Ouen, August, '13.
I am not sure I understand the human application of DS here. Has the child sacrificed a toy, or has the man with the cane given up a real child for a toy? A policeman hurries to the scene. I believe I have found Poulain sponsoring four different kinds of fable cards. The verso has the text of La Fontaine's fable and identifies it as such. The style of these two cards seems similar enough to suspect that they are part of a stock set.
