Summary
Embroidered postcard with muslin flap with smaller rectangular card inside, inscribed 'From Your Brother'. As this postcard remains blank it isnot known whether it was sent home uninscribed or whether it was brought home unused.
According to the Australian War Memorial, the popularity of embroidered postcards (first made for the Paris Exposition in 1900) peaked during World War I. Many were 'embroidered by French women in their homes and then sent to the factories for cutting and mounting on postcards'. Common themes included family, remembrance, liberty, unity and war souvenirs.
Description of Content
The right side of the upper piece of muslin displays seven purple and yellow flowers accompanied by leaves; the left displays a blue castle-like building surrounded by green trails with three smaller blue flowers with yellow centres on the bottom left. The lower piece of muslin contains three purple and yellow flowers with leaves at the top, with an inscription underneath in blue thread. The rectangular card contains a colourful image of a women holding a basket of flowers and leaves with a message in black ink printed underneath on one side, the other side is blank.
Physical Description
A cardboard postcard with two pieces of muslin with blue lining attached to the top and bottom of corrugated cardboard border. Colourful images and text sewn onto muslin. Top piece lifts up to reveal a rectangular card tucked into lower piece of muslin. The rectangular card has a printed image and statement on the front, and a blank back. Handwritten message on back of postcard, written in pencil. The back of the postcard displays printed text with a dividing-back.
Significance
Embroidered postcards were very popular during World War I, with common themes including family, remembrance, liberty and unity. Their popularity began to wane after the war and they are not found after c.1923, making embroidered postcards a souvenir unique to World War I.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Purchase
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Place & Date Made
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Format
Postcard
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Inscriptions
Embroidered in blue cursive text on the front of the postcard: 'From Your Brother' Printed in purple ink on the back of the postcard in the centre: 'CARTE POSTALE / POST CARD ; POSTKAART / CORRESPONDANCE ; ADDRESS' Printed in purple ink along the centre dividing line on the back of the postcard: 'VISÉ, Paris et Exportation. J.S. PARIS. déposé'. Printed in black ink on the front of an attached rectangular card: 'Forget me not'
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
138 mm (Width), 90 mm (Height)
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Overall Dimensions
48 mm (Width), 78 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Embroidery, Postcards, Souvenirs, Families, World War I, 1914-1918