Summary

Embroidered postcard inscribed 'To My Sweetheart', with muslin flap with smaller rectangular card inside. This particular example was sent home from an unknown soldier (tentatively identified from the back as 'Vone'/Vene').

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

One purple and yellow flower on each side of upper piece of muslin, with a green and brown central image of mountains, trees and a cottage with a yellow circular border, surrounded by leaves. The lower piece contains green and purple leaves with a purple inscription. The rectangular card has an image of a child leaning through a broken fence, holding a basket of flowers and leaves. To the right of this image is an inscription printed in black ink.

Physical Description

A cardboard postcard with two pieces of muslin with yellow 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. The back of the postcard displays printed text with a dividing-back and a handwritten message.

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

  • Collecting Areas

    Public Life & Institutions

  • Acquisition Information

    Purchase

  • Place & Date Inscribed

    France, 22 Jul 1917

  • Format

    Postcard

  • Inscriptions

    Embroidered in purple cursive text on the front of the postcard: 'To My Sweetheart' Hand-written in faded ink on top right corner of the back of the postcard: '22/7/17 / France' Hand-written in faded ink on the back of the postcard: 'To Dear (illegible) / I am writing / you this card (illegible) / you know I am still thinking / of you. (illegible) / (illegible) Hoping you are the same / I have not had a letter / for a long time from you.' Hand-written in faded ink along the top of the back of the postcard: 'Will (illegible) / (illegible). With lots / of kisses / Your always / Vone xxxx' Faded hand-written, illegible text on the back of the postcard. 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: 'Love and / Kisses'

  • Classification

    Military history, Service, Correspondence

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    History

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    139 mm (Width), 90 mm (Height)

  • Overall Dimensions

    76 mm (Width), 47 mm (Height)

  • Keywords

    Embroidery, Postcards, Souvenirs, Love Tokens, World War I, 1914-1918