Postcard depicting the University of Iași (now "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University), printed by Pinat Löbel, ca. 1901–1915
And, on a more personal note, my academic base for the next 4 years. Today I begin a doctorate in history in Iași, where I'll be completing my thesis, "Țara și Exilul. O biografie a lui Horia Sima (1906–1993)" — !!!
Postcard showing Râpa Galbenă (roughly, "the Yellow Precipice"), a 19th century stone staircase at the base of Copou Hill in Iași, Romania. Undated (after 1925).
Though the staircase still exists largely untouched, the buildings above it were demolished during large-scale public works around the square above (Piața Mihai Eminescu) in the 1970s.
The building on the left was the Hotel Bejan. In the middle was the Cămin Cultural Creștin ("Christian Cultural Home"), built by students from the antisemitic and ultra-nationalist League for National Christian Defense (Liga Apărării Național-Creștine, LANC) on land loaned to them by the owner of the Bejan. The Cămin was subject to a decade-long fight for ownership between the owner of the hotel, LANC members, and dissenting students who had split off to form the Legion of the Archangel Michael, or Iron Guard. By the 1930s the building was used exclusively by members of the Iron Guard.
"Flucht nach Ägypten. Kathedrale Autun / France, 12. Jh."
Postcard with a photograph a sculptural relief depicting the Flight into Egypt from Autun Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Lazare), France, 12th century.
The postcard was circulated in December 1972, sent from Vöcklabruck to Vienna.
Postcard depicting the 15th century Stadtturm in Baden, Switzerland
Printed by Verlag Th. Zingg — sent to me by Sonny from Switzerland, who says the card is ca. 1905; it might however be slightly later (1915–1925)
Postcard depicting Cardinal Pietro Gasparri, Pope Pius XI, and Benito Mussolini, commemorating the Lateran Treaty of 11 February 1929.
This particular postcard was mailed from the Vatican to Belgium on 14 November 1929. The stamp, from the very first series of Vatican-issued postage stamps, was engraved by Enrico Federici.
Schöne Pfingsten! "Kötzting, Bayr. Wald — Pfingstritt, Überreichung des Tugendkränzels"
Postcard depicting the Pfingstritt (Pentecost procession) in Bad Kötzting, Bavaria, circulated 1939
Christus. Kupfer, vergoldet. (Ende 11. Jahrh.). Minden, Dom. Phot. Walter Hege, Weimar. Christophorus-Verlag Herder K.G., Berlin / Freiburg.
Postcard showing a detail of Christ from the crucifix at Dom Minden (Minden Cathedral), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Date uncertain, but after 1935.
Mailed to me by a friend in February 2024.
上海玉佛寺中的玉佛 Нефритовая Будда в Храме Юйфу, Шанхай The Jade Buddha in Yufu Monastery, Shanghai Le Bouddha de Jade du Temple Yu-fou, Shanghai
Undated, uncirculated postcard. Probably early 1950s, based on circulated copies for sale online. Found in Bucharest and mailed to a friend, April 2024.
"32. İstanbul, Aya Sofya Müzesi."
Undated and uncirculated photo postcard depicting the interior of the Hagia Sophia. Early 20th century.
Gifted to a friend for her birthday.
"21. Mosquée de Nouri Osmanié / 25760 - C.L.F."
Postcard depicting the Nuruosmaniye Mosque (Nuruosmaniye Camii) in Istanbul, Turkey. Undated and uncirculated (ca. 1890).
Gifted to a friend for her birthday, March 2024.
A rather wordy postcard sent from Hamburg on Thursday, 29 August 1912 to a Captain Cesar Peretz staying at the Hotel Hungaria in Budapest.
According to an article in Românul newspaper (Bucharest) from 8 (20) May 1899, Peretz served in the cavalry of the Romanian army and was promoted from lieutenant to captain on 10 May 1899.
His name appears again in an article from Adevĕrul (Bucharest), on 2 July 1908, where he served as a witness alongside the surgeon Thoma Ionescu, and the politicians Mihail G. Cantacuzino and Ion Mitilineu, at a duel between the landowner George Ulise Negropontes and Mihai "Mișu" Marghiloman (the son of Iancu Marghiloman and brother of future Prime Minister Alexandru Marghiloman), apparently because of an insulting letter Marghiloman published in the newspaper Dimineața. The police attempted to stop the duel, and the two men made up, it seems:
"Those who witnessed this duel say that both combatants had a firm attitude on the field and showed great courage; it was an emotional scene. Negropontes extended his hand to Marghiloman, recognizing the latter's chivalry. Both adversaries reconciled, regretting what had happened and assuring each other that they would preserve their friendship in the future."
Cesar Peretz died in January 1929; a funeral service was held in Bucharest's Silvestru Church on 27 January of that year.
From my personal collection.
"Prinz Liliputs Lieblingsschlange" — postcard depicting Fasching celebrations in Gersthof (Vienna), 1903
Postmark dated 25 February 1903
Collection of Helfried Seeman (via Historisches Währing)
Postcard depicting two women at Middelburg Abbey (Netherlands), covered in stamps from Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Ottoman Empire, sent in 1917.
Seen on Delcampe
"Gruss aus Wien" — lithographic postcard depicting a crowd of soldiers and tourists admiring the Riesenrad at Vienna's Prater
Mailed from Vienna to Neupasing (Munich) in August 1898
Found on Delcampe
« Amour, Amour..... quand tu nous tiens..... »
French erotic postcard ca. 1910, no printing house listed on reverse
Found on Delcampe
אַ בריװעלע אין קעסטעלע אַ גרוּס פֿאַר טאַטע־מאַמע, אַ שען „לשנה טוֹבה“לע פֿוּן גוּטע בּרכוֹת סאַמע
"A letter goes into the box
A greeting for mom and dad.
A nice “happy new year”
With only good blessings."
Shana tova, gut yontif, happy new year!
Yiddish-language Rosh Hashanah card, not dated, from the Harry and Bernice Kramer Collection (Yiddish Book Center).
"Salamanca — Catedral Vieja (1100) y Catedral Nueva (1509)"
Postcard sent from Salamanca to Bucharest on 5 December 1936, by Vasile Marin to his wife Ana Maria.
